People from all over the world relocate to Northern Virginia for school, work, or an internship. When looking for housing, not everyone has the time or money to catch a flight to tour properties before deciding which to rent. Some people from different countries have to go through the renting process without any help and sometimes, without ever setting foot in the US.
You can research renting in Northern Virginia as much as you want. The reality is, in this market, your biggest struggles will be the issues that arise while actively house hunting.
1. Applying Without a Social Security Number (SSN) or Credit History
When you apply for a rental, you have to complete the application along with the credit and background check. However, without a social security number or credit history, this becomes an obstacle.
Luckily, most places have a process to handle applicants in this predicament. However, there is still a chance that you encounter a private landlord or rental agency that requires those reports to even look over your application. Here are some options to help you navigate this:
2. Navigating Virtual Tours
Virtual tours are great if you can’t tour the property in person but you want to be sure that you are asking the right questions and observing the right things.
Rental scammers can use vacant properties or even rent an Airbnb to pull off rental scams. During virtual tours, you can miss issues with the property. So you want to be vigilant, listen clearly to what the person touring is saying, and not be afraid to ask them to do another lookover or closeup.
What to do if you can’t be there in person
3. Managing Payments From an International Bank
After you sign your lease, you are expected to pay the deposit immediately. If you have a bank overseas, that bank may have restrictions or special instructions on sending money to the US which can delay your deposit. Ideally, before paying your deposit, you’d contact your bank to see if there are any restrictions or special instructions in sending money to the US.
If you learn that there are restrictions as you attempt to make your payment, just get information from the bank about payment instructions and when the payment could be expected. Simply communicate this to the landlord. A delay in funds isn’t abnormal and many landlords accommodate. However, a lack of communication can cause doubts and concerns in the landlord.
4. Tenant Bill of Rights
The lease contains a lot of information. The first thing you check is the rent amount and lease term to make sure they are accurate. But, the most important document for people relocating to North Virginia to read is the tenant bill of rights.
This is a list of protections for landlords and tenants and ensures both parties are aware of their rights and responsibilities. These protections can vary from state to state so read them closely. In case you didn’t know, Washington DC is known to be the most tenant-friendly jurisdiction out of the DMV (Maryland, DC, Virginia).
5. How to negotiate the rent amount
Everything is negotiable when you are renting; Price, lease term, furniture, everything. Some people ask for a price decrease or a change to the lease agreement upfront. However, when negotiating to get what you want, knowing which scenarios work in your favor is helpful.
For example, winter and fall months generally are slower for apartments so you are more likely to be able to negotiate specials or discounts. Houses that have been on the market for a while are an opportunity as they are more likely to have owners willing to be more flexible with the lease agreement. Also, if you are working with a real estate agent, they can let you know what additional opportunities you can take advantage of.
6. Real Estate Agents can Simplify the Rental Process
You can also work with a real estate agent to find a rental. Instead of having to contact all of these rentals or waste away money on applications, the agent can take care of that. When it comes to items like negotiating with the owner and structuring the lease, they can take the lead. They can streamline the renting process and answer your questions about the area. Additionally, agents have a separate database of homes which allows them to schedule tours faster and at flexible times.
7. Start Your Search 30 Days Out
Landlords in Northern Virginia prefer applicants who can move in 30 days or less. If you try to apply sooner, you will receive rejections or requests from landlords asking you to change to a sooner move-in date.
You should start seriously house hunting around 30 days before your move-in date. This removes potential issues with the move-in date and ensures the properties you view are ready for applications.
In North Virginia, properties move fast. Whatever you see on the market this month will likely not be on the market next month (and if it is…trust me…there is a reason why). Don’t fall in love with a house you see on Zillow in March thinking it will still be on the market in May. Wait until 30 days.
If you are looking at housing early, your time is better spent researching the homes on the market in the area you want to move to and learning how fast homes move on and off the market. This will help you have realistic expectations when you are seriously searching
Von Sydnor
A Northern Virginia real estate expert with a career rooted in property management and relocation services, Von specializes in helping clients move seamlessly to the DC metro area, combining market expertise with personalized support.
The Brand Insider Group makes North Virginia relocations easy—call 443-825-2815 or email brandinsidergroup@gmail.com!
