What we look for in Northern Virginia tenants
In Northern Virginia, our team prefers to work with reasonable tenants. Here are some of the traits we expect.
- A renter pays the rent when due every time. This means paying on or before the first, rather than at 5 pm on the 5th.
- A renter is trustworthy. A tenant does not sneak in a co-tenant or pet.
- A tenant is fastidious. A tenant does not attract pests such as rodents and bugs.
- A renter does not overwork systems.
- A renter is courteous and nice to get along with. A renter understands the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A tenant doesn't bother neighbors.
- A tenant complains when appropriate. Renters that don't report maintenance issues cost landlords money and cause problems for property managers.
- A renter doesn't gripe when it's not appropriate. This means that a tenant doesn't demand to upgrade functioning systems. A tenant doesn't expect more than the lease provides. A renter doesn't complain that an appliance doesn't work when the tenant doesn't know how to operate the appliance.
- A tenant does not smoke in the property.
- A renter is looking for a lease that is as long as the landlord wants to rent the rental.
So this is what we're looking for in a tenant, but how do we find tenants who measure up to this standard? Experience has taught us that troublesome renters can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with jobs. We have a knack for sniffing out unreasonable tenants.
Our Five Step Process
Fair Housing Laws and our conscience dictates that we do not judge potential tenants in Northern Virginia based upon appearance. Experience has taught us that appearances can be very decieving. We do however judge potential renters based upon their track record and their actions. If a applicant is difficult with us from the start, they will probably be troublesome as tenants. If a makes false statements, we will expect them to be unreliable as a renter. If a has a problem scrounging up money for background fees and the first month of rent, we will expect that same person will have troubles during the lease.
But even when every statement initially is promising we still vet each person with a complete background check. Every person and occupant must provide a government-issue photo identification. From there, as rental we start our vetting process.
How we protect the landlord’s interests in Northern Virginia:
Northern Virginia Property Management Resources
Basics
Fundamental information regarding management services in Northern Virginia.
Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with property management
Find A Tenant
Market your property to rent to find a great renter in Northern Virginia fast.
Accounting
How does Nesbitt Realty keep track of income and expenses for landlords?
Cost
A list of fees associated with property management services in Northern Virginia
Vetting
How Nesbitt Realty vets tenants for our clients.
Reserves
What is a contingency reserve account?
Territory
Where does Nesbitt Realty manage property?
Clients
Who uses Nesbitt Realty management services?
Landlord Reference
a good archive for landlords in Northern Virginia
- Before you rent out your property in Northern Virginia
- Collections and evictions
- Communications with the tenant
- During tenancy
- End of lease term and what happens when a tenant breaks the lease
- How does the rental investor get paid?
- How your management company handles the association and your community
- How your property management company handles utilities
- How Nesbitt Management finds renters
- Insurance matters for owners using our property management
- How Nesbitt Management handles keys
- Northern Virginia property owner responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your rental investment in Northern Virginia
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your property
- When owners don't yet know their new address
- Vetting tenants in Northern Virginia
More Information About Northern Virginia
Our recommendation
After the background check is complete we make a recommendation to the owner based upon our experience as rental managers in Northern Virginia and the information that we have verified. Ultimately the landlord decides if the risk is worth taking, but they make that decision based upon facts and our expert advice.
Do you want understand more about this area?
Our Guide to Real Estate is a free resource for everyone who hopes to find out more about Northern Virginia and surrounding communities. The Guide to Real Estate includes information regarding what has sold and what is currently listed, as well as many interesting facts that you may not know. Also, our Guide highlights quite a few of the benefits of residing in Northern Virginia. Of course, most of this is helpful for buyers and sellers, but property owners and renters will likely also find the facts to be quite edifying.
Our Broker Will Nesbitt

"I am by nature a trusting person, but this business has taught me to verify every statement that a tenant makes. Scammers and bad tenants can sometimes give every appearance of being trustworthy and upright people. We never cut corners on background checks." ~ Will Nesbitt
Julie Nesbitt

I like tenants that pay on time. Late paying tenants cause extra work and unnecessary stress for landlords and property managers. ~ Julie Nesbitt