How much good can a realtor do in renting out my place?

[the2bobs]

We got our condo in Stone Ridge (near South Riding) rented by using a realtor. Glad we did. He did all the work. And he got it rented for the next 2 yrs.

[blossom4792]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I can do the credit check and screening on my own. My issue is finding tenants who want the place and have decent credit. I've gotten a few sob stories and even one who wanted to work off the security deposit by sprucing my place up. Uh huh.

I used a realtor to find our rental when we moved to Phoenix, but he was already a buddy, who just happened to be a realtor. He also was our agent for the house we closed on here last week.

I've had a lot of traffic in the Faifax condo and no one has told me the rent was too high or tried to bargain it down. It's walkable to Wegmans, is an end unit with an attached garage. I mean, aside from the carpets, the place is awesome.

I hadn't seen the place for two years and just made it back to NoVA two weeks ago to inspect the place after my tenants left. They didn't leave it in good shape, so I'm wondering how it looked when they were there and showing the place for me. But I had my cleaning lady shine it up a bit. The only complaints I've heard from anyone are that the place is too small. I've done plenty of research and it seems to be priced right. But then, it's not getting rented out. So maybe I'm off. But I'll be losing $250 a month on it even if I get my asking rent. I certainly can't ask for more rent and have any luck.

Well, I don't know. Maybe you could clean and/or replace the carpets (one tenant, the one found through my realtor, said he would take the place if I replaced the carpets so I did; I had already paid like $200 to clean the old ones). Maybe there is a little bit more decorating or staging you could do. Or maybe you could give a realtor a chance. Again, if it stays vacant, that's the worst. [A bad tenant is also a disaster, needless to say].

[TechlawyerinPG]

I am considering this right now myself. I have a condo in Prince Georges near the Harbor and not far from my home that I rent out. I have never had a problem keeping it rented at $1300-$1400 a month. I allow pets which attracts a lot of people and distinguishes me from the several other people renting their condos in the same building at lower prices (which they can do since they bought theirs at half the price of mine). Have had great tenants that I found on my own after posting on craigslist and WashingtonPost and Apartments.com. My prior tenants were two men who moved here for new jobs from Kentucky and rented it sight unseen. My current tenant has been there for almost 4 years and is buying a senior condo of her own. I found her from the Washington Post ad. I did my own screening and showing (easy since I live nearby). I have a realtor friend I was considering hiring to help with this new rental since I have a new baby and am pressed for time nowadays but thought I'd give it a shot myself again first. Well after one week of advertising I have 3 serious prospects that I will have to decide from...so I am starting to think I'll screen myself and keep doing it on my own.