My experience with Harvard Ave. Realty is from earlier this year, in February/March. My landlord and I have an agreement that brokers need to schedule showings directly through me, and that I need to be home when they show it. Every other agency honored this and I had several showings in early 2022. Despite telling David he did not have permission to show my apartment when I wasn't home, David sent one of his agents into my apartment, which I caught on my security camera. David tried to lie - said he left me a voicemail, he didn't, said he had my landlord's permission, my landlord had no idea who was in my apartment. In early March, I texted David today to make sure he returned my keys to my landlord. He asked me to take my Google review down and I said no. I told him "I'm not hurting anyone, I'm telling the truth about your dishonest and unprofessional behavior." He told me he was going to sue me and when I said goodbye, he responded "f*ck you c*nt." I tried to upload the screenshots to Google but I think they were flagged for the language. The next day, my boyfriend called David. That conversation quickly devolved and David's wife took the phone and asked my boyfriend what he was afraid of. "Are you afraid he's going to r*pe her? Are you afraid he is going to beat her? Are you afraid he's going to kill her?" She also accused us of trying to ruin David's life by posting a Google review. I ended up having my locks changed and filing a police report. I think Harvard Ave Realty had my Google review flagged. Just trying to help other renters/landlords avoid dealing with a clearly unstable, unsafe human being. David (and his wife) are beyond unprofessional, they are unhinged. Avoid this company at all costs, they are unprofessional, rude, and backhanded. read more

I would totally recommend Dan Patzelt, or as my roommates and I call him, realtor Dan. He was extremely helpful in our apartment hunt process and definitely gave us the insider tips to truly find what we all wanted. The best part was that he was very accommodating, being able to meet with us and answer our questions quickly and efficiently. I do not know about havard ave realty as a whole, but I can tell you choosing realtor Dan will not be a mistake. read more

Do not work with this company for rent whatsoever. They are a bully and unprofessional. They are most disrespectful lot.

One star is too much for this business. I replied to a posting on Craigslist.com and Susan DeLeo called me. When I told her I was a grad student without a co-signer, she hung up on me. This by fat has been the most unprofessional behavior I've dealt with. These people want an arm and a leg for sub par apts. F.Y.I - if you didn't abruptly hang up on me I was going to tell you that I would be paying a year'a rent upfront in full. read more

When looking for a one bedroom apartment, don't use these guys. I had the hardest time dealing with one of their agents. Their wishy-washy too-good-to-be-true positive energy rubbed me the wrong way. They're pushy when it comes to paying the lump sum. And don't spell out the break-down of payments. They'll say one thing, then the next day call you a liar when they make up a new story about how the last-month payment isn't the same as the security deposit. I've never wanted to back out of an apartment deal MORE. read more

Since my review (3 years ago I might add) - I've been contacted multiple times being asked to remove my review. One even going so far as to say my review was the reason someone was fired. This place clearly has issues far beyond one employee. Stay away. They don't deserve business if they can't even manage their own. Also since some of the people who have messaged me have also posted 5 star reviews - I would take those with a grain of salt. They are clearly having their own employees lie and write positive reviews. read more

Romauld Paul helped me find a 1 bedroom apartment that met most of my needs, in a very professional manner. Whenever I had any issues I was promptly able to talk to him and sort it out. He got me an apartment within my budget. It was a pleasure dealing with him. read more

Didn't supply keys or show any concern regarding the need for access to mailboxes, delayed service consistently

I had a fantastic experience with this realty! David helped me find the condo of my dreams and I am forever grateful to him and his team. He had great insight, knew the area extremely well and took the time to show me many different options. When the time came to negotiate the price David made every effort to get me the best deal possible. He is extremely professional and knowledgeable. I would definitely use this realty again in the future and have told many of my friends and coworkers about the great experience I had! read more

just now DO NOT WORK WITH THIS GROUP! There is at least one realtor here, Tom, that backs out on his word & promises, gets the signature and his money and ignores you unless you flat out berate him, and hounds you days in advance for money even when you've set up an agreed upon pay date for a specific payment. Rude, misogynistic, self-serving, and VERY dishonest. Not to mention, once we made two payments for an apartment and signed the lease, my roommate moving with me suddenly started getting her personal email and phone spammed with advertisement calls and every single call and email said that David from Harvard Ave Realty provided them with her contact information... something we NEVER knowingly agreed to. There are so many other really wonderful realty companies in Boston, I suggest picking one of those ones. This is not one of them from our experience. read more

I see some negative reviews with Harvard Ave Realty, but my experience was with one agent in particular, Dan Patzelt. Dan showed us a place we unfortunately weren't too happy with once we saw the size, but we went back to his office after at 8PM and he sat with us for over an hour going through listing by listing to find something for us. He was candid regarding location, landlords, price points, etc. In the end, we found something in Brookline that was a great deal though another agency, but Dan was still in contact with us. He sent us an email asking how the search was going and once we mentioned finding a place, not only did he wish us well but he actually gave us a contact to reach out for to rent parking! If you're looking for a place in Brighton/Allston, reach out to him, I swear he knows everyone in the area. read more

Orit helped us so much to find (really fast!) exactly what we looked for! With a lot of patience and fun! She made everything so much easier (also my first time looking for n apartment in the big city!) Thank you Orit!! We love our new home!:) read more

Definitely the best real estate office in all of Boston!!!!! I've rented my apts in the past through other offices but I have to eat say, Harvard Ave Realty had the best customer service and made my apt hunt fast and easy !! I rented my apt through David who was very friendly and helpful. The other employees in the office were also very friendly Everytime I've been in the office. read more

My two roommates and I had a great experience with Maurika. Seems like the one-star reviews concern other realtors, so I'd recommend asking for her when you call! My two roommates and I got a really cute and affordable 2-bed with a roof deck through Harvard Ave. Maurika was very flexible with timing, and organized both a viewing and a lease signing after work hours, making it really convenient for us. She put us in contact with the current tenants, and we were able to negotiate over taking some of their furniture. She also helped us negotiate with the landlord about having an extra roommate when he originally only wanted to rent to two people. Additionally, she gave us her phone number and was happy to take calls outside of work hours. Maurika was able to meet us right at the apartment to get the keys instead of the office. The only issues we had were that we only got one set of keys, which was inconvenient, and we weren't entirely solid about move-in time until the day before. It was a Sept. 1 move, though, so that's how those things go. Anyway, that's why Harvard Ave is 4, not 5, stars. Overall a great experience! Would definitely work with Maurika again for housing in Brookline/Allston. read more

This company gives out your personal information to third parties. They gave RCN all of our names, email addresses and personal phone numbers without our consent. read more

The realtor constantly keeps showing apartments out of our price range. They Keep posting ads on Craigslist under the no fee section even though all their rentals have fees involved read more

I was moving cross country & eager to find someone willing to work with my via FaceTime, and with my strict budget. I was impressed by my realtors demeanor & willingness to help! Once we secured a place, I was informed the apartment would not be cleaned or painted before we moved in. We agreed to doing it ourselves on the basis we would be compensated for materials / time. We had already paid for the month and had no where else to go in the mean time. So we cleaned and painted and painted... a few weeks went by and still no compensation check... somewhere within those first few weeks we ended up locking ourselves out and had to have the door handle replaced, we were told the money would just come out of the money that we were owed... it took us three months to actually see a check and when we finally did, it barely covered the cost of the paint we purchased (which was your basic white, nothing fancy) This company ripped us off... would not recommend to a friend or anyone .. read more

Eric at Harvard Ave Realty does nothing but post bait and switch ads on Craigslist. My husband and I have each called on separate occasions about a listing that was posted weeks apart and he called each of us back saying it was suddenly rented because it was such a great place. All he wants is to get you on the phone to see what you're looking for and then try to get you into some shady apartment you wouldn't otherwise consider. Do not trust this "agency". read more

I'm a little confused and disappointed that others on this page have given Harvard Ave Realty such poor reviews. In my experience this agency is as good as it gets. I came to Boston University last summer to take some summer classes - also Boston has been on my list of places to visit for some time. Harvard Ave Realty was incredibly helpful and accommodating in my search for a short term rental for the summer. What I appreciated the most was that this whole process was entirely last minute and yet they still managed to help me find a great apartment close to campus - and within my budget! I would highly recommend Harvard Ave Realty to anyone searching for an apartment in the Boston area. 5 stars! read more

Some of these reviews make me really angry. I grew up with parents as realtors, and I've met some pretty bad ones in my day... so I know the sour taste they can leave behind in your mouth. As a freshman at BU I first looked up Inbound Realty and was SO turned off by their awful and pushy service that I didn't move off campus. As a sophomore looking for housing for my Junior Year, I stumbled upon Harvard Ave Realty and came across a Realtor named Dan Patzelt. Honestly my situation was horrific. I had two weeks to find an apartment, and I was overseas without ANY internet connection for most of my transaction. Dan worked above and beyond to get me an apartment. On top of that, when I landed in America the entire office helped me unload my 4 suitcases off the curb, into the office, and helped me move into my apartment THAT DAY (again I gave them 2 weeks notice.) Almost every agent in the office was so helpful that day. They helped me get a parking spot, worked with me even though I was probably the most difficult client they had. On top of that, I was getting a studio. That means they were making very little money on me. I have to think that some of these reviews are coming from disgruntled customers who didn't necessarily "get there way" which if you live in Boston for more than a year, you can understand not every apartment is going to be perfect for the price you're asking. Honestly, I'm not sure why some agents are getting bad reviews, but I can say I've dealt with four real estate agencies in the Allston/Brookline area and this is the ONLY one i'd recommend to a friend (and I have several times), and I'd recommend any Realtor there. read more

I can't praise Sean from Harvard Ave Realty enough, he is the best!! He was professional, efficient, and helpful. I hate it when realtors show apartments outside my criteria for the sake of showing it. Sean never did that, and was very realistic about my options. As a result, I love the apartment he found for me. The entire staff was also pleasant in general, though I don't have much experience working with anyone else. read more

Finding an apartment in Boston is never easy, and there are a lot of awful realtors out there that will show you something either out of your price range or something you explicitly said you didn't want. Luckily, I met David Sugarman who actually listened to everything I wanted, and was able to show me all the apartments that met my criteria. When I mentioned I had a friend who lived in a building I liked, he spoke with the owner to get the apartments in his inventory. What a guy! He was always professional, and had a really friendly staff whenever I was in the office. I highly recommend Harvard Ave Realty to anyone looking for an apartment in the Boston area. read more

We just signed a lease today on an apartment with Sean Paine (Champagne Sean Paine). My roommates and I were apartment searching for months with other agencies and backed out of a place with another agent just so we could give our business to Sean. Everyone at the office was incredibly friendly and helpful and we couldn't be happier about our new place. I really couldn't have asked for anything more from Harvard Ave Realty. read more

I really wish I could give this place less than one star. I just saw an ad posted yesterday for what was described as a studio in Brighton for $875 or something. I called the number and the guy who answered, who did not give his name, rudely informed me that the apartment was actually a shared two bedroom looking for a roommate, and that it was already taken. He asked what I'm looking for, and I said I'd prefer a one bedroom or studio since we're a couple with a dog. He then laughed out loud and smugly said "I'm sure I'm not the only person to tell you this, but you're going to have to realllly lower your expectations if you think you're going to find a place, ha!" Really?! What an unprofessional, derogatory response. If he hadn't responded in such an obnoxious way, I would have told him that my budget is far higher than $800 something/month, and maybe he could have found me something that met my apparently laughable criteria. Rather than explain that, I told him I wouldn't be giving my business to such a huge douche and hung up on him. He then called me back from his cell phone to say that he didn't mean to be rude and made some attempts to secure my business. I asked if I could talk to his manager, to which he replied "uh... I actually am the manager" (which I highly, highly doubt). I told him not to laugh at potential clients and hung up again. Don't give these assholes your business. Not only do they routinely engage in false advertising, their uppity agents laugh at customers seeking their business. I don't think it gets much worse than these guys. read more

Orit Aviv! She is the best! We moved from Florida to Boston, We came for a weekend to find an apartment, on the first day, right off the airport she showed us a few apartments until we found the one! a wonderful apartment! Thanks so much! you did a really good job! read more

I'm not sure why there are so many bad reviews of Harvard Ave Realty! My boyfriend and I were looking for a one bedroom off-campus to save money. We didn't have a big budget and I was picky with what I wanted. Furthermore, apartments were renting out fast! We worked with Dan Patzelt and it was only a pleasure. He was very candid about the apartments and seemed to know a lot about the area. He was accommodating to our student schedules and even picked us up/dropped us off at our dorm sometimes on the way to or from showings. Now that we've moved in, the process was easy. Dan answered all of our questions and concerns. I'd definitely recommend Harvard Ave to others! read more

Dan Patzelt is by far the greatest Agent I have dealt with. He was very respectful, friendly, and knowledgeable. Boston can certainly benefit from such a character. He was early to all appointments and managed to make appointments to view units within 24 hours notice (or less in most cases). After looking at a unit, Dan would provide his construction expertise and highlight all structural deficiencies. I felt at times that I was talking to Bob Vila. He would notice the finest details that the majority of tenants and even landlords would miss. Furthermore, Dan was completely honest, which is an absolute rarity among other agents. He would provide his personal/professional opinion on what unit suited us, regardless of cost. Lastly, if it's a rainy day, don't be surprised if Dan gives you his umbrella. read more

I cannot praise Orit Aviv highly enough--she was exactly the type of broker I didn't know I needed to secure the housing I wanted. I'd contacted Orit regarding a listing that had already been rented, but she was incredible in helping me find other options. She was transparent and honest about the apartments we saw, incredibly easy to communicate with, and proactively sent me listings that fit what I was looking for that weren't available online. I can't say enough good things about Orit: she knows what she's doing and she's good at it. Because of her I found exactly what I was looking for: she helped me navigate an ever-changing, fast-moving housing market swiftly and successfully. A process that would have been stressful and headache-inducing was made easy and painless thanks to Orit. Best broker I've ever had, hands down. read more

After the huge storm and flood in the first week of the year, I unexpectedly found myself without a car or a safe and stable place to live. I had not been planning on moving, and I was super overwhelmed as I started to look through Craigslist. Luckily, the second apartment I saw was shown to me by Orit from Harvard Realty, and I quickly knew it was a great apartment in a perfect neighborhood for me. In less than four days, I went from anxiously apartment hunting to signing a lease. Orit was shocked and very understanding when I explained my situation, and worked with me to get everything settled ASAP. read more

Unfortunately, I signed my lease before I realized how unprofessional this business was. Our realtor constantly feeds us false information (costs, move in/out dates, amenities, etc) and she is extremely unreliable. They don't respond to emails and they handle things very poorly. I would NOT recommend. read more

I never thought I would deal with such a horrible and dishonest realty. It was my first time dealing with brokers in Boston and I had no experience. The mistakes they made are uncountable. They deposited my money into the landlord's account before the deal went into fruition. They didn't give me any receipt and thought photocopying cash was an acceptable receipt. They modified the address and broker fee on the brokerage disclosure form after we signed the paper. They kept pushing for the deal to happen although it was clearly a complicated situation that we needed to walk away from. They didn't give us the addendum till lease signing day and then blamed us for not taking the house because the realtor worked so hard and they kept demanding their broker fee even though we ended up without a house and even though only 2 of the 4 people signed the broker fee agreement which clearly sated that: all prospective tenants must sign prior to moving forward with the application. when I went to get my money back, they didn't give me all of it, and David, the owner, was very rude to me and treated me disrespectfully and charged me a $200 application fee though only 2 people signed the applications. I am still in the process of the dealing with the landlord to get my money back. All of this wouldn't have happened had they been professional and ethical. read more

Extremely unprofessional, unprepared, and awkward. Viewing apartments with the Realtor here was a waste of my time, and one of the most uncomfortable experiences I've ever been in. read more

I worked with Tom and David at Harvard Ave Realty and both were great. I appreciated their honesty, professionalism, and that they didn't try to sell me on or show me apartments out of my price range. Tom was very responsive, professional, and worked hard to show me apartments that met my criteria. This was by far one of the more pleasant experience I've had with a realty company in Boston. I'd gladly work with them again if I need to find another apartment in the Boston area. read more

I found Harvard Ave Realty and Orit by chance while looking at apartments online. Orit Aviv has been amazing in helping me find an apartment AND signing the lease in one day. She also gave me her honest opinion for each place we visited by taking my situation into account, which surprised me to say the least. If you need a trustworthy and helpful broker to help you find an apartment around the area, then choose Orit. read more

I can only say amazing things about David and his team! Professional and get the job done!! David has found amazing tenants for my units for the past 3 years and any time there was an issue, all calls or emails were answered promptly - Professional and a pleasure to work with! They take the stress out of the hands of the landlord and even make the moving or changing of tenants process an easy one! I recommend Harvard Ave Realty for landlords and tenants!!!! read more

Like many, I abhor the Boston housing market. And I find the brokerage system to be borderline criminal, so I'm not often warm towards realtors. But Orit Aviv was different, and tremendously helpful. She did not push an apartment, and seemed honest about its ups and downs. Those are not givens, and good signs-- but where she really impressed me was putting together the paperwork that same day and pushing the deal through. It made the hassle factor for me significantly, significantly less. If I'm ever looking in Boston again, I'd call Orit rather than look through listings. Really that good. read more

I had a great experience working with David. He was on time for my appointment and even stayed a little later than he normally does to show me a place and accommodate my schedule. He was honest about both apartments that he showed me, both the positive and potential downside, but I loved one and ended up signing a lease that night. I was lucky because the building works exclusively with him. He wasn't pushy like most other realtors that I've dealt with. It was a really pleasant process, and I will be recommending him to anyone that needs a realtor. read more

One of the worst real estate agencies I've ever dealt with in Boston! Very unprofessional and unfriendly staff (I dealt with David). Appointments mean nothing with this company. I do not have one good thing to say about this place. Avoid at all costs!!! read more

I had the opportunity to work with Orit and I had a great experience. I can't say enough good things about Orit that haven't been said before -- the reviews are great because Orit is great! Next time I move, she will be the first agent I call. read more