Susie Han
Working with one of the team members at Engel & Volkers exemplified everything that's broken with our profit-driven system when those who provide the least societal value reap the most rewards. Phil Di Ruggiero provided negligible communication through a months long process, neglected to comply with contractual obligations by final walk through, and most egregiously, was patronizing and condescending throughout. You know what would've been better use of money than paying him? Paying teachers, donating to the Palestinian fight against genocide, funding a dogs birthday party, literally anything but paying someone like him. I had the displeasure of working with him as my counterparty (him representing the sellers) as I purchased my home with a co-buyer. We admittedly had a complicated deal, which requires a lot of communication and trust. He fostered neither. He sent emissaries from the get go to meet us in person when we toured the property and rarely responded to our emails asking basic questions about updates. Finally, the day of our signing when we met him, I walked into a "final walk through" with none of the contractual obligations met (doors and windows to be fixed) that he and the sellers had well over 2 months to fix. I assume it was some cheap, strategic play to save 1k, in case the signing didn't actualize. When confronted, he patronized me and leveled accusations that I was "being emotional", asking to speak to my realtor (coincidentally the only male on the buyers side). To be honest, I wouldve given him the benefit of the doubt and excused most of the above, if he had simply apologized for the failures and humbly acknowledged what went wrong. instead, choosing to antagonize me for being reasonably upset, was a hugely disappointing part of what was supposed to be a celebratory moment for me and my co-owner and I have no qualms about being vocal in the moment to express it.
