In our eyes, this was the equivalent of an emotionally abusive relationship.
We looked at a nice apartment advertised for $2,000/mo with Harlan (who is an amazing broker by the way). The next day we passed all of the "checks" with flying colors, were told we are "ideal clients" and this deal is a "cut and dry deal." We fell in love with the space and were called into the office to basically close the deal.
Wel....after two hours in the office, we were told by Danny (the office manager) that the landlord wants more $$ then what is specified on the advertisement. We told him "no" and Danny (who is also great by the way) called the owner Leo to tell him we will not pay more. We were then told to drive (after 2.5 hours in the office) to Borough Park so the landlord, David could meet us.
Danny did accompany us to David's. David met with us and told us he was raising the price up to $2300. Naturally we told him "no" and we were very upset about the false advertisement. David claimed that Leonidas listed the apartment wrong and proceeded to call Leo all kinds of names, insulting Harlan, our original broker as well.
We kept our cool however, I am pregnant so I did get a little emotional as the entire waste of time was spent on this craziness. David claimed he was "firing" Leo, etc. and all he did was call Leo a "snake" and we felt very uncomfortable. Mind you, we had already put a deposit down and paid for the credit check and application fee.
My husband and I left extremely upset. Danny was speechless. My husband went to talk to Leo who claimed all types of things (I.e., David was wrong, etc., etc, ). he told us to hold out because David would "have to" come down in price bc he is never going to get what he's asking for the space.
Two weeks later, Leo claimed the space was still available as no one looked at it and his brokers refused to show the space for that price. Unfortunately for us, we loved the space still and wanted to fight for it. We offered to go up on price just a little. We were basically given the runaround for another week by Leo claiming "you're the perfect candidates and he would be stupid not to give this to you. I know how David works and he will cave. Keep trying because he will eventually have to rent it to you."
We actually were dumb enough to offer more $ but not near $2300. Leo guaranteed us that David would do the deal and we would be all set. I found myself calling and texting Leo constantly. He would take literally hours to return my call, claiming he would "have an answer any minute." My husband was getting very upset and I loved the space so much I begged him to give it a little longer.
Well today was supposed to be "the day" we signed because according to Leo he was meeting David at noon to basically close the deal and I would have a lease signed by tonight. Noon turned into 7pm (yes 7pm) with me hunting Leo down ALL DAY only to be told that David "probably just doesn't like you" and is not going through with the deal.
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? MInd you, we gave our landlords notice who were nice enough to allow us to get out of our lease early.
Leo then told me to try to wait it out......NOT!!!! The amount of texts, phone calls, runaround BS statements that we experienced were insane. It was like being caught in the middle of a dysfunctional divorce with Leo badmouthing David and David doing the same.
I'm furious! This was an awful experience. We are a professional couple who makes a decent living and I've never been treated so poorly by a bunch of BS artists in my life. Absolutely terrible.
SIGN AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Harlan and Danny are still the best though. If there was a no star rating, they would get it. read more