brokers to avoid?

Subject: Brokers fees

Someone suggested that it's common place for the landlord to pay the brokers fee, but I don't believe that's true.
I've been in property management for 21 years and it's been my experience and that of other landlords, that the tenants pay the fee.

They do the initial viewing and process the application, but I do the final interview and make the decision. I also recheck all references myself. This is due to some very shady rental agents I've dealt with who would say and do anything to close the deal.

Subject: Re: Brokers fees

dakotas way wrote: Someone suggested that it's common place for the landlord to pay the brokers fee, but I don't believe that's true.
I've been in property management for 21 years and it's been my experience and that of other landlords, that the tenants pay the fee.

They do the initial viewing and process the application, but I do the final interview and make the decision. I also recheck all references myself. This is due to some very shady rental agents I've dealt with who would say and do anything to close the deal.

outside of markets like NYC, Boston and SF that is the common practice. but those markets are, obviously, completely different.

Subject: Re: Brokers fees

dakotas way wrote: Someone suggested that it's common place for the landlord to pay the brokers fee, but I don't believe that's true.
I've been in property management for 21 years and it's been my experience and that of other landlords, that the tenants pay the fee.

I had the landlord pay it ($2,500) in Staten Island a year and some back, but it was made clear to me at the time that it was unusual for NYC. What I've seen 99% of the time is the tenant paying it, and the fee ranging from 8% (1/12, or one months rent) to 10% (1/10) to up to 15% of a year's rent. 15% seems to be quickly becoming the "norm" for Manhattan, FWIW.

nnnn

Nobody knows this nabe like Marjorie, but ultimately she's out to get paid. You have to take everything she says with a grain (or a whole bowl) of salt. I bought my place through her and love it; it was a great deal. But the seller was really disappointed in her for some reason.

She definitely yelled at me a few times to pressure me into buying when I wasn't yet ready.

I do not know who this Marjorie person is but since my family has been in this neighborhood since the 60's, I know few people. Harriet Robertson from Centruy 21 on Flatbush Avenue knows this neighborhood like the back of her hand and Duke Saunders from PH Realty onVan is also quite knowledgable since he grew up in this neighborhood as well

Bought my place via Harriet Robertson; she's as straight up as brokers get and does indeed know the neighborhood very well.

Jaha127 mentioned a Hakeem (Hakim?). If his last name is Edwards, I'd say steer clear.

We were on the market to buy a place and were very close to buying a listing Mateo had. He was great. And he had the best follow through out of all the brokers we dealt with. He was not over-bearing, just thorough. Very nice guy and he has a lot of good ideas about design because of his architectural background.

doctorj wrote: Bought my place via Harriet Robertson; she's as straight up as brokers get and does indeed know the neighborhood very well.

Jaha127 mentioned a Hakeem (Hakim?). If his last name is Edwards, I'd say steer clear.

I can't remember if his last name was Edwards but he definitely spells it Hakeem... but he was pretty good for me (even my dad loved him)... I am curious what went wrong for you...

We used Audrey Edwards from Plaza Properties to buy our apartment. The seller had to sell quickly and was under a time crunch and we had to buy (8+ months preg). We were at the closing when the blackout of '03 happened. She was fabulous, really caring, knew what she was doing and was able to just level w/all parties...not always the case w/brokers.

Audrey is located directly across from The Usual on Vandy. She has lived in the neighborhood for a long, long time. We actually bought into her building. She knows most of the supers and doormen on St.J's as well as Plaza East. She gets a lot of apartments that long time residents don't want to throw to the PSlope brokers.

mrsunshine wrote: I'd reccomend Mateo. Just got an apartment through him. There's also economic opportunities with Mateo. He'll pay you a grand if you can find him a wife.

wait. WHAT?

pitu wrote: [quote=mrsunshine]I'd reccomend Mateo. Just got an apartment through him. There's also economic opportunities with Mateo. He'll pay you a grand if you can find him a wife.

wait. WHAT?


I hope this Mateo isn't the same Mateo who allegedly isn't sufficiently respectful of apartment hunters who self-identify in certain ways...

Avoid the Dukester " Duke" on Vandrbilt Douche bag and a sell out!!!!

jaha127 wrote: [quote=doctorj]Bought my place via Harriet Robertson; she's as straight up as brokers get and does indeed know the neighborhood very well.

Jaha127 mentioned a Hakeem (Hakim?). If his last name is Edwards, I'd say steer clear.

I can't remember if his last name was Edwards but he definitely spells it Hakeem... but he was pretty good for me (even my dad loved him)... I am curious what went wrong for you...

I went with the same broker as Jaha and liked him a lot too. His last name is Shahid, not Edwards. Different guy, obvs.