From left: Catherine Benoot, Matthieu Benoot, and Geert Benoot. Photo by Musaweron Photography
Benoot Realty: Real Estate Services with a Personal Touch By Suzanne Driscoll “Every client becomes our friend,” promises Catherine Benoot of Benoot Realty in St. Petersburg. Now in its fourth generation of a family business, it offers personalized services that go well beyond buying and selling. Geert Benoot describes the family tradition of selling real estate as “in the blood.” His father and his wife Catherine’s father and grandfather, were all in the business, and today the couple are joined by their son Matthieu. Born and raised in Belgium, the Benoots started vacationing in Tarpon Springs 30 years ago. They became permanent residents in 1998 and U.S. citizens 10 years later. The avid boaters moved to St. Petersburg in 2012, after discovering the storefront on Beach Drive NE. They love to take advantage of St. Pete’s walkability with so many restaurants, stores, museums, and of course, Belgian beer!
Staying Small and Attentive “We have no interest in becoming a large firm with hundreds
12
GREENBENCHMONTHLY.COM / MAY 2022
of agents,” Matthieu Benoot reports. “We are very picky about the real estate agents we hire, and all must align with our core company values. And as a small family business, we don’t have to climb up five levels in order to make a decision.” The Benoots have extensive knowledge of the local markets and speak seven languages: English, Afrikaans, Dutch, Flemish, French, German, and Spanish.
Advice for Current Buyers For first-time and high-end buyers in the current market, Geert Benoot advises having patience and working with a broker who “knows what they are doing. Choose someone with the expertise and experience who is familiar with all the current listings, and they will help find the property that is right for you.” The Benoots encourage clients to take the time they need. “Our work is not work for us,” Geert Benoot says. “It’s our lifestyle. It defines us, and we bring to it a lot of passion and knowledge.”
