If you are a Realtor thinking about bringing your spouse into the Real Estate business, there are some things you may be wondering. The following are our Tips. For this Husband and Wife Realtor Team, it's all about being together and doing what we love that led to our Success - selling Real Estate!
First and foremost, you must know yourselves. Will you be driving each other crazy if you are together too much? Bob and I are from such similar backgrounds that our connection is strong.
- So the first discussion should be about where you both want your Office to be. Some people prefer working from their Home while others want a definite separation between Home & Office.
- Next you shoud decide who does what. Most people will know what they like doing best.
What works for us is that we each have our own tasks that we prefer taking the lead on. Bob is the Technical Support Expert in the Team. He keeps us up and running, making sure all the Computers are updated and working! Additionally Bob takes care of the Customer Contacts from our Websites. Lisa on the other hand enjoys keeping the Paperwork in order. Customer Files, Contracts and writing the checks to pay the bills. Lisa also likes doing the Negotiating.
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An important decision will be how you will work with Customers. When you make an appointment to Show a home, will you go together? Will you meet Sellers together for Listing Appointments?
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Who will take care of the Budget? It probably works best if both of you Discuss these decisions as they are a major part of your Business.
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Automobiles is one more important aspect of your Business since as Realtors, we spend alot of time in our cars.
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Marketing and Prospecting may be something that needs to be worked out as well. There are Mailings, Advertising Budgets and Methods of Developing New Business that are important.
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There should be someone that stays in touch with Continuing Education, Updates to Industry Rules, Regulations & Laws.
But one of the most important aspects of being a successful Husband and Wife Team is as in any Family Run Business, you must find time for yourselves. It's so easy to get comfortable working from home. We are in a profession that is much like that of a Doctor - we're always on Call! It's so crucial to keep yourselves on the right track to remembering to Take Care of Each Other! So congratulations to all of the many Husband and Wife Teams that have found a way to enjoy working together successfully for the sake of the Public and each other ........
Visit Bob and Lisa at http://www.hammersteam.com/ for all your Real Estate needs in the Pascack Valley area of Bergen County, New Jersey.
Or call us at (201)218-6802.
If you or someone you know is planning a Move or Sale of their home in the near future, call for Bergen County New Jersey Home Sale information, Lisa & Bob Hammerstein at (201)218-6802. We'll be able to help you if you're Buying or Selling Bergen County New Jersey Homes.
For more Local Information about Bergen County, New Jersey, visit us online at www.HammersTeam.com.
Your Real Estate Resource for Bergen County New Jersey Homes For Sale - specializing in the Pascack Valley area! 
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Robert & Lisa Hammerstein • Sales Associates • Coldwell Banker • (201)315-8618
• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •
DISCLAIMER: We must disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of, or reliance on, any information contained in this blog, or for the accuracy of comments or opinions expressed by visitors to our blog. The information contained in the articles is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed, and the opinions expressed in these articles are ours.
Wow! That was fast! I just posted this Blog. Thanks for reading and commenting on it. I think it's a great Family Business!
Lisa
I think it's great to see couples working together as a team. Just make sure you seperate business and pleasure :)
Scott
Scott - Yes, we are very aware of that point because we know that each day brings with it new challenges and we work at it so it always stays in perspective.
Maureen & Dmitry - Thank you for your comment. We like to think we have it figured out and it has become easier with time but it definitely takes some effort.
Lisa
Lisa and Robert,
This is something I have thought about before. I think there is an automatic credibility that couples who work together have. It is an unspoken indication of trust between the two people who would know best if the trust was misplaced.
Great subject and well-written. Thank you for a good read.
Rich - Thank you for your comments and we do so appreciate your help!
Mark - Thanks for taking time to give our Blog a Read. We think you are correct about the fact that people do seem to like working with Husband and Wife Teams. People tend to respond well to having two viewpoints too. It seems to add credibility. Sometimes we finish each other's sentences and people seem to get a real charge out of that!
Lisa
Loreena,
We "are" human and have moments when we drive each other alittle crazy but we value and appreciate each other so much that we know how to let it go. I should have put that into the post as well so people don't get the wrong impression and think we are without any fault at all. Thanks for reading our post and commenting.
Lisa
After 6 years of marriage (and knowing him for over 10), we both learn to pick our battles. There are something we dont compromise, there are something if it would make our lives less crazy, we'd do it even if we each have our own opinion.
I realize this only after we aligned our priorites. Life became more simple. I think this can be applied to the real estate business as well.
Monika,
It's definitely necessary to have "ME" time. I love to Garden and Bob loves to tinker in his Studio.
Lisa
I can't count the number of times we've been asked how we can work and live together. Even before we came into real estate we worked together. We have a great relationship, and we balance each other out with our different views and abilities. It's not for everyone, and I know a few couples that it really isn't for, but if you can do it, and enjoy it, then it's well worth it. Great post!
Thank you Jim and Maria. Bob and I just plain and simply like each other and enjoy each other's company so much that we just "Get it". Being a husband and wife team yourselves, I'm sure I don't have to explain what I mean by that. We love and respect each other and keep that at the core of our business model!
Best Regards to You Both!
Lisa
Hey Rich!
Thanks a million for your continued support!
Lisa
Hi Monica,
Welcome to AR and best wishes to you and your husband. It's a great business to share together. We wish you much success!
Hi Leila,
Thank you for the compliment but this is considered spam and we're pretty sure it's frowned upon here on the network. Best to check the guidelines before adding a link to your website in the comments section of someone else's posts. We do appreciate your considering our post to be worthy of your site though!
I have to say that now that my wife and I are working together on her office closing my files, that we have had to set some boundaries. She works for a law firm that does Real Estate closings, and I must say that it can take over your conversations if you are not careful. Also, since our emails on shared files are now basically public record, I find myself not ending the email with Lov or yur hubby or stuff like that!
But all in all, I love working together with my Wife. We have been best friends for over 20 years, and have similar work ethics, so it is super to do this. Thanks for all the insight, I will send her this post to look over, will this count as business talk or personal "Us" time??/Hmmmmm.....Mike Norvell Sr
Hi Mike,
That's an interesting combo. Our daughter is a paralegal for a real estate Attorney so we understand that there can be things that you must be careful about. However, sticking to the golden rule as well as your code of ethics should keep you from making any problems for yourselves.
As far as everything else goes, always make your relationship on a personal level a priority. When you are ethical people all the other peices fall into the right places. Best of luck to you both! Thanks for stopping by another of our posts!
I know this is an older post, but, I am trying to convince my husband to think about working with me. I'll have him read this.
Hi Christine,
Thanks for visiting our post. We wish you well in your decisiosn to try to make a go of it. As long as you love each other, you'll do just fine!
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for sharing your story with activerain. My husband is in sales and he is thinking about joining me in the real estate world. How long do you think it takes to get up and running as a team to survive? It's a big step to take having two incomes commission based. Do you have any suggestions for first timers and how long did it take for you guys to have strong business? Thanks in advance for your help!
J
Hi Janeen,
Thanks for visiting our post. Not sure if we can offer any advice other than to support each other in every way and keep a sense of humor because you can't take things too seriously. The most important relationship is the one you have with each other. If you can afford to carry two commission based incomes than go ahead and give it a whirl. There is no set time frame because different markets will undoubtedly produce different results. If you have a nitch you can hang your hats on that would help greatly. Good luck to you both and feel free to e-mail us or call us with any questions you may have.
hi,
my husband and i already work together with our commercial cleaning business. now he is going to clsss to get his real estate license to join me (as a team). i am both excited and worried.
also, after being in the business 3yrs i do see having a nitch or a specific area to market to does help in sales. do we have that nitch together? or do we go after two different areas of the market? i aim for my seasonal lake properties/2nd home owners, for example. should he work that with me or go into another area?
any advice?
thanks
debbie from vermont
Hi Debbie,
The beauty of this business is that there are as many ways to work as you can think of. My husband and I do everything together. That is our choice and we have selected to work in the neighborhoods we grew up in. This was more of a comfort level rather than a money making strategy. Once you find your own level of comfort, you will find out what works best for you both. Best wishes for a successful venture but remember to be happy first!
Lisa
I am considering getting my RE license and partnering with my wife who is already a successful agent. Was wondering if we should form an LLC and if so, whether it should be single or multiple member... I heard there are many advantages of this type of business structure...Have you considered this?
Hi Ken,
Thanks for stopping by. We are happy at what we do together but each couple will have their own way of getting along as well as doing things that work for them personally. We can't recommend what would be best for your situation. Speak with your accountant regarding whether or not an LLC would work for you in your particular situation. We wish you luck in your endeavors!
I just came across you post and this is GREAT!!! I love working with my spouse and you seem to run across it more often these days !!
Hi Jennifer,
Yes, this post has gotten alot of action. Guess more and more couples are finding it as much of a pleasure as we do. Thanks for stopping by to read our post.
Thank You for the information...
I was surfing the net trying to find some information on this subject. What are the benefits of husband and wives working together in real estate? What are some down falls? I know these questions are general but if you know of somewhere that more in-depth information is available will you please let me know through response or via e-mail?
Thank You
Jennifer, your post brings back many memories for me. My husband and I were a team, before it became popular. In fact, the associates at the office complained that we were an unfair advantage over them, because we were sales associate of the month every month. He is retired now, but I loved those days. We went on listing appointments together. We would write our estimate of value on a piece of paper, and then turned them over in front of the seller. Whichever one had the highest value, "bought it" It was fun...........we would go home together, happy that we got the listing, and very pleased with our performance. M E M O R I E S