I think it is important to report this company and/or agent. In addition I would "review" them on some website like Yelp.

Posted by: sweet1 at August 24, 2009 6:02 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

The place is on 5th Ave and President Street. One block from the R train.

I am a fan of Barrio and have high hopes.

Posted by: sweet1 at November 21, 2008 6:56 PM in response to Playa Now Open For Business

The Prospect Place house has a great location if you can stick out the next ten years of building Atlantic yards …

Posted by: sweet1 at February 16, 2008 8:12 PM in response to Open House Picks

As an RE agent I am not allowed to state square feet of an apartment to a customer, which is frustrating (to be polite).
We all know size does matter. I think it helps everyone involved to discuss square feet and is a critical piece of information for so many reasons.. Seriously.

I spend a fair amount of time explaining this conundrum to customers. Some take it better than others. I find most customers understand the number of square feet is only a gauge not a rule. People are pretty smart. When pressed to answer, which I am, I always say I am estimating square feet and encourage a customer to bring a tape measure.

In terms of agents and lying about measurements... they do. Don't work with agencies or agents that employ these practices. Just say No.

Posted by: sweet1 at December 8, 2007 2:07 PM in response to Inflated square footage?

Working with RE agents and brokers is like choosing any other professional, a lawyer or doctor for example. It is the specific agent you are working with that is important.

That being said, I think working with companies who have histories of unethical practices, i.e.; Corcoran, is a bad idea. First of all consumers need to stop shopping at these agencies to send a message that we, as consumers, do not tolerate institutionalized unethical practices and the companies that support or permit that kind of behavior. Secondly, if an agent works for a company with unethical practices, how can you even begin to trust them personally? Look elsewhere.

So, research the companies as well as the agents and then request the agent you have researched at whatever company you go to. Otherwise you get thrown to whomever’s turn it is when you first contact the company. If this does happen, and you don’t like or trust the assigned agent, ask for somebody else. Remember to go with your gut, as many agents are smooth talkers.

Several of the big name companies share listings, so again it is the agent who will be your biggest asset. Then there are couple independent small shops that may have their own listings that are not shared by the big companies regularly. You may want to work with a smaller shop along with a bigger shop. But be careful of the small companies- some operate under the radar and may be harder to research… but again there are many great agents with some of these small companies too.

All this being said, my agent choices:
Charles Ruoff at Brown Harris Stevens, Park Slope office
Judith Lief at Warren Lewis Realty*, Park Slope
Paul at Coldwell Banker, Park Slope

*Broker: Marc Garstein is a real A-hole

I would avoid Corcoran, Aguayo, and Brooklyn Properties at all costs.

Posted by: sweet1 at December 1, 2007 12:06 PM in response to broker rec

honestly what a tempest in a teapot. You make a couple of phone calls sound like they ruined your life and destroyed your home. Trust me, by the time you find a place you'll have complained about every single real estate agent you meet because when it comes to real estate there is a lot to complain about.

Posted by: bxgrl at August 24, 2009 6:17 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

stay away from those guys and other no fee guys bunch of lying scums.

Posted by: armchairwarrior at August 24, 2009 8:06 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

I post my own ads on cl and they always ask if they could show them. I told them i'm not paying them a dime. they said it was fine. so they brought people over. and I told them how is it possible they won't be paid by me or the tenant? lol anyway they always show up late and sometimes not at all.

just bunch of scammers. after a few times with these guys i refuse to let any of those Realtor show it at all.

Posted by: armchairwarrior at August 24, 2009 8:09 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

I strongly recommend against doing what armchairwarrior is doing/has done. These people will sue at a drop of a hat and will tie you up and court and possible cloud the title on your house. Yes I know its wrong but when you lie down with dogs don't be surprised by fleas....

Posted by: smeyer418 at August 24, 2009 9:10 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

As shady and scummy as they are, you can let a realtor show your property and even sell your house without it costing you a dime in commission. It's called a buyers agent fee. We do them all the time - or did anyway when I actually practiced real estate. The buyer simply pays your fee instead of the seller. You in return help them find the house they want and do all the negotiating and such on their behalf. Not a strange occurrence in the RE marketplace.

Posted by: williamsburgguy at August 24, 2009 9:46 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

It seems to me that any realty company that shows an apartment (we're talking rentals here, not buying)- which can be several visits, runs credit checks and background checks on prospective tenants, does all the paperwork and collects the monies ought to be paid. Its a business like any other. I know several RE brokers- they are by no means scum nor shady. Not to say all ar perfect, but the ones I know work really hard for their money- they run all over town, show lots of apartments before they sign up an appropriate tenant, do the screening, take care of the paperwork and detail- They should be paid.

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Posted by: nikegoon2 at August 25, 2009 2:56 AM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

An honest day's work for an honest day's pay is one thing. However RR (and many other brokers) are past that point.

My instinct is that they arent doing anything illegal--just shady. Real estate encourages shady practices like personal injury or used car sales.

Posted by: slick at August 25, 2009 5:10 AM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

Starfish, when your tenant is ready to move, he/she has already paid the last months rent and can probably prove it. So you're out a months rent thanks to Rapid. I would have demanded that they turned that over to me.

Posted by: cggirl at August 25, 2009 10:55 AM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

These guys are both stupid and shady at the same time, which is quite an achievment.
A few years ao, they showed us an partment we liked, kept our documents, checks etc as an application, called us to say the apartment was not available but they had other apartments, we were not interested and they refused to give our stuff back till we threatened to call a lawyer or the cops.
STAY AWAY FROM THEM.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at August 25, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company