15 Things Our Clients Say That Might Change How You Think About Real Estate

“More than 80% of homebuyers don’t realize their agent may also represent the seller. That mistake can cost thousands.”

Buying a home in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area is already competitive and expensive. But if you’re working with a traditional real estate company—or worse, a dual agent—you’re entering the process at a serious disadvantage. When one brokerage tries to represent both sides, your best interests get watered down. Advice is vague. Negotiation power is lost. And loyalty? Split in two.

That’s why Buyer’s Edge has spent 34+ years doing things differently. Since 1991, we’ve been the first and only real estate firm in the DMV dedicated exclusively to homebuyers. No listings. No sellers. No conflicts of interest.

Here’s what our clients say about why they chose Buyer’s Edge—and why it changed their entire homebuying experience.

1. We Represent Homebuyers. Period.

When you work with Buyer’s Edge, you get a true advocate—someone whose loyalty isn’t for sale.

Clients consistently highlight the difference:

  • “They weren’t trying to sell us a house. They were trying to help us buy the right one.”

  • “It’s rare to find someone with absolutely no hidden agenda. That’s what makes Buyer’s Edge different.”

2. Our 34+ Years of Advocacy Give Us—and You—an Edge

Experience matters. For over three decades, we’ve been fighting for homebuyers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

  • 100% buyer-focused representation since 1991

  • Long-standing ethical commitment to transparency

  • No listings, no seller ties, no conflicts of interest

“Their values are baked into everything they do—and you feel that trust from day one.”

3. Dual Agency? No Thanks.

Traditional real estate companies often rely on dual agency or “designated agency,” where the same firm—or even the same agent—represents both buyer and seller. That’s a conflict of interest you can’t afford.

What’s at Risk With Dual Agency?

  • You lose confidentiality and negotiation leverage.

  • Your agent can’t give you full, honest advice.

  • Their loyalty is divided between two clients with opposing interests.

Clients are blunt:

  • “We used a dual agent once. Never again. Buyer’s Edge made us realize how exposed we were the first time.”

  • “Having someone who only worked for us changed everything. No hidden agendas, no guessing whose side they were on.”

4. Stephen Carpenter-Israel Sets the Standard

As the founder of Buyer’s Edge, Stephen Carpenter-Israel built this company to challenge an unfair system—and his clients feel the difference. With decades of hands-on renovation and market experience, Stephen sees what others miss.

Client reviews say:

  • “Stephen protected us from making a huge emotional mistake. He didn’t sugarcoat the problems in the house—even though we were ready to write an offer. That saved us thousands.”

  • “Stephen was more like a guide than a salesman. He showed us what to look for beneath the surface—and how to recognize value where others missed it.”

  • “You don’t just get a real estate expert with Stephen. You get a fiercely loyal advocate who treats your money like his own.”

5. Ben Stern Knows How to Win in Virginia and Beyond

Ben specializes in Northern Virginia’s most competitive markets, including Great Falls and Loudoun County. His calm, data-driven approach helps clients stay competitive—without overpaying.

Reviews highlight:

  • “Ben is the reason we won our dream home in Great Falls. He walked us through every detail and then crafted a perfect offer. There were four other bidders, and we still got the house—without overpaying.”

  • “Ben knew when to step in, when to pull back, and when to push just enough to win. We felt completely confident every time he spoke.”

6. Sally Sullivan Guides With Clarity and Calm

Sally is known as “the calm in the storm.” She blends deep market knowledge with patience, making even first-time buyers feel secure.

Clients praise:

  • “Sally gave us confidence at every turn. She was always responsive—even on short notice—and made what could have been overwhelming feel manageable.”

  • “She pointed out issues we would never have noticed, explained every option clearly, and never pressured us. We always felt like she was protecting us, not trying to close a sale.”

  • “Buying a home can be emotional, but Sally helped us slow down, think things through, and make the best decision for our family.”

7. Valerie Winebrenner Brings Kindness, Strategy, and Strength

Valerie’s clients love her ability to combine warmth with laser-sharp strategy. She’s especially skilled at helping buyers avoid costly mistakes.

Client quotes include:

  • “Valerie kept saying, ‘Let’s make sure this is the right home—not just the right price.’ That shifted our whole mindset and helped us avoid two homes we would’ve regretted.”

  • “She had incredible instincts. When we were discouraged, she was calm and upbeat. And when it was time to act, she was fast and focused.”

8. Jemma Parsons Ruggiero Gets It—and Gets It Done

Jemma blends empathy with decisiveness, making her a favorite among first-time and move-up buyers alike.

Buyers say:

  • “Jemma seemed to intuit what we needed even before we said it. She was incredibly responsive and took care of the details we hadn’t even thought of.”

  • “She had great instincts about the market, helped us write a strong but fair offer, and never made us feel rushed.”

9. We Don’t Miss What Others Overlook

Our agents are trained to see beyond the paint and staging.

  • We identify hidden problems early.

  • We explain what’s cosmetic, what’s costly, and what’s a deal breaker.

  • We advise when to walk away—and when it’s safe to move fast.

“Our agent noticed the roof sagging slightly—before we even stepped inside. That saved us $20K in unexpected repairs.”

10. We Help You Win—Without Overpaying

You’ll never be pressured to “bid just to win.” Instead, we craft smart, competitive offers based on data and experience.

  • Strategic use of contingencies and escalation clauses

  • Honest advice when a home isn’t worth the price

“Our agent told us not to escalate further—because the house wasn’t worth it. That honesty gave us peace of mind.”

11. First-Time Buyer? We’ve Got You

No jargon. No pressure. Just step-by-step guidance.

  • Total education from pre-approval to closing

  • Clear explanations at every step

  • Support that builds confidence

“We were clueless, and scared. But within a week, we felt like experts—because our agent patiently walked us through everything.”

12. We’re Fast, Thorough, and Always Available

In this market, timing is everything. Our agents are responsive when it matters most.

  • Quick replies—even nights and weekends

  • Last-minute tours arranged when timing was critical

“I sent a text at 10:45 PM—and got a reply in five minutes.”

13. You Get Our Trusted Network

Over decades, we’ve built a trusted circle of lenders, inspectors, and contractors who put your needs first. That means smoother transactions and fewer surprises.

14. We Stick Around After the Deal Closes

We don’t disappear at closing.

  • We help with repairs, warranties, and referrals.

  • We check in long after the keys are in your hand.

15. You’re Not Just a Client. You’re Part of the Family.

Many clients return for second (and third) purchases—or refer friends and family.

“We tell everyone we know: use Buyer’s Edge. It’s the only way to buy a home.”

Ready to Work with a True Buyer’s Advocate?

Don’t risk divided loyalty. Work with the team that’s been protecting homebuyers for over 34 years. Schedule your free consultation today at BuyersAgent.com.


TESTIMONIALS ABOUT BUYER'S EDGE - EXCLUSIVE BUYERS AGENTS

“When we began our search for the right house that would give us the space to combine our two families, we knew we would need a Buyer’s Agent with the experience to help us navigate the very competitive housing market of 2021.  We knew Valerie Winebrenner from a previous homebuying experience. Once again, she was exactly the right agent for us, and we would not have been able to move into the house that we did without her help. We were working within a limited geographical area that further reduced the number of homes we could consider. Valerie helped us prioritize the “must haves” over the “nice to haves” and kept us updated with a list of candidate houses as soon as they hit the market.  Valerie kept us focused on our priorities as we visited the homes on our list.  We were worried when we found a home that we loved that was at the top of our price range, but Valerie connected us with a lender who sourced a fixed-rate loan that easily met our budget.  We knew that the house that we were bidding on would receive multiple offers, and Valerie worked with us on coming up with terms that she felt would best meet the needs of the sellers.  We were thrilled when our offer was accepted and later found out that while we weren’t the highest offer, we had the best terms for the very opinionated sellers.

Valerie came through again with a set of inspectors who found some issues that would have prevented us from moving forward with the purchase.  Valerie negotiated with the sellers, and they fixed some of the issues and gave us credit so that we could arrange contractors to address our other concerns.

Even after closing, Valerie helped us through the challenge of keeping the sellers motivated to remove all their belongings from the property.  There were a significant number of machines, tools, and vehicles stored in the barn on the property that needed to be moved, and we gave the sellers 45 days after closing to clear everything out.  As the day approached and it was evident that the sellers weren’t going to meet the deadline, Valerie worked with us and the sellers on a daily schedule of what needed to be accomplished.  Once the sellers’ remaining possessions were finally gone, Valerie ensured that we received the rent back fees that we were entitled to from the settlement agreement.

Valerie is an extremely knowledgeable agent and is a joy to work with.  She is an exceptional communicator and always made sure that we knew what we had to do every step of the way. She recommended excellent lenders, inspectors, and contractors to help us through a very complicated home purchase.  We give her our highest recommendation and will refer friends and family to use her if they are buying homes in Howard or Montgomery Counties in Maryland.”



“My husband and I had the best experience buying our first home with Buyer's Edge, and were so lucky to work with Steve Carpenter-Israel and Jemma Parsons Ruggiero!! From the beginning, they both offered incredible insight into what to look out for when touring a home and strategies for being successful in this market. Jemma and Steve were always there for us whether we needed a late-night question answered or a last-minute look inside of a property. As first-time homebuyers, we needed a lot of guidance along the way. Steve's authentic feedback and assessment of homes we toured together made us feel really confident when we eventually found the right one for us. Steve and Jemma advocated for us, provided fast and clear communication, and got us to a quick settlement in a house we love. We recommend Buyer's Edge wholeheartedly and feel so grateful for their help in this process!!”

How to find Realtor? When looking for a top real estate agents in the DMV, use the top realtors for buying a new home. That Realtor is Buyer’s Edge | BuyersAgent.com and Stephen Carpenter-Israel.

“We worked with Valerie from the Buyer's Edge for about two months and secured our dream house, thanks to her. Being first-time home buyers, Valerie answered our many questions. Valerie asked great questions to understand our must-haves versus desires in a home. From then, she only sent listings that fit our needs. During open houses and visits, Valerie pointed out many valuable observations to consider (ex., potential problems down the road). Her contract experience was very helpful as she walked us through what each section of the offer meant in layman's terms. In today's competitive market, Valerie used her extensive experience to provide recommendations that solidified our offer as the most competitive offer while staying within our comfort levels. We were able to secure our home due to her advice. Up to closing, Valerie communicated with us continuously to ensure we completed all the documents and other steps in preparation for settlement. What started as a complex, hard-to-understand, and scary process ended with us closing on a house within 30 days, a smooth settlement day, and a home that met all must-haves and desires. Valerie was with us every step of the process. Valerie has astounding professionalism, excellent communication skills, is detail-oriented, and has extensive experience. We would not have gotten the home of our dreams without Valerie, and we could not recommend Valerie and the Buyer's Edge enough. Thank you for all of your hard work!”

Client: Josh and Mia

We were so lucky to have Stephen Mercer as our real estate agent during our house hunt in D.C. We were buying a house from a different state, which meant communication was absolutely paramount in an incredibly competitive market (height of the pandemic house hunting craze). Stephen was always extremely prompt in replying and was able to set aside entire weekends for us to tour when we came down.

As first-time home buyers, we were in way over our heads and Stephen helped us through every step of the process. He was always patient and kind in answering all of our questions and very flexible even as we continued to change our criteria. Stephen's biggest value-add is his exceptional knowledge of construction and materials, helping us identify big and small things that are essential for any home buyer but especially those looking for their first home. We always knew we were in good hands and felt confident choosing the home we purchased. Even after the purchase, Stephen checked in to make sure everything was working and still answers are occasional questions as we try to learn about how to take care of a house! We recommend Stephen to anyone who asks.”

"I highly recommend Buyer's Edge! We worked with Lynn and she did an amazing job at managing the entire process. There was a lot we didn't know going into this, but Lynn worked closely with us on every step so that we could make informed decisions. Her experience and knowledge go far beyond the logistics of buying a home as she also has a deep understanding of home maintenance, which was extremely helpful for us. Lynn also has good relationships with several excellent home maintenance professionals and was able to give us lots of recommendations for any work we needed. Even after moving into our new house, she has continued to make herself available for any questions that we have. Lynn is also just a great person to work within general. She is friendly, professional, trustworthy, and goes above and beyond to deliver. In the end, Lynn was able to help us find a place that really checked off all of our boxes. We truly couldn’t be happier with our new home. Thanks, Lynn!"

"The team at Buyer's Edge have helped two generations in my family find the right home."

"A word of thanks for all of your help. We truly love this house and the kids are thrilled with it too. The house is beautiful, the neighbors friendly, the location convenient and the local elementary school has been welcoming. All your hard work has allowed us to reunite as a family and give our children a great opportunity. Thanks for all your hard work and support. We feel like we won the lottery with this house..."

"This is a fantastic team and fantastic company. The amount of attention, care, and time they give to their clients is impressive and admirable. These are by far the people to call if you're in the market to buy."

"I would not purchase real property without a Buyers Edge realtor looking out for my rights/needs!!  What a great experience! This is the way to go!"

"One of the reasons we felt real comfort in dealing with Buyer’s Edge was because we knew there would not be a conflict of interest with Buyer’s Edge representing home sellers. It was important to us that your total focus was to find the right home and make the best deal for us."

"We are not first-time homebuyers, but we are first-time retainers of an exclusive buyer’s agent, and we wholeheartedly recommend if you are interested in buying a house in the area, it is the way to go.”

"Very knowledgeable about quality of home (way it's built, HVAC, water issues, etc), neighborhood considerations.  Well connected with other realtors.  Professional.  Responsive.  Would highly recommend."

"Best option in DMV area. Once we understood the buyer's agent model, it made complete sense to us."

"Amazing! We recommend Buyer's Edge to anyone who will listen."

"The best!  We have already recommended Buyer's Edge to friends and will continue to do so.  It is a top-notch professional outfit, and our agent (Steve) was perfect.  He looked out for our interests; he brought a wealth of practical knowledge about houses and construction and upkeep; he clearly loves his job so we had a lot of fun (which I wasn't expecting); he said the right thing to keep us as calm and sane as possible throughout the process; and he made the entire search effort and bidding process as easy as possible."

"Real estate agents with deep knowledge of the Washington, DC area and a strong focus on helping you find the right home for you and your family - for as long as you need! They will give you their honest opinion but not pressure you towards any particular option."

"I know, five star reviews are easy to dismiss as over-enthusiastic or inaccurate, but we are finding it difficult to overstate the value of Steve Israel’s assistance with our recent home purchase. We recommend Buyer's Edge without reservation - not only online, but also to our friends, family, and colleagues"

"Buyer’s Edge:
Took the time to understand our needs and desires, and quickly gathered examples of condominiums that met our criteria
Were always promptly responsive and made themselves always available to set appointments and show us units that met our criteria and those that we wanted to see
Had a great feeling for “value” and had an eye for seeing structural and design issues that needed to come to our attention
Opened easy and regular communication channels with sellers’ agents
Helped us develop realistic negotiation strategy that ultimately carried the day provided assistance with settlement that greatly eased the process for us." 

“Hi J and C,

Sure, I can tell you about my experience with Victoria and Marshall.

I bought 2 houses with them. The fact that I went back to them when it was time to buy the second house is probably the best recommendation.

We moved to the DC area from Texas in 2011. We were not only dealing with the house buying process in general, but we were lacking local knowledge and had a little bit of “East Coast price shock” as well. They’ve been working in this area for a very long time and they are knowledgeable about the neighborhoods. First time we looked at 56 (!!) houses. Victoria had endless patience. I heard about how other real estate agents have a maximum number of listings that they are willing to show. It was never an issue with the Hendersons! I had never felt pressured to make a choice. On the contrary, they were keeping our hopes up that the right one would come up eventually and that was how it happened. I love the fact that they are a couple and work very well as a team. Pretty much any day, any time they were able to show us houses. Their response time can be measured in minutes, not hours. If one of them was busy, the other came to show us houses. Victoria has excellent people’s skills and that became very important when we were dealing with sellers and sellers’ agents. Marshall has construction background, and very knowledgeable about upgrades and home projects. When we saw an issue in a house, he could tell immediately how it needed to be fixed and how much it would cost.

Second time the market was incredibly competitive. I still think it was a miracle that I got this house and it’s partially because of them. My house came up on the market at 8 am, I was here to look at it with Victoria at 9 am. We wrote a contract during the day and sent it to the seller by 6 pm. In 12 hours, they already had 3 written contracts. One was full cash, the other one offered more money than the asking price. Victoria was sensing that the seller wanted to sell quickly. (This is the people’s skill that I was mentioning earlier!) She thought if we couldn’t compete with a full cash offer, we should try to compete with closing time. The usual turn over is 6 weeks for closing. We offered 3-week closing, and the seller chose our offer. Victoria was constantly calling the seller’s agent and doing everything we can to make my offer more desirable.

These were just examples of them doing a good job as real estate agents. In addition to that, they are simply good human beings. I’m divorced with 2 kids; moving and remodeling a fixer-upper was overwhelming. Victoria saw it and she sent their son to help me out. :) This is certainly not part of their job as agents, but they saw an opportunity to help out and they did it. Not because they had to, but because they wanted to.

I highly recommend them! If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!

Good luck with finding your home!
E”

"This review is long overdue, but we wanted to take a minute to say that buying our home with Lisa from Buyer’s Edge was a wonderful experience. We didn’t anticipate the hectic housing market that we would be entering starting in January 2021, and as first-time homebuyers, we were so grateful to have Lisa to explain everything step by step. It took us several offers (10+) to find our home, but Lisa was always so encouraging, and was genuinely excited with us when we were the winning bid! We spent a lot of time with her over the four months of our home search (nearly every weekend) and learned a lot about what to look for (or look out for) and actually got pretty good at being able to decide within minutes if a house was right for us or not. We appreciate all the late nights she spent putting together offers before a review deadline. Lisa also recommended a few mortgage lenders, and we ended up going with one of her recommendations because he was available nearly 24/7 (which was crucial in the crazy housing race), and offered a much better interest rate than what we could get from our bank. After four months of searching, we ended up with the perfect house for us. Even after closing, she helped us set up an inspection and stayed with us through that, and has still been available to answer questions/offer recommendations in our first few months of home ownership. She also gifted us a one-year home warranty, which has offered peace of mind (and has already paid for two repairs), since we purchased an older home. It’s clear that Lisa really cares about finding the right house for her clients and making sure they truly feel at home. We don’t plan on moving any time soon, but if/when that comes around, we’ll be calling Lisa!"

Thank you,

J&P