I had a wonderful experience with Thiago! We found him personable, reliable and consistent. At every turn he proved he was working in our best interest, and super invested in finding us the apartment that we would love AND would meet our needs whilst keeping within our budget. Apartment hunting in Astoria can be a headache and Thiago was a breath of fresh air. Highly recommend him and the folks at Zikos Realty. read more

This review is coming from someone who has a serious case of apartment hunt PTSD. I've had two apartments in Manhattan both experiences were a complete disaster. A much needed change of scenery brought me to Astoria, which is how I stumbled upon Zikos. A blessing in disguise? I think so! It took less than 24 hours from walking into the office to signing a lease. Thiago was an amazing broker who explained everything very carefully, was attentive, and made the process incredibly easy. I even got to meet the landlord face-to-face at the lease signing. What I appreciate the most is that this isn't some huge management company, but rather, you really feel like it is family owned and they care about the Astoria neighborhood very much. Needless to say, Zikos is great and I feel very lucky to have worked with them! read more

Peter was my agent and he was very helpful in helping me get an apartment with a limited amount of time during the pandemic -- a miracle worker! Extremely professional & friendly guy with extensive knowledge of the area who always met me on time for appointments and, unlike other agents I've had in the past, I didn't feel extreme pressure to make a decision immediately (which I hate). He had no problem showing me any of the apartments again for a second time if I wanted and I would definitely recommend him and his company if you're looking to rent an apartment. read more

I had a wonderful experience working with Peter. You can tell he knows Astoria really well and has your best interest in mind. He was very attentive throughout the process of finding my rental and applying for it, and stayed in contact right up until move in day. I would definitely recommend his services to anyone who is looking to move to Astoria! read more

The deal had to be arranged quickly and Nicholas couldn't have been more helpful. Incredibly professional, understanding, flexible, and friendly. I was lucky to have worked with Nicholas and couldn't recommend him more. You'll be in great hands! Thank you, Nick. read more

I lucked out. The first place they showed me was amazing and I ended up taking it. They were very nice and accommodating. My landlord wanted two months deposit and they talked him back down to one for me. When I was sitting waiting, they gave me greek pastry! I'd much rather support them than a pushy broker from a big real estate chain. read more

Great service by Michael A. I don't understand the basis for most of these complaints, especially the one at the bottom by Emily E. You don't think its appropriate for a broker, who is an *agent* of a landlord, to ask initial screening questions? Just like you wouldn't want to waste your time with a broker or landlord who wouldn't show you good places, a broker doesn't want to waste his time with people browsing listings for fun. He's also got experience doing this and would likely be able to direct you as the consumer to better listings if he had more information about your income, etc. Of course, you don't have to give it, it's a free country, and I'm sure he was gracious about you declining to do so. As for my experience, it was great. He was friendly, professional, and accommodating. My cousin and I went to about six different realties in Astoria and they were all hit-or-miss in terms of the quality of the apartments shown. You can't really blame a broker for showing an apartment that you don't like - it's probably because your price range is unrealistically low. As with all things, it required a little bit of luck. All you can ask a broker to do is be available, be reasonable with their fee, and be honest about the apartment. Michael was all of those. (And this is a legit review, I am in no way affiliated with Zikos.) read more

I am Ann Marie A.'s roommate. I can confirm that they sure indeed did show us basement apartments. I consider a basement anything you have to walk downstairs to when you're on the first floor and with a high window view of the ground. In fact, the first one looked like a crime scene. The apartment was completely trashed and dirty, dirty dishes on the stove (one of the dirty pots had a bunch of old mail in it also, wtf). I don't think Peter was a total asshole, but he was really condescending and also I just didn't feel like he had our interest in mind at all. He was a salesman through and through, which I can't fault him for entirely since that IS his job, but he was mildly sleezy about it. He would show us apartments and vaguely promise to get us lower rent. He would constantly tell us "You really need to go over 1,600... I hardly have any two bedrooms for 1,600, no one spends that little on good apartments here." He pretty much acknowledged what he was showing us was s#!t. Some of them were okay, but most of them were kinda awful. But at times he was friendly. The way the management has responded to a negative review on Yelp by lying constantly also doesn't bode well for them. I never even met or seen this "Chris" person or knew she existed before Ann posted her review (she apparently confirmed that when replying to Ann's review by claiming we were lying and were from the competition because how could anyone POSSIBLY have a bad thing to say about Peter) so I don't even know how she thinks she'll have any idea about what went down between us and Peter. And the last apartment he showed us was pretty good, but at this point in the process, Peter acted like he was just annoyed with us, so when we tried to talk about the apartment, HE ADVISED US to wait on it because he didn't want to deal with it. So, we just went to another broker and saw several apartments that were both in our prices range and below it and were 10x better than the places Zikos showed us. So yeah, would not recommend. read more

The negative reviews somewhat surprised me as our two experiences with them were pretty good. But I guess if you get shown what you want, you'll like a realtor, if you don't see what you want, you'll dislike them. We went to them in 2010 when we were moving to NY from Boston and they showed us three apartments in our price range that we wanted which was nice considering the awful results we had with a realtor in Brooklyn. Complications arose with the first landlord (her son was a control freak and rejected our ~650 credit scores) and the second apartment got snapped up so we opted for the third. We went back in 2011, and they showed us just one apartment on 33rd (which is a blessing really, don't waste our time with apartments that aren't what we're looking for). We loved the place and snapped it up that same day. They generously waived the application fee since we were repeat customers and were always polite and friendly when we stopped by to ask a question. They actually helped us get back our deposit from the first place after the landlord withheld it without cause. For that, we were really happy. I cannot speak for all the agents because both times we were shown around by Harry Zikos, the owners son, but he was great. He was about our age and didn't give us the usual realtor nonsense of exaggerating how good places were and telling white lies about distance to subway or the noise in the building etc. As with all realtors, do your homework and shop around. If you're reading Yelp reviews, you know how to work google maps to test out the distance to the subway etc, and you know to be on your toes in a very often slimy business. read more

Avoid at all costs. I caught one of their real estate agents in a lie, and he became belligerent. My impression from waiting in the office is that the entire staff at Zikos is sleazy and unreliable. --------How I assign ratings on Yelp (which I put at the bottom of all my reviews): 5 stars = Better than great, both in service and product. This place is completely unimprovable. It is among my favorites of its kind. 4 stars = Great. Product and service are consistently what I want. 3 stars = Not bad. This place is good but unremarkable. 3 is the lowest rating I will give to a place that I would still go to. 2 stars = Bad, either in service or in product. I won't go back to places that have a rating of 2 or below. 1 star = Worse than bad. Offensive somehow. The staff might be outright hostile or dishonest, or the product itself might be harmful. read more

We were looking for an apartment for our daughter in Astoria, walked down Ditmars Blvd and by chance walked in and met Thiago Pinto. All the stress of having to find a place was made easy. 1st class, very professional and he showed us all the listings that he had. Found us a apartment in the area and price range we wanted and put the deal together. Very good communication and email follow ups. Went down last night, signed the lease and are very happy with the professionalism he showed throughout the whole transition. If ever in need of of real estate service this is the go to broker. read more

Were recommended by friends, worked specifically to Athena and Michael, and were very disappointed. Shot down our budget as unrealistic as soon as we walked in--even though they were advertising apartments for that rate themselves--then never called to set up appointments. I called them a few days later to get the ball rolling myself on setting up those appointments, was told I'd be called back in a few minutes, and never heard anything from them again. Chose not to call them again, and worked with a different company instead with which we had an amazing experience. Haphazard luck at best with this company: some friends of ours had a good experience, some had worse experiences than we did. Generally a disappointment. read more

Two words: COMPLETELY UNPROFESSIONAL!!!!!! If I could give a lower star rating-I would. While most New Yorkers are aware that it is easier to sell your soul that get an accurate apartment listing on craigslist...dealing with shady brokers is part of the territory. But this agency actually hinds behind a pretty nice façade that makes them seem trusting and legit. Until my family and I showed up (with our two year old daughter) to our pre-scheduled time appointment. Then we were told they had to call the landlord, then the landlord in fact wasn't available, then as usual the sales pitch on every other apartment that doesn't meet any of the requirements we came in for, then we were told we could come back later. WELL THEN, WHY IN THE HELL WOULD WE HAVE COME DOWN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! (Toddler in tow, and now dangerously close to nap time) When we called the agent out on the sheer inconvenience of this and how unprofessional it is to set fictional appointment and disrespect peoples time. Then he started badgering us, and before we know it a woman came out of nowhere and started harassing us as well. I took my paperwork with me and she was trying to get it back and was yelling and following us to the front door. Needless to say that I've dealt with my fair share of brokers, but these people were a piece of work. I would never go back here or invest my money in a brokers fee for people who are too lazy to do their actually jobs and too inconsiderate to admit when they don't respect other peoples time. read more

Nick is the MAN! After seeing a few not-so-great apartments in Astoria I saw an ad for an apartment that seemed to be just what I was looking for and called up Nick. (I had not dealt with Zikos before.) After a quick stop to his office he took me to the apartment and I fell in love with it right away. He also had another apartment to show me so instead of jumping the gun I decided to look at that place too, and the second apartment also fit my criteria to a T! I still decided on the first apartment and wanted to grab it right away so plopped down some cash to hold it. I went to this office to fill out a few of the paper formalities for approval and within just a couple of hours the landlords accepted me! During the entire process Nick (and the agency) were very clear about the policies and procedures and at no point did he pressure me. (No pressure needed!) He arranged the lease signing and told me there was no rush to pay the broker fee, as long as it was paid before I moved in. The bottom line is - Nick and Zikos showed me two great apartments, were very honest about everything and made the whole experience smooth and painless. (Dare I say, exciting!?) read more

This review is long overdue. I kind of promised them a review a year ago so here I am. See Christine? I did not forget! Now, nobody can promise you that you will find a good place with any broker. That's a lot of luck involved. But what I can tell you about Zikos Realty is that they are extremely straight forward people who you can rely on. Realtors... they want to make money and they do it by introducing you to houses you like. It's business. It's straight forward, and no drama. That's the experience I got with Peter Zikos. I will give Zikos a good score not only because they (and I) were lucky enough to get matched with a good apartment, but because Peter's time was so flexible it made everything easy. You like the house and he will get it for you. He will answer all your questions efficiently and bluntly. I secretly think Peter has a workaholics problem, even amongst brokers. In short... no you will not get served cake and yes you will get charged an arm and a leg if you do not already have your credit score. But no... you will not get unnecessary drama and you will not feel pressure. Go in, get shown housing, get told the truth, sign papers, pay them lots of money, and you're done :) edit: I've read the negative reviews here so I want to address some concerns too. Yes you have to sign a paper that says they represent the landlord, not you. That doesn't change the fact that you control how much they make. Don't let it bug you. Also be realistic. When they say they do not have below a certain price, its not like they're lying to you. Keep it business and keep in mind you're not the only party investing time here. read more

Finding a apartment in New York can be so stressful, this would be my fourth time. I saw the apartment my fiancé and I have been looking for and right away Thiago helped us through the whole process. He is so genuine and kind and our whole lease signing process was so smooth and enjoyable. Thiago, you're beyond wonderful and we thank you so much for helping us with our new home! read more

Nick at Zikos Realty helped me get a beautiful apartment. Very easy to work with. Did a great job of explaining anything I was uncertain about. Easy to talk to and kept me up to date with where things were at. Really could not have asked for a better experience. read more

I cannot say enough good about our experience with our broker, Thiago, and Zikos Realty. We contacted Thiago through a listing we had found on a website. Within an hour, he responded. After talking to him on the phone, we set up an appointment for that evening to see the place we had contacted him about as well as another place he thought we might like. The first place was good, but the second place was everything my fiance and I were looking for and in our price range! My fiance was running late, but Thiago and the owner were kind enough to wait and let us poke around the apartment as much as we wanted. We put in the application the next morning, were approved by the afternoon, and signed the lease the following night. Everything was handled quickly, efficiently, and professionally. Thiago is a professional who understands what his clients are looking for. He was a delight to work with and I will surely recommend my friends to work with Thiago and Zikos in the future! read more

I was honestly scared to meet Alex due to the reviews I read on yelp!! I will also add that I am paying a lot for a small apartment, but this is NYC :-) I was in a major bind as I had to move within a week with little notice. I met with Alex and he was very upfront about all fees and was well informed about the property and the landlord. He told me exactly what I needed to provide, put up with my late night text messages on a Sunday and receiving financial documents at all hours. Alex always responded and was available to answer all questions I had. I signed my lease today with Mr. Zikos and the landlord. Both accommodating and pleasant to work with. I HATE to pay the broker fee, but I am happy with the results :-) If you are willing to pay a fee for the perfect apartment then I absolutely recommend Alex at Zikos Realty!!! read more

Moving to Astoria from Hoboken, NJ, I had heard all manner of stories about how miserable working with brokers was when trying to find an apartment in NYC. However, after speaking with Nick from Zikos Realty when my search began, I immediately felt at ease. Upon meeting with him in person along with one of my two roommates, I felt equally comfortable and I appreciated his honesty and directness. Believe it or not, the first and only place Nick showed us ended up being the place we're currently renting. Throughout the entire process, Nick was extremely responsive and helpful in answering every question we asked him, and he was able to work with our landlord to negotiate a price that worked for all parties involved. He was also very patient and understanding when our landlord required one of us to get a guarantor. Naturally, the broker fee was one month's rent, but it was 100% worth it to have someone as thorough and professional as Nick working on our behalf. Having only worked with Nick I can't speak to the experience you would have with other realtors at this firm, but if they're all like Nick I'm sure you would pleased. I'm so grateful that this wasn't the difficult process it could have been, and if I move again in Astoria Nick will be the first person I call. He was born and raised here, he knows the area really well, and he did a great job for us. Thanks again, Nick! read more

I would highly recommended Zikos to anyone looking for an apartment/Condo in Astoria. They were really great and showed us exactly what we were looking for- and were not pushy or annoying like most brokers I have dealt with at other companies. read more

I was stressing about finding a place for November 1st until I met Thiago. He radiated positivity and knowledge about the area and working with the right owners. We saw about 6 apartments and when I asked for his honest feedback he gave it. I really really recommend him as well as Zikos as a whole for your housing needs. Saving up to potentially buy a place next! read more

Thiago was incredibly helpful and accommodating during my search. I never used a broker before, and I was concerned with not liking the experience. But Thiago exceeded my expectations and I am so grateful and glad that I used his services. He was thoughtful of my time and not only understood quickly what I wanted but also helped me undertand what I could expect within my price range. Luckily, because he was able to show me three sites on the spot, I was able to make an informed decision and sign a lease for a space that I know I would not have been able to find on my own. I probably won't be leaving this place any time soon, but if I ever move again, I'll definitely go back to Thiago for help. Thanks for all your help! read more

OKAY EVERYONE after months of Chris from Zikos harassing me and updating her comments on my review, I present you with a list of things you need to know about Zikos: -They DO NOT have rent controlled apartments. Buildings are legally required to have rent control IF they meet certain requirements. Many of the buildings in Astoria, buildings that Zikos represents, do not meet them. See here for more info on rent control standards: http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/dhcr/dhcr1.html If they are proposing to get you an apartment that is rent-controlled, I would ask for proof on paper. -They don't seem to understand that first floor and basement are not the same thing. -They are landlord's brokers, meaning the interests of the landlord comes before the interest of the tenant. Don't believe me? You have to sign an agreement in their office acknowledging that they are landlord's brokers. For those of you dealing with a broker for the first time (unfortunately Zikos was the first broker I ever dealt with), here's an explanation of the difference between a landlord and tenant broker: http://www.npspace.com/Publish/page14.html Ideally, you want a tenant broker. -Well, you've seen it here, they can't take a bad review! Instead of stepping up their business, they spend the last three months (yeah, the original review was posted in June) trying to beg me to take it down, finally saying that I should get a life. I'm the one who should get a life when they're still responding to a review I posted three months ago. I've blocked them and reported them. Maybe they should focus more on doing their job and less on trashing customers on Yelp. Oh and just in case she takes it down, let me just put Chris' most recent correspondence right here: Comment from Chris Z. of Zikos Realty 9/1/2011 « Hide Girls we showed you 5 Rent Stabilized apartments, I don't now what else we could do for you.... WHY DON'T YOU JUST GET A LIFE??! Oh and LOL she's their customer service rep. Laugh about that all the way to another broker's office. Happy apartment hunting! read more

I don't normally write reviews, but this company-and specifically the agent Thiago-is beyond deserving. Found my apartment on a weeknight and was signed the very next day. It was a very smooth process with professional, kind and courteous employees who really have their client's best interest in mind and will get you a FANTASTIC deal. I have used other companies/agents in the past and the customer service, on top of the quality of homes/apartments, of Zikos realty, is simply beyond compare. Thiago made finding my new home not only simple and stress-free but also a pleasure. I will only be using them for all my future realty needs, and recommend them with highest praise to EVERYONE. read more

After what seemed like an endless apartment search we luckily found Thaigo! He had great apartments to choose from and was super helpful and communicative throughout the whole process. I would 100% recommend working with Thaigo, he helped us find an amazing apartment! read more

I completely second/third these responses. I was put in a horrible living situation where as a 27 year old female got noise complaints at 10pm by my landlord who lived upstairs. Was told by teh landlord that I was killing his family by smoking ciggarettes in the apt. AND was yelled at constantly until after 2 weeks I needed to move out and get a lawyer involved to get me out of the lease. read more

Had no problem with the realtors...sales-y but nothing out of the ordinary. Now the listings....WAY OVERPRICED. It's always best to browse w/ a few realtors before deciding, even though in NYC good apts are gone in a flash! Update: 1/21/12 - After a message from both owners (on the yelp review itself and in a private message) asking me to remove my comment and questioning if I was even at their office, I feel it necessary to elaborate. I have friends who were looking to move into the city and so to help them pretty much not end up in a terrible situation, I went around to various properties with them throughout the week in Astoria...working with 3 different realty companies. So I would not be in the Zikos system, but I was there throughout the entire experience. I give this business one star because of all the companies we worked with, this one had properties that were the same in price as the other companies, but drastically worse in quality. It was to an extent where I questioned the relationship that Zikos has with the apartment owners in the Astoria community. This is an honest review and if the owners feel so strongly about my comment, perhaps they should channel that energy into building a positive relationship with their future clients. read more

My boyfriend and I needed to find an apartment and have been looking on Streeteasy for potential listings. I was getting anxious and nervous that we wouldn't find a place even though we still had 4-5 weeks before we had to move out of our current spot. It's crazy how quick the really good apartments disappear after a day - especially in Astoria! We found one that we liked with the move-in date that was close to our move-out date and reached out to the realtor listed, which turns out to be Thiago from Zikos. I spoke with Thiago and gave him the parameters of our search and he said he'll show us a few listings he had. So we set up an appointment that weekend. He showed us 4 spots within the price range that we had and was very truthful and honest throughout the whole time. He also is very knowledgeable and passionate about helping people find the right apartments and you can tell especially when he tells you that he dreams about apartments in his sleep! All in all, we found the one we wanted that same day and decided to apply and were approved. We signed the lease the next day and everything else is history. I highly recommend the Zikos team! They are fair, honest, and really want to help you. read more

These guys really go above and beyond -- earnest, straight shooters & incredibly helpful. Last year, when I was a student, they had the exclusive listing to an apartment I was interested in and worked with me and the LL to make it happen. I was so impressed by their professionalism and fair-dealing that I went back to them again this year for a new place. Peter and Thiago (with whom I interacted with for my first and second leases, respectively) are absolute pros. A 10 minute in person conversation with Thiago, this time around, about what I was looking for (and acceptable trade-offs) produced great leads and, ultimately, a new place. Thiago explained the rental market values (and the current downward price trend), subway stop by subway stop, which helped in jumping on a good deal when it came up. Both of these guys have been above reproach in my interactions with them -- which can't be said of many other brokers. And they're humble to boot. I would absolutely do business with them again. read more

I generally dislike dealing with brokers, but in searching for apartments in Astoria it makes sense as a lot of the landlords I met while looking were Greeks and spoke limited English. I can see how going through a broker (most of the brokers we dealt with could speak Greek too) would be easier for them, even though it makes getting an apartment twice as expensive for the renter. Also, yes, they will ask many questions in the beginning. Any responsible landlord or broker is going to want to know your salary, budget, and living situation before they start dealing with you. Astoria is a nice neighborhood and the landlords care about their properties and who they rent to, since they typically will be your neighbors, also. So you need to show up ready with proof of income/employment and all that jazz if you want to snag a good place. But anyway, by the time we showed up at Zikos we were desperate, since all the other brokers we'd dealt with had either just not had the units they'd advertised or the units were ridiculously bad. We spoke with Mike after responding to an ad on Craigslist I found on my phone in a last ditch effort to have our day of apt hunting not be a total waste. He met us a few minutes later at the apartment, which was being renovated but was the perfect size, location, and price. We were sold immediately, and even though everything was very quick and we had to part with $1000 cash to hold the apartment (yeah, we handed $1000 cash to a guy we'd just met over Craigslist - NYC real estate makes you do crazy things) everything turned out okay. These guys are a lot more professional than a number of brokers I've dealt with. The apartment was being renovated, like I said, but Mike assured us it would be done in time for our move-in and even sent us photos of the progress! Very thoughtful. Then, the week before we were to sign our lease and move in, I found through the bed bug registry that the building had had bedbugs in the past (years ago, but still.) I franctically texted Mike about it, and he assured me it wouldn't be a problem. I was extremely upset, thinking we'd been had, since it was too late and expensive to walk away at that point. But then, Mike showed up to our lease signing with a carbon copy of an inspection summary from a pest control company showing that they'd had them out there that week, just for us, to get official proof that the building was clear. It wasn't something he had to do, but he said he wanted us to know we were dealing with good people. He made a copy of it for us to keep. It was wonderful of him. Sure enough, we've been living in the apartment for 4 months now and haven't had any problems. The landlord is great, it's a family-owned building, and they were honest with us and there are absolutely no bedbugs (BELIEVE me - I check all the time because I do that anyway wherever I am). Also, Mike stayed in touch throughout the whole process, made sure everything worked out with getting our keys, introduced us to the super and the landlord, bascially made himself available even after we signed, which is rare with brokers. So, in the end, these guys are good to work with and I would recommend them to friends. Yes, having to go through a broker is frustratingly expensive, but we felt like Mike did his best to earn his fee, which is a lot more than I can say about people I've dealt with in the past! read more

Good broker experience. Very friendly service, no one is hurrying you to put money down. Peter listened to my housing needs and showed me exactly what I needed, the second viewing was a winner :) Would definitely recommend. read more

ATTN: dated 4/6/12 below is a review I wrote about my experience with Zikos. I originally rated the business experience with 1 star. I since changed it to 4 stars because, while the service was great, there were a few clarifications that could have been made up front (for instance to know that we could reach out to them if we had extensive trouble with our landlady). We did not know this was the case and now that we know we are grateful for it. They know to do so now. Of further importance, I want to say that I have not been threatened or asked by Zikos to alter my review prior to visiting their office today. In fact, a few weeks ago Christine Zikos, owner of Zikos Realty, messaged me and thanked me for my post. She wanted to make things write and to hold those accountable who are at fault in the office. With this information in mind, here is the explanation as to why I changed my review: Today, July 6th, 2012, my roommate and I went in to the Zikos office to request a copy of our original receipts for the financial transactions we made in July 2011. We were not hostile but we were met with hesitant representatives who, understandably, did not immediately understand why we came in. For this reason we were told that we would need to speak with Mr. Zikos Sr. to be able to view those records. Within the first 15 minutes of us being in there, Mr. Zikos as well as Athena, one of the representatives were at the office after Michael and Harry called them to come in and help clarify details in the situation. What was the situation, you ask? The situation was that throughout this year, within the bounds of our contract with our landlady, we have experienced how dishonest and unethical she is. We have confronted her on lying to us on numerous occasions and multiple things through the year. In fact, the staff at Zikos today were appalled to learn of the ways she had mislead them and us. For one she told them she lived our building. She does not. Her own apartment is about one ave south and 6-7 blocks East of us. We found this information online through tax assessments. She never told us her adress and her phone is restricted number (both things should have tipped us off to her sketchiness. If you'd like to avoid this apartment, message me) Our most recent conflict with her was that she claimed we never paid our last months rent (and only paid broker fee, security deposit, and security deposit). GIven her track record, we wanted to consult Zikos as to whether this was true. Mr. Zikos was kind enough to pull up his records of our receipt (WORD OF ADVICE: GET RECEIPTS FOR EVERY FINANCIAL TRANSACTION AND DON'T LOSE IT!) He made a photocopy showing us that we did not actually pay the last months rent in what she received up front. Zikos was sorry to inform us because we told them the troubles we've had with her. Half the staff have said they refuse to be the one to show that apartment now and Mr. Zikos promised that whoever ends up taking the apartment will be told that the heat is questionable and the apartment has had bedbugs. All I can do is trust him as I am incapable of policing the issue myself. They had no idea that this was the case and they said that had they known they would've defended us and had the issues tended to. We didn't know we could reach out to them for this. I trust them with this because they went out of their way to provide us with the information we requested today, showing their desire to help. Zikos also pointed out that for every 20 apt's they "sell," there is one bad review made. Generally, they found, that the problems people have are with their landlord and not Zikos. I admit that I took my frustration towards our incredibly unethical landlady out on the Zikos staff. I owe Michael and Athena apologies respectively for that. The problem with their industry is that people seldom write reviews of their experience when things go well, but people go to town when things go poorly. I agree that this is unfair to Zikos. They know that websites like Yelp exist and Zikos tries their best because they know that websites like this keep businesses honest. Many realtors in NYC pay Yelp to only show positive reviews. Zikos says they do not and I can only trust them on that. In all, Zikos tended to the mess between us and our landlady, they confirmed had we come to them sooner, they would've done their best to help, & they were apologetic that we had such a terrible time with our landlady. They wished that by law they had the right to inquire further about her status/past tenants, but they can't discriminate. They suggested to me and to all potential customers to ask the landlady themselves what sorts of problems the apartment has. She is required by law to comply if questioned and she is liable if she lies. This is the tenants' job, not the realtor.. So: -Keep all receipts, and pay landlady by check -Ask landlady for her address ahead of moving in "Trust, but verify" - Ronald Reagan Spencer I. read more

Do not recommended this Zikos group. I had an appointment at 10am on a Sunday with a agent name William at location 31-21 Ditmars blvd, Astoria. He didn't show up, no message return, and phone call return. Very unprofessional. And then I went to other real estate office in the same area and they told me their services are famous for crappy! I can tell! read more

We just went into Zikos after visiting another extremely helpful and friendly realtor in Astoria, and after filling out the application form, we were basically booted out the door. Complaints are as follows: 1. We showed up at 11:30AM on a Friday and had to be let in to an empty office by a man who stayed in his coat the entire time, seemingly anxious to leave. 2. We filled out an application and then, after a short, relatively abrupt financial quiz that made me extremely uncomfortable for a first meeting (what's your credit like? how do you show proof of income?), we were told that 95% of the landlords he deals with will not allow pets. When we pushed that that's what we are looking for, a cat-amenable apartment, he basically said, "well, if you can find anything online, the best of luck to you. I don't have anything like that now." And we were unceremoniously ushered out of the office. 3. Not a minute later, we looked behind us, and the man was locking up and leaving the office himself... apparently eager for his next appointment. All I can say is RUDE. INCREDIBLY RUDE AND NOT AT ALL HELPFUL. 'Cause, you know, when you're looking for an apartment, what you really want is to feel like you'll never find one and that no one wants to help you. WHAT A GOOD WAY TO STAY IN BUSINESS, ZIKOS! Don't go to Zikos. I never will again. read more

Thiago was responsive, very nice, and happy to help. Thanks for everything!

After helping some friends that were apartment hunting in the Ditmars area, we met Thiago and he seemed like the only trustworthy realtor we encountered that actually listens to what you want. He found my 2 friends an awesome apartment and then I enlisted his help since many other agents were set on making a deal and not leaving the customer satisfied. After contacting me with some places I might be interested in, he showed me a few apartments and was very honest about the prices and considered the type of apartment I was looking for. I just signed a lease for an amazing apartment last week and am so glad that we met Thiago. I highly recommend the team at Zikos Realty because they provide extremely high quality service and will not quit until their clients are satisfied! read more

Apartment hunting in New York City can be a daunting task. Luckily we met Peter and had quite the opposite experience! He was kind professional and courteous from the beginning and he was quick to respond all the way through the lease signing. I cannot recommend Peter enough and I look forward to working with him again in the future. read more

I had a good experience they were nothing but nice to me. They asked me what I could afford and they helped me find something very affordable in a area I love and I'm close to the train. I didn't expect to find an apt. that had everything I needed so quickly but I did, all in the same day! It was a relief because I had already been looking for a while. Zinkos helped me find what I needed right away I only had to look at one place with them. Also, they even gave me a follow- up call to see how everything was. I'll definitely use them again and tell my friends. read more

I had a terrific experience with Peter Z. at Zikos Realty. He was super present and responsive, and replied to all my texts with lightning speed. I got a great apartment in Williamsburg, and have no complaints. read more