Century 21 Accent Homes charges $250/month for Silver or $350/month for Gold to manage a Northern Virginia rental. Leasing is 75% of one month's rent, renewal is $395 and one-time setup is $150. A $500 owner reserve is held in trust; it is not a management fee. Compare the full fee schedule and the expected tenancy events, not just the advertised monthly price.
How much do property managers charge in Northern Virginia?
Managers may charge a percentage of rent or a flat monthly fee. Ask each company for a written quote that separates ongoing management, tenant placement, renewal and property expenses. A quoted percentage also needs a definition: is it charged on rent collected or scheduled rent, and what happens during vacancy?
Our pricing below is the published Accent Homes fee schedule, checked September 30, 2026. The percentage examples later in this guide are illustrations, not a survey of Northern Virginia companies or a claim about their average fees.
Silver and Gold: the complete fee comparison
| Charge | Silver | Gold | When to budget for it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly management | $250 | $350 | Each management month under the agreement |
| Tenant placement | 75% of one month's rent | 75% of one month's rent | When a new tenant is placed |
| Lease renewal | $395 | $395 | When a lease is renewed |
| One-time setup | $150 | $150 | Onboarding |
| Owner reserve | $500 held in trust | $500 held in trust | Cash available for property expenses; not a fee |
| Maintenance markup | None | None | Repair invoices and other property expenses remain payable |
| Six written guarantees | Not included | Included, subject to terms | Review the eligibility and remedy for each guarantee |
Both plans include marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance coordination, inspections and owner accounting. They are month-to-month with 30 days' written cancellation notice. Review pricing and the management agreement for the scope, billing conditions and separate expenses.
First-year cost at $2,500, $3,000 and $3,500 rent
These examples assume 12 monthly management payments, one new placement, one setup charge and no renewal in that first year. The rent amounts are inputs for comparison, not estimates for a particular city or home.
| Monthly rent | Placement fee (75%) | Silver first-year fees | Gold first-year fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $1,875 | $5,025 | $6,225 |
| $3,000 | $2,250 | $5,400 | $6,600 |
| $3,500 | $2,625 | $5,775 | $6,975 |
For the $3,000 example, Silver is $3,000 in monthly fees + $2,250 placement + $150 setup = $5,400. Gold is $4,200 + $2,250 + $150 = $6,600. Neither total includes the $500 reserve or repairs, insurance, taxes, utilities and other property expenses.
A later year with 12 monthly payments and one renewal, but no new placement or setup, would total $3,395 for Silver or $4,595 for Gold. If the tenant leaves and a new placement is needed, the applicable placement fee changes that comparison. An occupied-property handoff may also have different first-year events; ask for a quote based on the actual lease.
Flat monthly fees versus percentage fees
At $3,000 monthly rent, an illustrative 8% management fee is $240/month and 10% is $300/month. Compare that with Silver at $250 and Gold at $350. A flat fee is not automatically the cheaper option at every rent or service level.
Looking only at the recurring management charge, Silver equals an 8% fee at $3,125 monthly rent and a 10% fee at $2,500. Gold equals an 8% fee at $4,375 and a 10% fee at $3,500. These are arithmetic break-even points; leasing, renewal, setup, vacancy billing and service differences can change the full-year result.
Enter a manager's actual quoted charges in our cost comparison calculator. Use the same rent, management period and tenancy assumptions for both options. The calculator's starting assumptions are editable examples, not verified market averages.
What should you ask before signing?
- Which services are included, and which require separate payment?
- When are management fees due, including during vacancy or unpaid rent?
- What are the placement, renewal, setup, inspection and cancellation charges?
- Are repair invoices marked up, and what work requires owner approval?
- How much cash is held in reserve, and how is it reconciled?
- What are the guarantee conditions, exclusions and remedies?
For example, Gold's 21-Day Lease Guarantee provides a credit of two months of management fees ($700) if an approved tenant is not secured within 21 days of the listing going live at the mutually agreed rent, subject to the written terms. It is not a promise to reimburse every day of vacancy. Read the guarantees before treating a benefit as part of your expected return.
Budget for your Northern Virginia property
A condo's association rules, an existing lease and the work needed before move-in affect preparation and timing. Our Alexandria property management, Falls Church property management and Vienna property management pages explain what to gather for an address-specific discussion. A free rental analysis can help establish the property's rent and preparation plan; the fee examples above do not predict either.
Frequently asked questions
How much does property management cost in Northern Virginia? Accent Homes charges $250/month for Silver or $350/month for Gold, plus 75% of one month's rent for placement, $395 per renewal and $150 setup. Other companies set their own fees; request written quotes with comparable services and tenancy assumptions.
Is the $500 owner reserve an extra management fee? No. It is cash held in trust for property expenses. Keep it separate from management-fee totals when comparing quotes, while allowing for it in your cash budget.
Is flat-fee property management always less expensive? No. Compare the rent, recurring rate, placement and renewal charges, billing during vacancy and services included. At some rents a percentage fee can be lower; a flat fee provides a known monthly management charge.
What happens to the comparison when a tenant renews? An illustrative full year with 12 management payments and one $395 renewal totals $3,395 for Silver or $4,595 for Gold, before property expenses. A new placement instead of a renewal changes the applicable charges.
Sources
Family-owned property management company serving Northern Virginia since 1972. NARPM member, NVAR member, and National Association of Realtors® member with over 50 years of experience managing residential rental properties.