A review from a property manager. Just a circus show This place. 7/11/2017 is the date I write this review. We'll talk about the customer service first. When you call the newton branch the most busiest women in the world answers in a tone that cries out "I am so sick and tired of this job" then every time a legitimate issue is brought up (issues such as company sponsored application forum for an applicant is missing all contact info, or the actual name is spelled wrong which leads to an applicant's credit history to be non-existent which is impossible since these guys are grad students who live in the united states and wrote in their social security numbers, called the agent 5 or 6 times that day and no one answered) the longest sigh of women who just given birth and was forced to go to work the next day would be heard. I would give no stars, a 0. but I don't think I can even give a no star review. Second we'll talk about their agent. Calls 90% of the time go straight to voicemail. 100% of the calls to voicemail will no be addressed. 75% chance your text will be answered, 100% your email will be addressed in 1-2 business days. Thirdly most landlords essentially ask for first, last, security. No problem, grad students sent checks to the CRG and an escrow check goes to the landlord. Except it writes in ten times the amount. Random Example for anonymity 2000 x 3 is 6000. wrote in sixty thousand on the legal line of the escrow check. 3 emails later trying to explain that even if you write 6000 in the box on the right hand side of the check it cannot say sixty thousand on the legal line next to it. This took a long long time. To renters: most applications and leases are provided by the RHA sponsored by the greater Boston real estate housing authority, chances are the landlords has them. FIND THE LANDLORD AND CONTACT THEM. Run your own credit (for free) and send it to your prospective landlord. Use zillow, craigslist, spend a few hours looking for the place you are going to live in the next year, don't put that power in anyone else's hands. To crg: you guys are in the sales business, customer service is beyond essential. Get your crap together. Edit: on the agent's issue, he blocked my number. Called 3 times with the company phone to tell him where to drop off the new check, called with my personal phone and instant connection same carrier different number. Just one hell of a circus show. Just so you get a sense of how dragged out this was, I rented the room below in 4 emails, everything done in less then a business week (showing, application, W9, credit score, lease signing). read more

Amy Rubin represented the Seller for a $1.4 Million property that we were in contract to buy where the purchase failed. We had a rather poor experience in our dealings with her and if I could give less than one star I would. Our buyers agent was regularly MIA and so we were forced to deal with Amy directly, but every dealing we had with her was painful for us and we felt patronized and insulted in many of our interactions with her. Her attitude often was nothing short of disrespectful. Please see below some of the memorable interactions we had with her. 1) My wife and I first met Amy after we were under contract. The first thing she said to me when I walked into the house was "Are you the inspector?" She never introduced herself to my wife. This was very insulting. 2) In the same first interaction, when we began asking her questions, she told me to quiet down, essentially saying "shut up". I took offense. 3) She and the Seller did an extremely poor job communicating installation of knobs/pulls for the kitchen cabinets in the property. We had to jump through several hoops to even pick the right components for our home. When we were handed a bill for going over our allowance since she and the Seller selected a number of more expensive pulls, we wrote Amy a detailed email expressing our concerns. She never responded or even mentioned the topic ever again. 4) I remember one particular interaction with her on the phone before we went under contract where were looking for several questions to be answered. On one occasion, she told us she had "theater tickets" and on another that she was very sick, on the very day that was the deadline for finalizing our Purchase Agreement. She clearly didn't want to deal with us or our questions. 5) When the Seller couldn't receive his Certificate of Occupancy for the home until we agreed to the city inspector that we would be okay with a total demolition of the back deck, she continued to try to push us into agreeing as soon as possible and giving our consent. I could continue listing additional items. I know that Amy's job was not to represent us in this transaction. However, the lack of professionalism that she and the Seller displayed in every interaction with us was telling. I felt that she was deceitful on several occasions. As a result, I can't in good faith see how she would represent anyone professionally and honestly. This is my opinion, but I would encourage a prospective client to look for another agent if possible. read more

I am writing this review based solely on my personal experience as a buyer with Realtor Matthew Javity. I am not a real estate agent and engaged directly with the listing agent to purchase a property they were representing. From the outset, I expressed that I wanted the listing agent to also represent me as the buyer, which was verbally acknowledged. However, the experience that followed was extremely disappointing and unprofessional. For the initial property showing, the agent arrived approximately one hour late, with no meaningful communication or apology. During the transaction, after the purchase and sale agreement was signed, I repeatedly requested basic due-diligence information such as financials and condominium association documentation. Responses were often delayed, dismissive, or rude, and in several instances I received no response at all. I also requested additional visits to the property to properly evaluate it prior to closing. These requests were made difficult or outright refused. When a second showing was finally scheduled, the agent again arrived over an hour late and ultimately sent someone else instead, which I found highly disrespectful given the significance of the transaction. As we approached closing--more than two months after signing the P&S--important documentation still had not been provided. At that point, I was told that the agent was not representing me, which was inconsistent with earlier conversations and left me without support. As a result, I had to personally contact the condominium association to obtain information, despite not yet being the owner of the property. Overall, this was a very frustrating and stressful experience. In my opinion, the level of communication, professionalism, and respect fell well below what I would expect when purchasing real estate. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this agent to buyers who value transparency, responsiveness, and professional conduct. read more

I had a wonderful experience working with Adam from the Newton office and can definitely recommend him!!! He was very quick to respond to my initial phone call about the place, even though it was on a Sunday night. Although I was not 100% sure that I wanted this particular apartment (I'm actually very happy with it now!!!), I never felt any pressure that I must rent it. Adam was always on time for our appointments (on the dot) - it was incredible to see such degree of punctuality!!! My paperwork appointment took about one hour, which was mostly me reading the terms of the lease. Adam was very clear about every piece of paper I had to sign, so I knew exactly what I was signing. After that we went and inspected the apartment one more time to make sure I don't have any unpleasant surprises when I move in. There were also a few requests I had that both landlord and Adam were very flexible with and I am truly grateful for that! I have to tell you that this whole process took about one week (from the moment I found the add on craigslist to the moment I moved in). During this process Adam was there to answer every question I had and was very specific about every little detail (even after I moved in). I never felt rushed and can truly say that this was a very smooth and painless move for me!!! Thank you, Adam!!! read more

My girlfriend and I were relocating from CT to MA and we found a listing posted by CRG. We contacted the manager of the Brighton office who set up a time for us to see a few apartments and told us we would be meeting Isabelle Knobel. Isabelle was incredible to deal with! She asked us what we thought about every single apartment that we saw while we were there and what we liked and disliked about them and she would go into her database on her phone to see what else she could show us. We ended up seeing 5 or 6 places that day and we were only supposed to see 3 but Isabelle and Ali got us into the last couple of places last minute. We loved the last place we looked at and put applications in immediately. The landlord told Isabelle that he had a few other applications pending with an immediate move in date (we wanted to move in at the end of the month), but Isabelle fought for us to get that apartment and the landlord accepted us. We were leaving Sunday afternoon to go back to Connecticut and we only found out that we got the apartment Saturday night but Isabelle got a lease done and got it ready for all of us to sign before we went back to Connecticut. We wouldn't hesitate to use Isabelle again! read more

I, too, am surprised by the negative reviews of CRG. Granted, maybe the kind of experience you have is dependent on who you work with. My fiance and I worked with Adam, and we loved him. We're getting married and moving in together in April, so we were looking for an apartment during a much less common time of the year. We found an apartment on Craigslist that we were interested in, and Adam was who we contacted. He was quick to respond to my phone call and quick to set up a time to show us the place. While we were viewing the property, he answered all of our questions--even the ones we didn't think to ask. We loved the apartment, so a few days later we told Adam we'd take it. He promptly sent us all of the forms and made the entire process very easy and painless. He is always easy to get a hold of, and he's even a nice, fun guy. I always feel like realtors are schmoozing me, but Adam tells it like it is and seems to actually care about his clients. Long story short, I have no complaints about CRG. All I know about them is Adam, and I'm a fan. read more

(I wrote a review earlier this year but I have no idea what happened to it. Oh well, I will write another one because the service at CRG was WORTH repeating. I had the BEST experience with Centre Realty Group. Ask for Kathleen M. and you'll get FIVE star service! I had called other realtors but most had no interest (and didn't hide that they had no interest) in helping me and my specific needs. Kathleen M. not only helped me find an apt. suited for my needs but also steered me away from potential landlords who would NOT be conducive to a a trouble-free renting experience! She worked extra hard to assist me and NEVER gave up on me. She believed in me from the start and worked hard and had a great personality and was fun...which is so appreciated when one is dealing with a stressful move. It was great to let a total professional take over and do most of the hard work when one is looking for an apt. worth moving into for a long time! If I must move again, Kathleen M. and Centre Realty Group are who I am calling FIRST. read more

I'm seeing some pretty poor reviews of CRG here, but Lord knows you can deal with two different realtors at a real estate firm and have two completely different experiences and mine must be one of those instances. My wife an I have been working with broker Katherine Meisenheimer at CRG for three years and with a very limited budget. She has been untiring in her efforts to find us the right place to live. She has uncomplainingly driven far and wide in Massachusetts showing us a huge range of 150k to 240k homes and we are glad to say that last week we finally closed on a townhouse in Haverhill (an exhausting short sale) thanks to her efforts. She has been professional, responsive, caring, knowledgable, and encouraging throughout our long search and she made us feel that while we may not have been her only, we were her priority customer (something that is probably not too easy to do knowing our budget was so low and in the end, her commission would be no great shakes). Thank you Katherine & CRG. read more

OVERAL SUMMARY: Very impressed with Centre Realty Group and it's Office Manager (our Agent), Adam Taffel BACKGROUND STORY: My wife and I were looking for a professional and hassle-free rental experience and we found exactly that at Centre Realty Group with Adam Taffel. From our initial cold-call into CRG to our signatures on the Lease Agreement the process was nothing short of outstanding. Adam was attentive, knowledgeable and professional as he responded to our specific requirements and property preferences. He showed us only units that fit within the framework of our search, and did not employ any of the clichéd real estate tactics or salesmanship tricks. Ultimately, we found a great 2+ bedroom unit during our first appointment and within 24 hours Adam had negotiated all of the leasing specifics with the Landlord and the place was ours! If you are looking for a quality apartment and a quality rental search experience to boot then Adam and CRG should be at the top of your list. read more

I was looking for an apartment in Newton and worked with Adam Taffel from the Centre Realty Group. I called originally to see an apartment I found on craigslist. Although that apartment did not end up fitting my needs, Adam showed me multiple apartments until I ultimately chose the one that I am currently living in and loving. What separates Adam from other realtors is that he listens to what you want, without attempting to pressure you into something you do not want or into decisions you are not ready to make. His flexibility is an asset for someone with a very busy schedule and his work ethic is one where he will get back to you almost instantaneously. He went above and beyond even after I signed the lease, getting me early access to my apartment without any fee, and hooking me up with electricity and cable companies. It was a wonderful experience. I would definitely use Adam again and recommend him to all my friends and family. read more

As condo owners, our experience with CRG Realty is limited to one agent, Peter Karg. In the past four months, he has rented four condos for us. With the first condo, he brought five prospective tenants, all appropriate for the site, and all wanting to rent the condo. The second condo he had rented in a matter of hours. The third condo, (which we were in the process of buying) he rented before we had actually signed the P&S agreement. The fourth condo, which we were renovating, he rented before the floors were dry! In each case, he was thorough, efficient, and attended to details for the convenience of both parties making the transactions seamlessly smooth. He knows the Newton area extremely well, and his judgement in the rental market prevents waste of time for inappropriate situations. Peter Karg has made our condo renting a pleasurable experience. read more

My wife and I moved from Chicago to Boston last year. We feel so blessed to have been introduced to Kim Clark, who was instrumental in helping us find the perfect place for us! Not being super familiar with the area, and working in an extremely tight time frame, Kim went above and beyond to help us better understand the various neighborhoods of Boston, set up a weekend of tours, and then when we didn't find a place on our first trip- she continued the search on MLS and in person for us when we had to return to Chicago. She found an absolute gem of a place for us- we hopped on a plane to come visit and she picked us up at the airport, and we signed the lease the same day. 10/10 would recommend getting in touch with Kim for all your real estate needs, she truly is a great realtor, and more importantly a great person. read more

Dear Mewhow L I don't know who you are and why you have posted this false review? It's obvious that you are just trying to make me look bad for other reasons. what you said it's a total lie and there is no truth to them.I have some of the best reviews in my company and it's an unfortunate that someone like you has to make these false accusations for no reason .I do not appreciate your name calling and accusations. please call or email me So at least I know that you are a real client of CRG,rather than hiding behind your fake name. some of the words that you have used against me is offensive and unjust. I always give 100% to help my clients and I am always upfront with my clients.My record speaks for itself. read more

My experience with CRG has been fantastic. My agent was Katherine Meisenheimer who is highly experienced and such a great person to work with. We viewed properties together according to what I was looking for and she and Manager Adam helped me get exactly what I wanted. I stayed in the apartment for 2 happy years and during those 2 years Katherine always stayed in contact adding a personal touch to a professional relationship. The way she has valued me as a client has meant so much to me. Katherine and Adam have been so helpful. I've also interacted with a few others at the office and all of them were equally as friendly and fantastic. I'm a happy and now life long client. -Erica Smith read more

I have worked with CRG for the last 8 years. I've never had a problem with any of the agents. They seem to me like they were all family. I sat in the office trying to decide on what apartment I wanted out of the ones I was shown. I had observed this team at work. They are very helpful to one another as well as every client that walked through the door. I've always felt like I wanted to be a part of their family/Team. They have NEVER disappointed me. Hopefully soon I'll be going to them to buy my first house! I wouldn't trust anyone but them. I hope that you all enjoy my favorite Real Estate Agency as I have for all these years. CRG BABY! Trust they will take care of you and they will :) read more

I had my doubts when working with a different Realtor from Brighton so I googled CRG and called the first number and landed with the Newton location and got Ms. Annie. who was extremely warm and empathetic to all of my concerns and made sure to give me solutions and a peace of mind. She was so caring, honest and knowledgeable that I was upset I didn't have her as my realtor (lol). After speaking with her for about 10-15 mins. I was approved for the property I was interested in and I am so glad I stayed with them because of HER! sweet, sweet woman, so pleasant. If you are looking for a place, please ask for Annie. You will not be disappointed. read more

I worked with Zanna Shuchak renting my apartment. Zanna got to know what tenants I need, she quickly and helped me find the tenants in a matter of a couple of days of working with her. She is friendly, patient, and diligent in following up any matter within apartment, from checking tenant's credit history, to make sure new lease were smooth and without any glitches. Also, they have great team, Adam Taffel, CFO, using his profession way to handle his job. Zanna has great experience in real estate market, and I would recommend her for anyone in the need of a place to rent or buy in the Greater Boston area. read more

I got scammed by one of their employees and the company refused to take responsibility for their employee now I have to hold the company responsible. The CFO Adam Taffell claimed Tim Andreev who is the scammer never deposited the money into a brokerage account so we assume he used it as his own personal income which is fraud. The company refused to write myself and my 8 month pregnant girlfriend a check because "they don't have the money" do not trust them they are a predatory real estate company. I've never been scammed before. I feel obligated to make sure they answer for their practices. read more

I had a wonderful experience and would recommend Adam to anyone! I walked in off the street and ended up working with Adam, who was awesome! I told him my price range and my wish list of things I was looking for in an apt. Adam was totally on it and was in constant contact with me and updated me with any apts he thought I may be intrested in. He also followed through when he said he would and really listened to me and understood what I was looking for. In the end I got my dream apt, and then he hooked me up with contacts for movers and cable people! I would highly recommend Adam!! read more