Realtor Wendy Benedetto credits hard work for her success

Wendy Benedetto may be a tad modest when asked to explain the success she’s had as a realtor in her career.“I don’t have any special powers … anyone can do it,” Benedetto said. “I’d say I just know who to talk to and how to get after it.”

Powers or no, the mainstay of Latter and Blum in Destrehan has been extremely proficient over the years. In 2015, Benedetto was the top agent at Latter and Blum’s Ormond office and sixth in the Latter and Blum company.

Most of those sales came within the River Parishes, with a high concentration in St. Charles Parish.

At the same time, the mother-of-three serves as councilwoman-at-large and actively participates in numerous boards and organizations seeking the betterment of her area.

While she keeps her plate full, she said she believes there’s a misconception that her outside activities hinder her ability to focus on her realtor work. In actuality, she says, she believes it enhances it.

“(The two positions) really help one another because I’m able to make a real effort to protect the quality of life of those in our community and the biggest investment we can make in our lives, our home,” Benedetto said. “I’m a full-time realtor who is in my office every day. If I don’t have work, I’m looking for it. I think a lot of people may think, ‘Oh, she’s a councilwoman, she won’t have time to focus on me.’ And it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Frank Trapani, manager of Latter and Blum-River Parishes, originally recruited Benedetto to his agency in the mid-90s after meeting her at a realtor function.

“I saw her leading the chicken dance,” Trapani said with a laugh. “I was really impressed by her outgoing personality. I asked her husband if he thought it would be OK to speak to her about making a change (of agencies). She has been a super success.”

Trapani believes Benedetto’s goal-oriented personality has been at the root of that success.

“When she has a job to do, she gets it done right,” he said. “No shortcuts. She makes every client extremely important to her and treats them like one of her own.”

Benedetto said she can’t really explain that go-getter attitude — it’s simply ingrained in her.

“I don’t know … I just do it,” Benedetto said. “I know I can’t expect things to come to me or happen by itself. I go for it. I’m not an agent who puts a sign in the yard and walks away.”

She said she also isn’t afraid to get involved with listings that others might deem problematic.

“You take the good with the bad. If there’s a listing that seems like it’s too much, I won’t reject it,” she said. “I trust my ability to work with people and show the seller what I’m seeing. You have to reach out to people.”

While Benedetto may have no special powers, she takes pride in her traits that have helped her along the way.

“I put everything into my work,” she said. “It takes dedication and you have to be focused. It completely fills your brain and it’s what I love to do.”

Benedetto’s office is located at 3 River Briar Court in Destrehan. She can be reached at (504) 274-3349.

 

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