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8.6/ 10
Very good
Recommended without reservation
Tom Nicklow has run Minnetonka Realty, a brokerage carrying the city's name, as broker/owner for the past 14 years, inside a firm with more than three decades of history there. He has sold Twin Cities residential real estate since 1984, holds the NAR's GRI designation, and was named a Mpls/St Paul Magazine "Super Agent" in 2023 and 2024. He works alone rather than leading a team, and covers a broad mix of property types — lakeshore, distressed, land — rather than one narrow niche.
Pros
- ✓Broker/owner of Minnetonka Realty for 14 years inside a firm carrying the Minnetonka name for more than three decades; 35 years of personal experience in Twin Cities residential sales dating to 1984.
- ✓Brokerage carries an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and a 5.0 company rating on Angi; Nicklow was named a Mpls/St Paul Magazine "Super Agent" in both 2023 and 2024.
- ✓Construction background cited repeatedly in client testimonials as useful for pre-listing prep, staging guidance, and realistic pricing conversations.
Cons
- ✗Operates as a solo broker/owner rather than leading a team, so there is no dedicated buyer's agent or listing coordinator to hand off to.
- ✗A specific, independently verifiable review count or star rating on major consumer platforms such as Zillow or homes.com could not be confirmed publicly at the time of writing.
- ✗Marketing spans a wide range of niches — lakeshore and cabin property, distressed sales, land, rentals — rather than one narrow focus, which may not suit buyers wanting a specialist in a single niche.
Agent overview
Tom Nicklow is the broker/owner of Minnetonka Realty, Inc., a firm that has operated under the Minnetonka name for more than three decades. He has held the broker/owner role for 14 years, after entering real estate sales in 1984 with Better Homes Realty and later founding Timberline Realty, Inc. His 35-year career has been concentrated on Twin Cities residential transactions, with a particular emphasis on Minnetonka and the Lake Minnetonka shoreline communities the brokerage is named for.
Nicklow works as a solo broker rather than as part of a team, and pairs a background in construction with hands-on staging and marketing input before a listing goes live. Testimonials posted on his own site describe repeat clients — one couple notes it was their fourth transaction with him — and a mortgage banker's endorsement references 18 years of working alongside him on closings. He holds the NAR's Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI) designation and E-Pro certification, and Mpls/St Paul Magazine named him a "Super Agent" in both 2023 and 2024.
Core specialties
Lake Minnetonka and shoreline property
Minnetonka Realty maintains dedicated search pages for Lake Minnetonka, North and South Lake Minnetonka, and lakeshore/cabin listings, reflecting a long-standing focus on waterfront inventory in the area the brokerage is named for.
Construction-informed listing prep
Nicklow's construction background shows up in client testimonials that credit him with practical pre-listing guidance — assessing a home's condition and recommending repairs, staging, or presentation changes before it goes to market.
Commission & fees
Not publicly disclosed on the brokerage site or third-party profiles; no standard rate is advertised.
Who this agent is for
Sellers wanting a construction-savvy read on their home
His construction background and decades of listing experience suit owners who want direct, practical advice on repairs, staging, and pricing before going to market.
Buyers or sellers focused specifically on Minnetonka or the Lake Minnetonka shoreline
Three decades of concentrated activity in Minnetonka and the surrounding lake communities make him a reasonable fit for a search confined to that footprint rather than a broad metro-wide search.
Not for
Buyers or sellers who want a larger team with dedicated buyer's agents and round-the-clock coverage, since Nicklow operates as a solo broker/owner.
Verdict
Nicklow is a long-tenured, hyper-local Minnetonka broker with genuine longevity and a construction-informed approach to listings. The solo structure and broad service menu make him a reasonable fit for a straightforward local transaction rather than for buyers seeking a large team or a narrowly focused luxury or new-construction specialist.
Score: 8.6 / 10 · Very good
Areas served
Common questions about Tom Nicklow
How long has Tom Nicklow been in real estate?
He has sold Twin Cities real estate since 1984 and has served as broker/owner of Minnetonka Realty, Inc. for the past 14 years, after earlier founding Timberline Realty, Inc.
Does he work solo or as part of a team?
Solo. Minnetonka Realty's public materials profile only Nicklow as broker/owner, with no roster of additional buyer's or listing agents.
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