Nest Seekers nabs top Citi Habitats broker

Rado Varchola, a top broker at Citi Habitats, joined Nest Seekers International today, The Real Deal has learned. Citi Habitats named Varchola the Top Individual of the year by overall production and Top Individual of the year in sales in 2011.

Varchola, whose business is focused on Manhattan sales, said he was attracted to Nest Seekers for the brokerage’s emphasis on sales, rather than rentals, as well as its “high quality” marketing materials and advertising campaigns.

“Nest Seekers is providing support and resources that I think will allow my business to grow in a way that I’ve been trying to grow in the last few years, and take it to another level,” said Varchola, who noted that he is leaving Citi Habitats on friendly terms.

Best known for its vast rental business, Citi Habitats is changing up its business strategy, as The Real Deal has reported. Recently, the firm replaced its no-frills blue logo with an edgier black and white version, swapping the slogan “More broker per sq ft” for “Sales + Rentals. Knowledge + Guidance.” The firm is also closing its Gramercy-area offices and renovating its headquarters at 250 Park Avenue South and its West Village office.

Varchola said that he had been thinking of making a move prior to the rebranding took effect.

He will keep the title of senior vice president at Nest Seekers, and will be based out of the firm’s headquarters at 415 Madison Avenue.

“We are very excited to work with [Varchola] and we look forward to help him grow his business further,” Nest Seekers CEO Eddie Shapiro said in a statement.

Varchola’s biggest deal last year involved representing the buyers of the last sponsor unit at the Brompton, a Related Companies’ condominium project on the Upper East Side. The four-bedroom apartment had been listed for $5.1 million, but ultimately sold for $4.3 million, or 14.8 percent below the final asking price, according to Streeteasy.com.

Varchola, who has been an agent since 1997, joined Citi Habitats in 2004. Previously, he was at Manhattan Apartments.

“I’m excited,” Varchola said. “I’m ready to start a new era and hope this move is going to prove it’s been the right one.”

A representative for Citi Habitats did not respond to requests for comment.