What we look for in Fairfax tenants
In Fairfax, Nesbitt Realty likes to work with dependable tenants. Here are a few of the traits we seek out.
- A tenant pays the rent when due every month. This means paying on or before the first, rather than at 5 pm on the 5th.
- A tenant is honest. A tenant does not sneak in a co-renter or pet.
- A renter is fastidious. A tenant does not bring pests such as rodents and bugs.
- A renter does not overwork systems.
- A tenant is courteous and nice to get along with. A renter understands the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
- A renter doesn't disturb neighbors.
- A tenant complains when appropriate. Renters that don't report maintenance issues cost real estate investors money and cause head-aches for property managers.
- A tenant doesn't complain when it's not appropriate. This means that a renter doesn't demand to replace functioning systems. A renter doesn't expect more than the lease provides. A tenant doesn't complain that an appliance doesn't work when the renter doesn't know how to operate the appliance.
- A renter does not smoke in the property.
- A renter is looking for a lease that is as long as the real estate investor wants to rent the property.
So this is what we're looking for in a renter, but how do we find tenants who live up to this ideal? Experience has taught us that troublesome tenants can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with jobs. We have a knack for sniffing out difficult tenants.
Our Five Step Process
Fair Housing Laws and our conscience dictates that we do not judge applicants in Fairfax based upon appearance. Experience has taught us that appearances can be very decieving. We do however judge potential tenants based upon their history and their actions. If a applicant is rude to our staff from the beginning, they will probably be troublesome as tenants. If a is caught fabricating facts, we can expect them to be untrustworthy as a renter. If a has troubles finding certified fundsfor background fees and the first month of rent, we can expect that same applicant will have difficulty during the lease.
But even if every action initially is promising we still vet each person with a complete background check. Every potential renter and occupant must provide a government-issue photo identification. From there, as property managers we start our vetting process.
Fairfax Rental Management Resources
Basics
Elementary info regarding management services in Fairfax.
Getting Started
Learn more about getting started with rental property management
Find A Tenant
List your property to rent to find a reliable renter in Fairfax fast.
Accounting
How does Nesbitt Realty keep track of income and expenses for property owners?
Cost
A breakdown of prices of rental management in Fairfax
Vetting
How Nesbitt Realty checks the backgrounds of renters for landlords.
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 free archive for rental investors in Fairfax
- Before you lease out your property in Fairfax
- 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 management company handles utilities
- How Nesbitt Management finds renters
- Insurance matters for landlords using our rental management
- How Nesbitt Management handles keys
- Fairfax rental investor responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your rental property in Fairfax
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your rental investment
- When landlords don't yet know their new address
- Vetting tenants in Fairfax
More Information About Fairfax
Our recommendation
After the background check is reviewed we make a recommendation to the real estate investor based upon our experience as property managers in Fairfax and the information which we have verified. Ultimately the owner decides if the risk is worth taking, but they make that decision based upon facts and our expert advice.
Should you know more about this community?
Nesbitt Realty's Guide to Real Estate is a helpful tool for anyone who hopes to review important real estate information about Fairfax and nearby communities. The Guide to Real Estate compiles information about what has sold and what is for sale, as well as a couple of surprising facts that you may not be aware of. Furthermore, our Guide highlights quite a few of the fundamentals of residing in Fairfax. As might be expected, most of this is useful for buyers and sellers, but property owners and tenants will probably also find these tools to be very eye-opening.
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