I sat down and met with the nice women of TB SHaw, fully explained crappy my situation (After many years in my apt, I had to leave as my rent was being jacked up 650. a month) and what I was looking for ( a 2 bedroom apartment under $2,000 month, with outdoor space if possible. In one of the neighborhoods within a 5 mile radius of Prospect Park. Mary sent us just one option. At just under 800 square feet It was too small for my partner me and his niece. I guess she thought we were going to be to difficult to work with based on that because she never sent us any other listings. We did find a nice 2 bedroom across the park in Kensington for 1800 so I guess what we were searching for did exist. I'd recommend using Barbara Puccia for Kensington/Windsor Terrrace apts. read more

Typically, I'd say run away from real estate brokers when looking to rent. Speaking from prior experience most are sleazy, failed sales people who do anything but help you find what you're looking for, and gouge a huge fee for the privilege. After looking on Craigslist for no fee Park Slope/Prospect Heights apartments that ended up being southwest of 20th and 4th, or located deep in "New" Prospect Heights, ala Crown Heights, I decided to bite the bullet, because dammit, I deserved to find an *awesome* apartment, and also I'm kinda lazy. I happened to chance upon TB Shaw Realty coming highly recommended on a Brooklyn blog I read. Well, TB Shaw and it's agents, Melissa and Max, are the utter antitheses of your stereotypical Realtors. Extremely friendly, non-pushy, courteous and eager to help you find exactly what you're looking for. Wandering around the Slope one warm Sunday, chatting about everything under the sun, Melissa cheerfully showed us several apartments, including *the One*, a gorgeous rent-stabilized parlor level apt right off Prospect Park West in center slope. In a word, perfect; we fell in love with it immediately. In a whirlwind of a week in which the apartment was taken by someone else, lost by them because they couldn't get the $$ together, and then offered to us, by 6.30pm Friday, our lease was signed with a reduced cash fee, and $50 off the rent. Mint! For the location, space, and quality of the apartment, TB Shaw got us an utterly fantastic deal, and I honestly cannot recommend Melissa or Max highly enough. Melissa went out of her way to show us some great apartments and to guide us through the process one-on-one from start to finish. Max clearly explained the lease terms, and gave us plenty of time to review it. Our new landlord, who we chatted with for over 30 minutes, is very friendly and actually cares deeply about her property and tenants. We lucked out big time, or maybe it's just good fortune. Non-pushy, friendly, insanely helpful, wonderful Realtors. In Park Slope?!? It's not an alternate universe or an episode of Lost. They're real, use them now, honestly you won't be disappointed! read more

I don't know if I would have made it through the process of moving from Denver to Brooklyn if it wasn't for Mary. I called Mary after being disappointed with a different broker in the area, and she was and continues to be extraordinarily helpful. We weren't easy to please. We were looking for a 1 bed apartment close to the park and one-train-transportation to NYU (where my wife is beginning school) that was ok with our 70 lb dog. After months of hearing horror stories about apartment searching in New York, we were prepared for days or weeks of looking at not-terrible-not-great apartments for too-much-money. Our apartment search, from the time that we arrived in Brooklyn to the time we decided to put in an application, took 30 minutes. Mary had the perfect apartment in the perfect location at an absurdly reasonable, rent-stabilized price ready and waiting for us. We saw it, loved it, applied for it, and got it in a matter of days. And then Mary really started to shine. She worked with the current tenant to help us move in a couple days early, she worked with the super to have some of the minor issues resolved before we moved in, and she's been working with us still to take care of some lingering issues (a temperamental stove, etc.) that are still going on. Through it all, she has been wonderfully responsive. It doesn't matter if we communicate via call, text, or email, she always is quick to respond -- often apologizing for the delay if it takes her more than 10 minutes to get back to us. Evenings? Weekends? No problem. Mary is always ready and willing to help. We love our place, and we plan on staying here for a good while. It wouldn't have been possible without Mary. read more

TB Shaw was seriously amazing. I had contacted Mary months before we were ready to move and gave her a little information and she responded right away. As the time came closer, I followed up with her again and set up a day when she could meet to show us an apartment. She was, throughout the entire process, always flexible in her meeting times giving us one less thing to worry about. The first apartment was AWFUL, but we shouldn't have expected much. Since it was our first time EVER in the neighborhood Mary was willing to give us some honest tips on where you want to go, what to be near, and what are the better parts of the area. She said that another apartment a few blocks away was ready to be rented and that she had a showing a little later that day but was willing to show it to us before. She drove us to the second place and helped us really see it for what it could be (the current tenant was a MESS). We took the apartment even though it was the second one we saw! She never rushed or pressured us and gave us plenty of time to think things over. She was always responding back with more information in e-mails right away. The reason for only 4 stars is two factors: broker's fee (although negotiable, still MUCH higher than we had anticipated paying) and as great as Mary was (she even got the landlord to lower our rent a bit and we could get in the apartment a few days prior to the lease starting) you need to make sure you have the right questions to ask and be sure to ask them. It wasn't like we had to pry her for information, but it wasn't always upfront. Aside from that, the rest of the process was smooth sailing. She met with us and the landlord and even to get the keys. She e-mailed us on the status of the work that was being done to the apartment (and even made sure that the work would be done prior to our move-in date!) and assured us that the landlord was a very fair person and an all-around good landlord to have. We've been in the place for a few months now and don't have any complaints! I could not recomment her enough. Be sure to just let her know all of what you're looking for and discuss how much you'd be willing to spend (including additional fees...). The rest is just a really great experience and when it comes time for us to move again I'll definitely be in touch with Mary! read more

My partner and I worked with Marya on finding an apartment in Brooklyn. Without a doubt dedication was her motto. She worked as hard as she could in finding us a place that met our criteria (which was very specific). She constantly sent us information on a regular basis, and was available to meet with us within a reasonable time. Being new to NYC, we were sort of thrown into the dark in trying to find a location. We happened upon TB while walking through the Park Slope area and met Marya who offered not only assistance, but friendship as well. She really took an interest to our style as well as a serious understanding of our price range. In the end, my partner and I have nothing but the highest of praise for this realtor and her work. She was a good "first face" for NYC, taking the time to be as hospitable as she could to ensure we had a positive transition to the most exciting city in the world! read more

TB Shaw Realty gets two thumbs way up! Like many apartment hunters, I initially attempted the search on my own and after multiple aggravations with owners and crappy apartments, I decided to suck it up and get a broker. I happened upon TB Shaw when I saw an apartment I liked on Streeteasy. Not only were they completely honest about the listing, but followed up on other options, and were always available to answer additional questions. I worked with Tammy from beginning to end, and she was kind, personable, honest, and really considerate of my needs. It also seemed as though she had genuine relationships with landlords and only worked with those who provided great services. Once I viewed the apartment I ended up leasing, I was approved and signing the lease within a DAY! Talk about fast turnaround! Their professionalism is highly appreciated and you won't be disappointed! read more

My family and I relocated from Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area to Brooklyn NY 7 months ago. I am late writing this review but wanted to make sure to give Mary with TB Shaw top ratings for helping my family find a 4 bedroom in Brooklyn in just 4 days time (typically this is Mission impossible!). Mary was helpful via email when I initially reached out to her. She met with us when we came to Brooklyn and she walked us from apartment to brownstone in Prospect Heights, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, South Slope, Windsor Terrace etc. - she was honest, knowledgeable, attentive and professional. I highly recommend TB Shaw to anyone moving from out of town to the big city. We met other brokers whose integrity was questionable - Mary is honestly as good as it gets! read more

Mary from TB Shaw was a godsend. We were relocating from California and had only 6 days to find a new place in Brooklyn. After some truly hideous apartments and unreliable, sketchy brokers (from Ideal Properties), we finally found TB Shaw on yelp and emailed Mary all the details of what we were looking for. She responded within the hour, and even though had nothing currently on the market that fit our criteria, she would be on the look out. The next day, we get a note from her telling us about a place in Park Slope that was within our budget. It was everything we wanted - she took us to see it, we signed the paperwork, and now we're here in this gorgeous 1 bedroom. Work with TB Shaw, and find Mary! She's a pleasure to work with, really listens to what you want, and is very honest/upfront about everything. read more

I worked with Mary at TB Shaw to rent a one bedroom apartment. Mary was professional, courteous and friendly throughout the entire process. She really understood the property and neighborhood, and was exceptionally communicative. This was a refreshing change from other agents, who were unpleasant or unforthcoming, and/or showed me properties that did not fit my specifications. The only reason I give TB Shaw four stars instead of five is the fee, which I found to be higher than other brokers. However I second another review that noted it's worthwhile to just pay the fee to true professionals, and end up in a place that is a good fit. read more

I recently had the pleasure of working with Amy Martinez-Miller through TB Shaw. After moving three times in as many years in New York City, I swore off real estate brokers. I don't mean to offend, but the price, the process, the glad-handing, the up-selling, and the disingenuous nature of many of the brokers I have dealt with has given me a deeply ingrained, almost pathological disdain for, and mistrust of, brokers. I have, in recent years, become a strong voice against the use of brokers when searching for an apartment. But Amy is the antithesis of the normal New York City broker. I wish every one of them could be like her. Seriously. She is a model for what the entire industry should be. She was completely realistic with me about what I should and should not expect within my budget. She did not try to up-sell me on a more expensive apartment, instead working with me and my partner to find apartments within our budget. She took the time to drive me around several neighborhoods that I had never visited in order to give me a sense of the area, and to gain a sense of where I would and would not like to live. And she was truly thoughtful about the apartments that she showed us. Even if the apartment was not right for us, it was clear that she had heard everything we said and sought out apartments that matched the vast majority of our requirements. Most important of all, she was genuinely kind and honest. I felt like I had an ally, an advocate who truly wanted to help me find the right place. Even though we didn't end up renting an apartment through Amy, it was the most comfortable, positive, and pleasant experience I have ever had with a real estate broker. When I move again, she will absolutely be my first call. If my partner and I decide to buy, she will be my first call. And if anyone I know is moving, hers will be the first and likely the only name I give. read more

While looking for an apartment, like may others, I had to deal with many real estate agents. Let's face it, now is not a renters market and many agents use it very literally - treating customers very unprofessionally at best and like dirt at worst. This is not the case with TB Shaw. I was pleased with Robert who treated me with respect and wasn't annoying trying to push on me. When an apartment would come up that was close to my requirements he would call and offer to come look at it. No pressure, no gimmicks. Even though I didn't find apartment that I wanted with TB I still recommend them. Hope you have a similar experience read more

While looking for an apartment in Brooklyn, I worked with Tarin at TB Shaw, and I had a really good experience. Tarin called or sent me a text every day to let me know about leads she had found. She is very willing to work with your budget, and is incredibly nice! Even when I called her before work and on the weekends, she was always cheerful and helpful with ideas. Overall a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend this broker for that reason. read more

After a number of realtor's in the area failed to return my calls or adequately answer my questions Tammy Shaw came through not only returning my call but also providing me with very good information and help regarding my apt rental issues. I now know my "go to" person for all my real estate needs and concerns. My advice is to skip the "newcomers" and go to a professional who knows the area and is eager to help. read more

I used TB Shaw Realty Associates to find a fantastic apartment in Prospect Heights. My broker was Mary. Mary is incredibly responsive. I decided I wanted an apartment on a Sunday night, and she walked me through the process immediately. Before I met her at the apartment she showed me, she was very honest about the pros and cons of the apartment, so that I wouldn't waste my time if it wasn't the place for me. I highly highly recommend TB Shaw. I met with brokers at other agencies while looking for apartments both in Brooklyn and the Upper West Side, and found my interactions with Mary by far the most pleasant. read more

We truly cannot say enough about how pleasant it was to work with TB Shaw. After calling and working with several different Brooklyn brokers, we called TB Shaw and worked with Tammy Shaw (owner) directly. She was fantastic, from the first phone call. We had such a difficult situation - we were relocating from a large house in Indiana to Brooklyn, we have two huge dogs, and while we didn't want to spend too much, we wanted a nice large place with some backyard. Oh, and we hadn't started our jobs yet, needed to find a place within one month, and had only two days to look at places...over Easter weekend. Tammy and her team were fantastic. They scoured the city looking for places that would fit our specific requirements. We finally found a spot in Sunset Park - a 3 bedroom brownstone that was recently renovated. It was gorgeous, but Tammy was very frank with us about some of the negative aspects. We weighed the negatives and decided to take it. Tammy helped with everything - calling the landlord to make sure he was comfortable with our dogs and calling us to make sure we liked the neighborhood & moved in smoothly. We have been there for three weeks and Tammy has checked in with ua twice already to see how things are going for us. With all of the horror stories we had heard about NY real estate brokers, I was thrilled with the pleasant, prompt and professional experience we had with TB Shaw. read more

I had no intention of finding an apt with a broker. But as I started to get deeper into my search on Craigslist I inevitably came across some reasonably priced apts with a broker's fee so I did make some calls. Luckily I called Mary at TB SHAW. She was extremely nice, not pushy at all, and very helpful in getting me and my friend approved for an apt. She even negotiated the rent and her fee! I cannot recommend these agents highly enough. I know it can be painful to pay that fee but sometimes it is worth it and in this case it definitely was! read more

I worked with Marya at TB Shaw & Associates. While, I didn't end up getting an apartment with her/them it was not through lack of trying on her/their part. Marya was in contact with me pretty regularly on apartments in search area and was willing to work around my busy schedule. The reason for the 4 star review is just their broker fee. It is much more than I want to pay, but they're worth it for the attention and service! read more

Recently we were looking for an apartment in Brooklyn, NY. We had a pretty specific idea of what were looking for, and even completely changed the neighborhood that we wanted to live in half way through our search. All long, Tarin S from TB Shaw Realty was more than supportive and spent a lot of time searching for the perfect place for us. She regularly followed up, and showed us each listing we wanted to see as soon as possible. She was truly a great person to work with- she cares about her clients and doesn't give up until you find the place you love. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking in the area! read more

I recently worked with Christian Fuller at TB Shaw realty on my apartment search. After an arduous process of trying to find a place first on my own and then through brokers, I stumbled upon TB Shaw through their positive Yelp reviews. Working with Christian was such a refreshing experience. He was incredibly responsive and genuinely seemed to care about finding me a great place. He was honest with me about my search and what I could realistically expect and it's clear that he's extremely knowledgeable about Brooklyn. He was also very hard working and diligent. I was very picky throughout my search and where other brokers quickly gave up, Christian remained determined. He truly made me feel like I had an advocate in the process and I felt like I could depend on him. Though I ended up abandoning my apartment search due to changing personal circumstances, I was so impressed by my experience with Christian that he will absolutely be the first person I call when my search resumes. I would wholeheartedly recommend him! read more

I am typically a Craigslist apartment finder but when we decided to move to Park Slope we figured we should check out what some local realtors had. I e-mailed Mary from TB Shaw after reading the reviews on Yelp. I briefly explained what we were looking for and our budget and within minutes Mary let me know that she had the perfect apartment for us. I was wary of the hard sell but figured it was worth checking out. I had low expectations but she was right. On the first try Mary found us an apartment that we are incredibly happy with (and one that far exceeded what the no-broker-fee listings on Craigslist had turned up) and she worked with us to get the finances right. Like some of the other reviewers, I was hesitant to go to a broker but it was an excellent decision for us and in the long run the brokers fee we paid will be insignificant compared to the happiness we'll have from our awesome new place. read more

After looking through several houses in Park slope through multiple agents and by ourselves, we found one on craigslist through TB Shaw realty. The owner herself showed us the house. We liked it and after a little back-and-forth with the landlord settled on a rent amount. Since we were moving from another state, we were not sure of how things including cable, phone, electricity go in NYC. The agent volunteered to help us with all this and said she would even check on the house a week before we were scheduled to arrive to makes sure the house is painted fresh and appliances are in working condition. But all these promises fell through the moment our payment was made a week later (We still had a few weeks to move in). She stopped responding to our repeated calls and emails. We had a hard time explaining our residence proof to utility companies when all they needed was a confirmation from TB Shaw that the house was now going under a new lease. Very disappointed--she never kept any of her promises! read more