www.kornteam.com
brad@kornteam.com
The Korn Team
Keller Williams Realty
19045 E Valley View Pkwy, Ste H
Independence, MO 64055
816-224-KORN
|
 |
The Delicate Dance: Partners in Marriage
and Real Estate
|
 |
|
The Delicate Dance: Partners in Marriage and
Real Estate
By Susan Kime
"How DO they do it?"
This is the first question that is asked about
a couple that works and plays together. The
maintenance of a successful marriage is hard
enough, but maintaining a successful real
estate partnership along with it would appear
even more difficult.
Granted, there are many successful filial
relationships in real estate–brothers and
sisters, mothers and daughters, fathers and
sons, mothers and sons, etc.–because in
matters of blood kinships, the boundaries and
rules of family attributes, manners and
mannerisms are better known and understood
because they have been there longer. But those
who choose to go into a real estate
partnership with their spouses must often
learn steps to a new and complicated dance.
Some stumble, step on one another and stop.
Others step nimbly through, mastering the
rhythm, improvising new techniques. It is the
latter group who are the subjects of this
piece.
Sara and Chuck Block of Coldwell Banker
Success Southwest, in Tucson, Arizona have
been married for 46 years. They have been
working in real estate together for about half
that time. They have three children, two of
whom are active, successful Realtors.
"I think one of the secrets to doing all
this is our temperaments. We are pretty
easy-going. Also, our temperaments are well
balanced. If he sees me becoming a little
anxious about a listing or a sale, we will
talk about it and I will regain some
perspective." Sara says, "Chuck and
I never assumed any formal positions in this
business relationship. We did not say, ‘Oh,
it’s your time to go to the office and
it’s my time to stay home.’ We just did
what the other didn’t do. He was always a
part of my business because he was always a
part of my life. So, here it is going on 46
years. Let me tell you what I have found out,
balancing a successful marriage and a
successful business partnership: If you
don’t enjoy each other in everyday life, you
will never be successful in business."
Brad and Sonya Korn of The Korn Team in
Blue Springs, Missouri (near Kansas City) have
been together five years and have been married
two. They are "newlyweds" and yet
their business has grown, doubling in volume
in the past two years.
Brad credits Sonya’s high energy and
dedicated commitment to their clients as a
major reason for their success. "Sonya
came from a customer service background, and
understood the big picture as well as the
complex details. She created new forms and
systems to make our business better–and, she
is also a great mom. You have to be flexible
in marriage and in business to do both well.
Yet, in addition to being flexible, we have
both found we must be disciplined. We must
agree to block out certain things–responding
to client calls late at night, agreeing a
keeping time for each other, and family
time–that kind of thing. You know real
estate is a business that can overtake you, so
you have to create some breathing and
relationship time with those you love."
Kathi and Bob McLean of Coldwell Banker
Westlake Village (near Los Angeles) have been
married for 23 years.
She has been in real estate for the past 25,
and Bob joined her 10 years ago. Since then,
they have worked together, and have shared
business success. They also share an office,
with two full-time assistants. They do not
maintain a home-office.
"Bob and I made a decision that we never
regretted–that, because we live and breathe
real estate, we needed to balance that with
personal time at home."
The length of time they had been together
prior to them becoming business partners (15
years) also is a factor for their success.
Kathi says, "What Bob and I know are our
temperamental strengths and challenges. A
solid marriage allows you to be aware of what
the other’s weaknesses are, but also know
that their strengths far overshadow their
weaknesses. And, of course, what bothers you
early in a marriage doesn’t bother you too
much later. I’d give those who are married
and are thinking of doing a business
partnership in real estate two pieces of
advice. One, have fun and enjoy it and two,
only work with people who are nice–by that I
mean, people who you have respect for and who
have respect for you. Otherwise, the
client’s negativity self-generates, and you
get angry with each other and whoever else is
in your environment at the time. It’s not
worth it."
Harvey and Elise Kalles of Harvey Kalles Real
Estate Ltd. In Toronto, Canada, have been
married for over 40 years. They have three
children, two of whom are in business with
them.
Michael, the eldest, is president of the
company. Elise has been the top producer in
volume for all of the Toronto area for the
past three years.
The success of marriage and business does not
seem unusual to either of them and both have
the same teamwork priorities.
"Even in the beginning, our family was
what was most important. And you should not
let that priority get away from you. It is
very important to try and maintain
separateness between your marriage and your
business–between what you do and who you
are, although a lot of times that is
intertwined. You just must remember who you
are, and what is important. Harvey adds,
"We have built this business on the
reliability and stability of the Kalles name.
Now, Elise and two of the three children are a
large part of our success. How we treat each
other progresses outward to how we treat our
clients."
Jill and Al Stanger of Coldwell Banker Premier
Northwest Properties in Gig Harbor,
Washington, have been married and in business
together for a decade. They both are
transplanted Canadians.
"We both feel we have a synergy; neither
of us have an ‘A’ or ‘B’
personality–we are not, we have never
been–competitive with each other," Jill
says. "We also set a goal a long time ago
that we would leave the job at work. We do try
to do this, but it’s difficult–mainly
because we are both so energized by doing what
we do, and doing it together. To people who
are married and thinking of going into real
estate together, I would suggest to remember
it’s easy to get too busy and too focused.
Real estate can be all consuming. It’s
important to be aware of that–take a break
from it if that’s all you think about. There
are other beautiful things in the world."
Susan Kime is a multi-published writer in the
real estate and relocation fields. She
gratefully acknowledges Nick Antonicello,
business development director of Unique Homes,
for help in this article’s preparation. |
|
Publishing date: 08/05/02
|
|
|
|
|
Top
10 Web Site by Realtor Magazine April 2002
|
