Testimonials

“I would like to take a few moments to sing the praises of Elizabeth Van Riper who became our friend and real estate agent over the last winter. My wife and I were spending our second winter in Sarasota when we decided we would like to buy something. We had been introduced to Elizabeth through a mutual acquaintance and she quickly showed us some available real estate in areas that we knew and had asked about. It was only after a first transaction fell through that Elizabeth's knowledge and insight really started to shine. She gently persuaded us to look into an entirely different area....and within a week we had a signed contract on something we loved. Not only was her knowledge of the Sarasota market impressive and useful, but her "emotional IQ" in understanding us equally valuable. She is both a consummate real estate professional, as well as a sensitive and interested human being. I truly believe that had it not been for Elizabeth's perseverance, we would have left Sarasota without completing a purchase this year.”

“My long-distance purchase at Whispering Sands was full of emotional highs and lows. However, Elizabeth Van Riper was positive, professional & personally on top of it all. She guided me through this whole process & alerted me of things to come. I would recommend Elizabeth in finding the home of your dreams, as I did, in a heartbeat. She gets the job done”

“We couldn’t have purchased our new place without Elizabeth Van Riper! We appreciate all her help, expertise, hand holding, listening, friendship, and so much more. We are really excited to start this next chapter.”

“We really enjoyed working with Elizabeth Van Riper. She listened to all our thoughts and concerns, regarding the sale of our condo, and was able to alleviate any worries. She was diligent in having open houses and advertising our unit. I felt she worked very hard to get us the best outcome: price, closing date, and overall deal. I would highly recommend her to anyone wishing to sell and/or buy in Sarasota. She also assisted us in the purchase of our most recent condo, and was very helpful in her knowledge of whom to call for things. She was very professional in all matters.”

“This move was especially hard for a variety of reasons, but Elizabeth was there all along to try and help me in any way she could. From finding people to help me pack, sell excess furniture, or even local charities that we could donate too, Elizabeth did it all. I could not have made this move on my own without her.”

“Elizabeth was the listing agent on my home. She has a breath of experience in the real estate market. She is a visionary, with the help of a staging expert that she brought in, my waterfront home was transformed and under contract in 3 weeks. She gave me great advice through out the whole process and was always there to help in a calm, professional manner. She is a gem.”

“Elizabeth is a complete professional and we highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell a property. She is patient, thoughtful, and resourceful. She efficiently guided us through the entire process of purchasing a condo as our winter residence. She is well versed in all aspects of the transaction, and an excellent communicator with all parties. We had the utmost confidence in Elizabeth as our representative in the transaction.”

“Elizabeth did a great job helping us find a home on Siesta Key. She covers all the bases as a real estate expert and really knows the Sarasota market. She is so personable and easy to deal with and at the same time did a great job guiding the details of the real estate transaction. She transfers a ton of knowledge about the Sarasota area which she knows so well. A true professional that we fully recommend to anyone buying or selling a home in the Sarasota area.”

“Our journey to buying a home spanned two years with Elizabeth serving as our trusted guide throughout the process. We could not have done this successfully with her being so incredibly honest, respectful, and professional. We put our trust in Elizabeth's diligence, knowledge and insights which were invaluable in our selecting and purchasing a home. She was our guide from start to finish. I highly recommend Elizabeth to you as a realtor you can trust and depend on. She is a true professional and it is my privilege to recommend her to you.”

“We bought our new “forever home” from Elizabeth and it went perfectly. She and her team managed the transaction flawlessly, while at the same time marketing and selling our existing home on day one at the Brokers’ Open house. This may sound like a gush of praise, but it is well deserving. The entire experience was a true study in professionalism. Elizabeth had her arms around the deal at all times, with everyone coming out satisfied. We can say that we are so lucky to have had this gem of a realtor in our corner and we would highly recommend her!”

“Selling a home can be a highly stressful situation but that doesn’t need to be the case as I found out while working with Elizabeth Van Riper. Elizabeth is the consummate professional — smart, patient, warm and diplomatic. Her fortunate clients are in exceptionally capable hands. She has at her fingertips a competent team with top drawer resources, all waiting to make the process worry-free and seamless. I knew right away that I wanted to work with Elizabeth because of her creative marketing ideas, discerning sensibilities, and deep knowledge of real estate. On top of all that, she facilitated the sale of my home while I was out of town for the season. I could rest assured that she would take care of anything, and she did. Kudos to Elizabeth!”

“I would like to compliment Elizabeth on her kindness and professionalism during the purchase of my property in Chantilly. Everything went quickly and smoothly in spite of her losing her brother and having to leave town during the process. She left the situation in the capable hands of her assistant, Christina and I would recommend both of them to any of my friends seeking a realtor.”

“I just sold a property using Elizabeth Van Riper as my real estate agent. The property had been a rental for many years and needed a lot of prep to get ready for sale. She gave great advice and managed all the repairs, staging and everything else that goes in to getting a house ready for market. I live in NYC, so I was not able to help other than by phone and email. She coordinated work with vendors, utility companies and contractors. Elizabeth has great communication skills, a personal standard of excellence and was a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend her.”

“We can't say enough about how fabulous Elizabeth is as a person and professionally. We first met her by phone and her enthusiasm and knowledge impressed us immediately. We started looking remotely and by e-mail from our home in Indiana. After a number of e-mails and some face time walk-throughs, Elizabeth zeroed in on exactly what we were looking for. When we finally came down here to look, Elizabeth showed us the area and was able to show us a number of spot-on homes (even in this very tough market). When she found our dream home, she helped us construct an offer which was accepted against other offers. Her follow-up with inspections and closing issues was terrific. Elizabeth's communication throughout the process was excellent and she was very helpful in providing us with services and information about the area. We are so fortunate to have had her as our realtor and we highly recommend her.”

“I want to let you know how much I appreciated the work you did with us when we were looking for a home in Sarasota for my daughter. You zeroed in on our criteria and wisely steered us toward what has turned out to be the perfect home for her, her partner and the new baby coming in a few months. You were patient with our questions and helpful with everything we asked and even some we didn't know to ask. You skillfully steered us away from wasting time looking at homes, places or neighborhoods that would not fit our needs. And you were honest in pointing out flaws and advantages to each place we looked at. We really appreciated that your background in the arts helped us enormously in finding a live-work situation for these two artists. Your deep knowledge of the local neighborhoods was also very helpful.”

“I would like to share my wonderful experience working with Elizabeth Van Riper in my recent real estate purchase. Last fall I relocated to the Sarasota area and west coast of Florida from the Jupiter, FL area. During several visits last summer, Elizabeth gave us a tour of the many varied neighborhoods throughout Sarasota and Longboat Key. She was diligent, detail-oriented in our research, and even went so far as to share Doctor, Dentist, Veterinarian, Hairdresser, and Restaurant recommendations with us. She also gave me the names of an invaluable contractor and a house cleaning couple. I would recommend Elizabeth for all of your real estate needs — not only for her professional approach to the business, but also for her marketing savvy, pleasant personality, and delightful sense of humor! I know that I will contact her again for my next real estate transaction and trust that our friendship will grow going forward.”

“We recently bought our new home in Punta Gorda with your company representing us with a wonderful agent, Elizabeth VanRiper!! Almost four years ago we purchased our first home in Venice with Elizabeth being our agent then as well. Previously to that we worked with her while we still residing in Boston, MA. So we have a fair amount of history with Elizabeth. When we decided to move from Venice, there was only one person we wanted to be our agent...Elizabeth VanRiper! She is exceptional at what she does bringing knowledge from all angles. She exudes a positive personality with kindness and she is very professional! My husband and I cannot say enough about her. We hope to stay where we are for quite some time, but we will recommend her to people we know that may be relocating in the Sarasota County area, no doubt about it! Thank you for having such a delightful and knowledgeable agent on your team! We love Elizabeth!”

“Elizabeth Van Riper knows Sarasota neighborhoods and culture like no one else. After two brief vacations, we moved here from California and needed help finding a home in a dog-friendly community. Elizabeth steered us in the right direction while familiarizing us with all things Sarasota. She even helped us in unexpected ways, like pointing out potential issues with homes we would have overwise overlooked. Elizabeth Van Riper is the best realtor in Sarasota.”

“Elizabeth was an incredibly helpful agent. Not only did she market our home, she helped get it ready for market. Elizabeth got us the handyman we needed, the staging person we needed and when we had permit problems, the lawyer we needed. I'm not sure how we would have gotten through this without her dedication and hard work. We are very grateful.”

“Before our home went public, Elizabeth Van Riper organized a Michael Saunders in-house showing which resulted in 3 offers and a bidding war soon after. Guided by her expertise, we were able to go to contract quickly and navigate the various aspects that arose before closing. With Elizabeth's business savvy and creative input, our home was prepared so that it was buyer-ready. She also suggested that we use a stager, which really helped buyers see the home's beauty and imagine themselves enjoying it. Elizabeth's many other ideas about how to present the home even extended to the garden and how to best showcase our lake view. Her design sense is impeccable and we followed her advice to the letter. Besides her impressive professional and creative abilities, Elizabeth is a caring and lovely person. Selling a home is always riddled with emotions and difficulties, and Elizabeth's sweet and capable nature was a pleasure to rely upon. It has been a pleasure to work with Elizabeth.”

“We wanted to work with Elizabeth and would have worked with her at [wherever] she was working… We wanted someone who is responsive, knowledgeable and aggressive.On this sale she did not disappoint.”

“There is no one better than Elizabeth.”

“[We] met Elizabeth initially through a buyer-friend. When deciding to sell our home we wanted Elizabeth to be our agent without question! Despite owning the home under three years, Elizabeth assumed a tough re-sale role, because it was ‘above-pricing’ for the neighborhood. Nevertheless, Elizabeth was spectacular and gifted with the patience of a saint. My wife and I wholeheartedly recommend Elizabeth and the Michael Saunders team! This was not our first home sale and it was a relief to know Elizabeth knew her business and her market. She came to the initial meeting and all others afterwards with valued information and home points. She definitely showed off her expertise in real estate, always with in a friendly and professional manner. We’ll miss that home, but Elizabeth’s friendship more!”

“Elizabeth is Realtor who can be trusted. She is honest, respectful, and professional. She is involved in her community and is aware what is happening. Sarasota has a very diverse real estate market. She has innovative ideas that she uses to market her properties. She has exquisite taste, which she uses in staging homes for prospective buyers and in her marketing. We would definitely use Elizabeth again as our Realtor.”

“I want to say how pleased we are with your professionalism and efficiency! You are one of the best Realtors I have known!!! Thanks for all your expertise and fine service with our purchase.”

“I doubt if any agent could have been more caring, punctual and responsive than Elizabeth Van Riper. She went way beyond the call of duty in all respects. Elizabeth did everything possible to make the experience as easy and pleasant as possible.”

“I can't tell you how terrific you have been throughout the whole process. You made it very easy for us and it is greatly appreciated. You are great at what you do, and we are very glad we switched to you.”

“Thank you so much for your eagerness to help and your first-class professionalism throughout our most recent transaction. I can't think of a recent transaction that I've found more enjoyable. I am definitely looking forward to the next opportunity to work together!”

“Elizabeth is a true professional with incredible knowledge of the Sarasota market. Even when we left to go to North Carolina for the summer, Elizabeth gladly visited and researched homes for us, took photos and helped us see the houses as if we were there ourselves! We loved working with Elizabeth and after finally finding our special home have remained wonderful friends.”

“From the get go we felt extremely comfortable with her lovely demeanor and her professionalism. Elizabeth was always responsive to our questions and needs throughout our home search with her. We would and actually have recommended her to anyone searching for a home within the area. It has been a pleasure to work with Elizabeth.”

“Elizabeth is in the process of closing our current architecturally significant home, which was perceived by many to be hard to sell. She made this happen swiftly by her unique approach to marketing the property and through her strong network of press contacts. The customer found us through a newspaper article lead story on our home that Elizabeth personally worked to place. We knew from day one that through her patient persistence, she would work to help my husband and I achieve our goals.”

“Our experience with Elizabeth Van Riper was outstanding in all capacities through our search and purchase of our home. Elizabeth exemplified friendliness courtesy and professionalism at all times. When we needed clarification on any point she was right on top of the inquiry with immediate response time. It helped to relieve a level of stress during a stressful time to say the least! If we decide to relocate again we would not hesitate to reach out to her again as our sales agent!”

“I am so grateful that Elizabeth was my agent here in Sarasota. She quickly understood my needs directed me to the perfect property and provided amazing support from contract to closing . I was out of state and she took care of so many details that I was unable to take care of. In a word -- amazing!”

“Elizabeth is a true professional. Her knowledge of the Sarasota area and her commitment to her clients is first class. All her communication was timely and helpful. She's a true professional and I highly recommend her. We also love her she's kind caring and fun. We look forward to our continued relationship with her. Call Elizabeth you cannot go wrong!”

“I have used Elizabeth numerous times to help my friends and family find homes. Everyone is completely thrilled with her professionalism, her sensitivity to their needs, her patience, and her ability to find the right house to suit their needs. I highly recommend her.”

“Elizabeth is a kind caring and knowledgeable professional. She is always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. It's been a pleasure working with her.”

“Elizabeth is an excellent listener and totally engaged with her clients. She is highly organized, efficient, and completely committed to understanding and providing what her clients want. On top of it all she is straightforward, honest, and direct. We would recommend Elizabeth most highly and without the slightest reservation. She is everything you could possibly want...and more!”

“Elizabeth did a fantastic job of helping us sell our condo in Sarasota. She really helped us hone in on the appropriate asking price which was challenging because there was a wide range of recent sale prices in our condo complex. She was also critically important in advising us on staging and the all important photos of the staged unit. She even lent us some of her artwork (excellent artist too!) to help stage the place. We got 98% of asking price and closed in less than a month in an all-cash deal.”

“As a Boston native seeking a retirement home for my parents, we went down to Sarasota and met Elizabeth through a referral. From our first meeting, her commitment to excellence was immediately present as she so thoughtfully pulled together a complete binder filled with all the items for our long weekend adventure of house hunting. Elizabeth was extremely attentive to my parents and a personal concierge for us during our long 5 day weekend trip. She was a true professional and a pleasure to work with. We are thrilled with our purchase and look forward to having a second home in Bradenton. Elizabeth went above beyond our expectations in making this process a wonderful experience for us. We are excited to begin a new chapter in our lives in Florida.”

“Elizabeth is the consummate professional. She truly cares about her clients and servicing their needs. We found the home that home was for sale by owner who wanted to complete the transaction without Realtors or lawyers. Even though we were not legally obligated to pay a full realtor commission on the purchase of this house, we chose to do so in recognition of Elizabeth’s selfless efforts on our behalf as she guided us through the occasionally incomprehensible path of mortgage loans, government requirements, and closing costs.”

“We met Elizabeth through e-mails in our quest for information on real estate in the Sarasota area. She worked with us closely on trying to find a house long distance. When we did come down to Florida, we were lucky and found a house to buy that weekend. Elizabeth helped us work on all the details in finding a house and on the closing. Elizabeth is very friendly knowledgable and helpful. We are glad that we found her!”

“Elizabeth was recommended to me this past fall as I wanted to relocate to Sarasota and I was just thrilled to meet her and work with her. She was incredibly patient with my long list of requirements for my new home and was a wealth of information about the area. In no time, she found me a great condo and was such a help through the closing. I would highly recommend Elizabeth to anyone searching for a new home!”

“We truly couldn't have picked a better agent to help us find our future home in Sarasota!”

“Words can’t express what a wonderful experience we had with Elizabeth. I have worked with a number of Realtors over the years and have never, ever had such a positive experience. She made everything so easy. Seamless. She went above and beyond what Realtors do.”