It is fun to keep up with past students to hear how their real estate careers are doing.  Recently, I talked to Gigi Benca who works Keller Williams in Oviedo, Florida.  She attended a class at Demetree School of Real Estate, then I sponsored her to join Keller Williams.  Gigi has a contagious enthusiasm and positivity.  Here is our interview…

Tell us briefly about you.  

I am Gigi Benca.  I’m someone with a strong work ethic, great communicator alongside professional and educational experience that helps me provide good service to all of my clients.  I walk through life being a good doer.  I truly enjoy helping people and solving their problems.  I’m good at it and know it’s my purpose in life.  I have integrity and I am resourceful.

How long have you been in real estate and how long with Keller Williams? 

One year.

Why did you choose Keller Williams?  

Their belief system:

Win-win or no deal.
Integrity does the right thing.
Customers always come first.
Commitment in all things!
Communication seeks first to understand.
Creativity, ideas before results.
Teamwork together everyone achieves more.
Trust starts with honesty.
Equity opportunity for all.
Success results through people.

As an agent for Keller Williams, I have all the resources and support I need to be a successful agent. The education and the positive environment is the perfect place for me to thrive.

What did you do before you got into real estate?

I started in the culinary industry and quickly got into restaurant management. I worked in the hospitality industry for 10 years.  Running restaurants set me up to be a great business-minded person.  Also made me strong.

What do you like most about selling real estate?

The relationships that I develop along the way.  It’s more than a transaction.  I have a good relationship with all my clients.  I’m a People’s advocate and serve people and in the process you get to know and grow close to one another.

What do you like least about selling real estate?

I don’t know if there is anything that I dislike about real estate.  I must say that some of the agents in the industry aren’t as professional, which is not good for the consumer.

Where do you find your clients?

I do a lot of farming.  Door knocking prospecting.  I also love open houses.  I called a lot of for-sale-by-owners and expireds.  I put myself out every day.  Try to get out there and meet new people every day.  It’s all about being consistent and following up with those people that you meet.

Tell us a story about one particular sale.  Maybe one that was challenging or particularly interesting or anything that made it memorable to you.

I had a client who wanted a pool house.  They had a pretty decent price point.  Due to the housing shortage, we put in the offer and got outbid.  We went and searched again, and got outbid on the house again.  They were very positive people and didn’t give up and we found another beautiful house and we put in a strong offer and they got the home.

During the inspection, we see the house has polybutene for the plumbing, which will make it impossible for my buyer to get insurance on the home.  Before I come to them with the bad news, I begin to negotiate a solution.

I get on the phone with the listing agent and informed her of my findings.  I let her know that I’m going to get a quote for how much it will cost to get the property replumbed so that it is insurable.  I also requested the seller credit the buyer for the cost of that repair.  By the time the inspection was over, the listing agent got back to me and let me know that the seller agreed to my terms.

I was very proud of my instincts to find a solution for the issue before presenting it to my client.  The client truly had a great experience and didn’t feel any stress.

I didn’t just come with bad news.  I approached my client with the problem and the solution.  I also was able to help find a plumber and get the work scheduled.

How important to your success was joining Keller Williams?
Very important. I was very careful my decision on wheel to hang my license.  And looking at the data, Keller Williams has the highest success rate for new agents.

The belief system and the education that KW provides to the agent. You truly learn how to be a skill based agent.  The skill-based agent does well in any market.  I am so happy to be a part of the KW family. ♥️

How can someone contact you if they want to buy or sell their house or come work with you at Keller Williams?  

My phone number is 407 893 2240 or email at gigibenca@kw.com

You can also connect through my website, Facebook page, or Instagram.

Please note that neither Karen Climer nor Demetree School of Real Estate has any connection with Climer School of Real Estate.  Karen’s father, Ron Climer, sold the school in 2014.  It has since been purchased by a large corporate investment company.