Yesterday my clients signed their lease on the place they will call home for the next year. Now most agents will say "I don't do rentals" but I do. They aren't where I concentrate my time or effort but they do have their benefits and there are times when a rental is the best choice in today's Northern Virginia real estate market.
This rental started as so many have this year, with an email. A military family stationed in Germany had orders to the DC area. They were searching the internet and found my blogs posts and website. The first email said it all. They were looking for a "military friendly realtor" someone who knew the area and understood how difficult it was to get settled in a short period of time.
After a series of emails about their family and what they needed it was easy to narrow down the neighborhoods that would work. With young children schools were important, the commute, shopping and activities all played into the selection. We found just the right place in the Raceway Farms neighborhood just minutes from the gates of Fort Belvoir. The owner of the property is also military and had just made a move to Korea. Do you see a pattern here?
Decisions about where to live for military families with orders often happen on a weekend house hunting trip. Understanding that situation, even if it is "only" for a rental is a big part of being able to help military families make a quick transition to a new duty station. Last night another email arrived. A family stationed in Okinawa, where I lived for over three years as a military spouse arrived and they have orders to the Pentagon for December.
They only want to rent, would I be willing to help them? What do you think my answer will be?
No Hassle-No Pressure-Just Straight Talk About The Northern Virginia Real Estate Market
Military Relocation Specialist serving military families relocating to and from the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico MCB and all of the Military District of Washington installations.
Licensed in Virginia
That's great news. I'm glad that you are able to help these people willing to serve our country. A realtor partner of mine just leased a home to a military family moving to a local base. He is actually getting more referrals for providing the service.
The problem here is that they are almost no home rentals. It is much more difficult to find a home to rent than to buy. Your area is probably different. I can't remember the last time I got a referral from a renter.
Good stuff, Cindy... exactly what you should do. And you can bet that there'll be some future sales, or at least referrals, coming from these folks because you understood and helped. I helped a young family close on their first home last week. He was just back from Iraq, and they contacted me from Fort Carson Colorado, where he was being discharged. Found me through my website and Active Rain blogsite.
Darrell-I get a good number of referrals among my military clients. I just put two houses under contract who were referred to me by a previous military client.
Norma-right now we have an over supply of rentals in some areas. This couple all ready referred me to someone else who is buying. We are headed out next week to look.
Bill-congratulations on being able to help a military family in your area. I get multiple contacts a week from my blogs and website from military families. It is very gratifying to be able to help them get settled here.
Cindy, If you are like most of us, you appreciate the service that these men and women have given us and will bend over backwards to help them...
Paul-it also helps that I was one of those families looking for help to find a new home when base housing wasn't an option.