What we look for in Northern Virginia renters
In Northern Virginia, Nesbitt Realty likes to work with reasonable tenants. Here are a few of the traits we look for.
- A tenant pays the rent when due every time. This means paying on or before the first, rather than at 5 pm on the 5th.
- A tenant is trustworthy. A renter does not sneak in a co-renter or pet.
- A renter is neat. A tenant does not attract pests like rodents and bugs.
- A tenant does not break the property or its systems.
- A renter is courteous and easy to work with. A tenant knows the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A renter doesn't bother neighbors.
- A renter complains when appropriate. tenants that don't report maintenance issues cost real estate investors money and cause issues for property managers.
- A renter doesn't gripe when it's not appropriate. This means that a renter doesn't ask to replace functioning systems. A tenant doesn't expect more than the lease provides. A tenant 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 home.
- A tenant is looking for a rental term that is as long as the landlord wants to rent the rental.
So this is what we're looking for in a renter, but how do we find tenants who measure up to this ideal? Experience has taught us that tardy renters can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with jobs. We have a nose for sniffing out tardy renters.
Our Five Step Process
Fair Housing Laws and our conscience dictates that we do not judge applicants in Northern Virginia based upon appearance. Experience has taught us that appearances can be very decieving. We do however judge applicants based upon their reputation and their actions. If a applicant is difficult with our staff at the start, they will probably be rude as renters. If a makes false statements, we can expect them to be dishonest as a tenant. If a has troubles producing money for background fees and the first month of rent, we will expect that same applicant will have problems during the lease.
But even when every statement initially is promising we still check the background of each potential tenant with a full background check. Every potential renter 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 info regarding property management in Northern Virginia.
Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with property management
Find A Tenant
List your property to rent to find a dependable renter in Northern Virginia fast.
Accounting
How does Nesbitt Realty keep track of income and expenses for real estate investors?
Cost
A list of fees associated with property management services in Northern Virginia
Vetting
How Nesbitt Realty vets renters for property owners.
Reserves
What is a contingency reserve account?
Territory
Where does Nesbitt Realty manage rental property?
Clients
Who uses Nesbitt Realty management services?
Landlord Reference
a handy source for property owners in Northern Virginia
- Before you put a renter in your property in Northern Virginia
- Collections and evictions
- Communications with the renter
- During the lease term
- End of tenancy and what happens when a tenant breaks the lease
- How does the landlord get paid?
- How your rental manager handles the association and your community
- How your property manager handles utilities
- How Nesbitt Management finds tenants
- Insurance matters for rental investors using our property management
- How Nesbitt Management handles keys
- Northern Virginia property owner responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your rental property in Northern Virginia
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your property
- When property 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 reviewed we make a recommendation to the property owner based upon our experience as rental managers in Northern Virginia and the information which 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.
Should you understand more about this local real estate market?
Nesbitt Realty's Guide to Real Estate is a handy tool for everyone who hopes to learn more about Northern Virginia and nearby areas. The Guide to Real Estate has facts about what has sold and what is on the market, as well as some surprising facts that you might not know. Not to mention, our Guide spotlights many of the aspects of life in Northern Virginia. As might be expected, all of this is useful for purchasers and sellers, but rental investors and renters might also find these resources to be quite informative.
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