Dorian standing in the Sculpture Garden at the office.

We have some very professional and truly wonderful agents in our office. We’d like to introduce them via our website. Come on inside click here …meet our agents and learn about us while you are there…

708 Mandeville

Indra Ramiah of Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty just listed 708 Mandeville – this 6 bedroom/6bathroom duplex is in the Marigny only 5 blocks from the French Quarter! Built in the 1840′s as a “double” and Greek Revival by design it has central air / heat and 2,582 square feet of living space.  708 Mandeville has been restored to its lovely Creole cottage House style. the renovations were carefully planned to maintain historic character yet provide the modern amenities important for comfort, convenience and safety. This beautifully decorated home features five guest rooms with private baths and an additional apartment perfect for Owner/Occupancy. Indra is an owner/agent of 708 Mandeville. To see more pictures feel free to visit our website www.dbsir.com.

Within the first 9 years of my life my family and I had lived in 5 different state and finally ended up in Louisiana.  Once here, we declared this was home, so I consider myself a New Orleanian by choice, if not heritage.  New Orleans has a continental flavor that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.  Our history, architecture, art, antiques, food, festivals and zest for life are without compare.

Starting out I was a pre-school teacher for almost a decade, teaching 3 and 4 year olds.  Although I loved teaching, I decided to try my hand at other venues.  Since that time I have worked in both banking and real estate, often in combination.  My real estate career started in 1984.  During the early 80’s I worked as a salesperson on the Westbank of New Orleans.  In the late 80’s I was involved in the REO Department of First National Bank of Jefferson, during a time when banks had hundreds of repossessed properties on their books.  In January 1991 I came to work for Dorian M. Bennett.  Once again I declared this home and have been with Dorian’s company ever since. 

My start as a teacher has made me feel that education is the key to both good salesmanship and good leadership.  Knowledge is the key to better service to our customers and clients, as well as being a valuable asset as a leader within an organization.  Because of this belief I have attained designations as a Master Graduate of Real Estate Institute, Seller’s Representative Specialist, Senior Real Estate Specialist, GREEN specialist and recently ePro, which helped me attain more knowledge about all of the electronic devices at our disposal in our field.

We have a dynamic group of real estate professionals as well as an invaluable staff in our company that I am very proud to work alongside.

Dorian M. Bennett

Dorian Bennett has long been a patron and supporter of the arts. This self-described “aesthete” majored in Fine Arts and Russia while in college at Tulane University and the College of William and Mary. He is classically trained in piano and played the clarinet in the school band. Additionally he enjoys painting and pottery in the studio behind his house.

Born in Hammond, Louisiana, Dorian has lived in New Orleans for over twenty years and now considers himself a native. He was unsure about what to do with his degrees when he graduated from Tulane. He knew that he did not want to translate Russian for the government and he did not want to work for an art gallery. A friend suggested that someone with Dorian’s personal skills and appreciation for antiques, architecture and preservation would be ideally suited for the real estate business. Dorian followed this advice and a career was born.

What a distinguished career it has been! Prior to opening his own firm, Dorian M. Bennett Inc., in October of 1984, Dorian worked for 3 agencies honing his skills and winning numerous sales awards. Dorian also serves as New Orleans “Real Estate Agent to the Stars!” He has sold local real estate to such notables as Lenny Kravitz, Taylor Hackford, Jimmy Buffett and Zachary Richard. He even sold House of Blues its Decatur Street property. Through his work with the New Orleans Film Commission and by word-of-mouth, his name has been spread around the Hollywood community. As a result, when stars come to town they most often call Dorian.

Dorian’s appreciation of architecture and preservation is not limited to his professional career. He received a restoration award for the renovation of his office at 2340 Dauphine Street. His residence in the “Bend of Bourbon Street” also has a lot of history behind it. Built in 1825, it has been home to the son of Louisiana’s first Governor – Claiborne, and more recently, Clay Shaw of JFK conspiracy theory fame. It was also featured in the book House in the Bend of Bourbon, by Terry Fletrich. Dorian says that he has always been attracted to unique and special homes, “As special as I can afford, anyway!”

Civic activities play a prominent role in Dorian’s life. In addition to his work with the Jazz and Heritage Foundation as a board member, Dorian was on the Board of the Contemporary Arts Center, past president of the Friends of Contemporary Art of the New Orleans Museum of Art, on the board of the New Orleans Opera, and the board of trustees on the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Open 3-4 538 Madison 1BD/1BA, 910 sq. ft. Parisian Flat 1/2 blk to Jackson Square

Open 12-1 1004 Pleasant 3 bedroom Cottage near Magazine. Pat 450-4506.

We are designing two holiday pages for our company blog, and would appreciate your help with them.

One page will be for unique holiday decorations and the other page for holiday photos of families with pets.

We would love for you to share your holiday photos with us…..so we can share them online.

If you would like to submit something simply send them to my Marketing Manager – Wendy Wise – wendy@dbsir.com and she’ll make sure they get up on our pages. Make sure to include your names and pet names!!

Happy Holidays!!

Dorian M. Bennett

Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty

On Friday, November 13th, Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty agent, Eileen O’Donnell, will present her sculpture at the Agora Galleries on Magazine Street.  The show, entitled “Kryptonic Calypso” features O’Donnell’s figurative clay vessels, as well as oil paintings from artist Tony Mose.  “The idea of having the show started after Dorian (Bennett)  visited my studio,” O’Donnell explains.  “And anyone who knows Dorian knows that 1) He is a great lover of art, and 2) he makes things happen!  He introduced me to Joshua Broussard (of the Agora Galleries)  and we worked together to create the show.”  Broussard also suggested the pairing with painter Tony Mose, who has created both figurative and abstract works in oil specifically to complement the show’s theme.  (http://members.cox.net/esomart/ )

So what does being a sculptor have in common with real estate?  “Everything!” says O’Donnell.  Working at Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty challenges me to solve problems creatively.  Every client, every transaction is unique- so. like working in clay, you must focus on the present and contstantly make adjustments.”

“Kryptonic Calypso”  opens this Friday at the Agora Galleries, located at 2240 Magazine Street, New Orleans.  Come for wine and cheese from 6 – 9 pm, or stop by through mid- December to see the show. 

For Immediate Release 

Contact: Wendy Wise

 Local Real Estate Agent Earns e-PRO^® Certification

 New Orleans, LA – Georgia Saucier of Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty has successfully completed the e-PRO Technology Certification Program course to become one of a select few real estate professionals to earn the prestigious certification offered by the National Association of REALTORS^®.

The e-PRO^Ò certification course is an educational program unlike any other professional certification or designation course available, comprehensive and interactive. It is specifically designed to provide real estate professionals with the technology tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home.

“Today, with the internet, everything is searchable by the consumer, from information about homes and neighborhoods, to lenders and real estate agents, and how the buying and selling process works,” said Georgia Saucier of Dorian Bennett Sotheby’s International Realty. “Our industry is an information based business.  How we conduct it through technology will have an impact on how consumers reach their real estate objectives.”

With more than 80% of consumers beginning their real estate research on the Internet, e-PRO^Ò certified agents have the experience and expertise to meet the demands of today’s buyer and seller.

The exclusive e-PRO^Ò certification course is presented entirely online and certifies real estate agents and brokers as Internet professionals. Because of its innovative design, students are able to complete the course at their own pace, when and where they want, via any Internet connection. The course is designed to help REALTORS^Ò stay at the leading edge of technology and identify, evaluate and implement new Internet business models.

Once completed, the e-PRO^Ò certified real estate professional joins the ranks of a special community of highly skilled and continuously trained professionals who provide high quality and innovative online-based real estate services.  Consumers can identify the e-PRO^Ò through the exclusive e-PRO^Ò Internet Professional logo.

“I have been witness to a lot of charges in the real estate industry since I first started in 1984,” Georgia Saucier said.  “As a professional it is important to maintain a level of knowledge that matches our consumers’.  Most of today’s consumers begin their real estate research online, prior to ever contacting an agent.  So it only makes sense that they would want to work with a REALTOR® who can meet their needs through current technology.”

Both the content and the delivery platform were created by the San Diego-based technology company InternetCrusade^®. The course instructs participants in the professional use of e-mail, the development of an interactive Web site, and the use of online research tools including Social Media and Web 2.0 instruction. Graduates use the skills they’ve acquired to provide clients information on properties for sale, local communities, and the local real estate market.

For more information, e-mail Georgia Saucier at Georgia@dbsir.com or call 504-944-3605.