Would you ever consider moving to a new city/state without having any idea of where you were going to live once you arrived?
There are typically three types of clients searching for rental properties:
CRISIS MODE/HOMELESS:
Those who arrive with no clue as to where they will live and unable to afford hotel/temporary lodging for at least two week period. In this instance, the caller said he had arrived before the rest of the family so he could secure a place for them to live. Little did I know that when he said Immediate, he really meant Immediate! Within less than a week, the spouse, two small children and their pit bull arrived with all their belongings in a moving truck with no place for them to call home. Amazingly, even though I had spent countless hours on the phone exploring options without being able to secure a short term rental (six months), the spouse felt the need to blame me because the family was now "HOMELESS". Unfortunately, since this was a family with a large unwelcome pet, the challenge to find short term rental property in our area was immense. During the time I worked with this client, I used many resources to assist them in finding a property which met their criteria, including:
- MLS - Multiple Listing Service (accessible by Real Estate Professionals only)
- Craigslist
- Military By Owner
- AHRN - Automated Housing Referral Network
- Internet search
- Email inquiry to other real estate agents
- Apartment locators
I CAN MAKE THIS WORK:
Those who have arrived and are staying at a local hotel temporarily until they can arrange for a rental. In this case, the client had moved to the Washington, DC Metro area for military PCS relocation with an assignment at the Pentagon. His quest for housing was much less challenging than the previously mentioned client because he did not have a pet and he was open to all types of housing; he even considered renting someone's finished basement.
I'VE DONE MY HOMEWORK:
Another Military Family contacted me several months prior to the Service Member's report date. This allowed me to set them up with automated email alerts for rental properties which met their specific needs. This service is generated through the MLS and can provided by any REALTOR, if asked to do so. During those next few months prior to their move, this famiy was able to make decisions as to what neighborhood they wanted to live, what type of properties the BAH amount would allow them to select and had a refined list of their "favorites" when they arrived to my office. This process went very smoothly and they were approved and had keys to their rental in just a few days.
Currently; in the Northern Virginia housing market, we have a low inventory of rental properties due to the number of prior home owners who were caught up in the decline of the market and are now in short sale and foreclosure proceedings. Since the rental inventory is so low, many homeowners/landlords are able to get premium rental fees and obtain multiple year leases.
In order to make the relocation process a smooth transition, you should do the following prior to moving:
- Know your credit score - A credit report from any of the 3 credit reporting agencies; Equifax, Experian or TransUnion will be accepted. If you do not have a copy of your credit report, you may obtain a FREE report online click here or obtain your credit score online click here
- Have your last two pay stubs / LES ready to submit with the application.
- Landlords require the first month's rent AND the security deposit (usually equal to one month's rent) up front at the time you sign the lease, usually these amounts are via certified funds.
- Real estate offices and property management companies will require an application fee to pull your credit report. Fees range from $50 - $85 per adult who will be living at the property.
- Write a letter to have ready to submit with your application covering an explanation of any of the following: Divorce, Transfer, Raise, or New Chapter in your life.
- Contact a local Real Estate Agent to obtain a list of rental properies currently available through the MLS. This will allow you to know how far your $$$ will go for a specific area.
- Be ready to complete a Rental Application for the State of Virginia.
Don't be left as a "homeless" statistic....The above steps will go far to ensure a smooth transition for you and your family when relocating.
As a Military Spouse, I take great pride in assisting other Military Families as they transition to a new duty station in the National Capital Region. Please feel free to share this article with your friends/colleagues.
Click the icon below to read my Housing blog article published on the US Army MWR website.
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