Partners in real estate: For married couples, doing real estate together is a plus

Shari and Mac McConnell opened a RE/MAX real estate business in Cape Girardeau two months ago, but they've had other businesses together for about 15 years -- as long as they have been married. And, they're not the only married couples in town who work together in real estate. Many other married couples agree that selling real estate together is good for business.

Shari McConnell has been a real estate agent since 2005 and says working with her husband is a good match.

"He is stronger where I am weak, and I am stronger where he is weak," she says.

To her, their different personalities are an asset when it comes to selling real estate, as the differences give them more chances to relate to clients purchasing a new home.

"I think relating to the real estate agent is very important, and sometimes, depending on the personalities, they may relate to my husband better than me, or vice versa," she says.

Elizabeth Gray has worked with her husband Bobby for 11 years at Realty One Associates. She also believes being married helps their business.

"It helps us serve our clients better because there is not only one of us, but two. And not only can we be in more places and offer a better service that way, but there are many times where we don't always see everything the same way," she says.

Ross Austin from Realty Executives of Cape County thinks alike.

"It is much better to have two heads rather than one," he says.

His wife, Cynthia Austin, also says having different personalities allows them to complete each other. She does the commercial side of their business, while he takes care of the residential side.

Being in the same business also allows them to better understand the challenges and stresses that come with it, and then support one another. Coordinating personal lives and the business becomes easier when the spouse knows what the business is like and understands what it implies.

Gray has been married to her spouse for 20 years, and they spent 11 of those sharing an office. She had her license before Bobby, and as he was looking for a career change, they decided to work together. She says she likes working with him because they share a passion and it helps them understand each other better. She adds another benefit is getting to spend all day with the person she loves.

But, she admits being with a spouse all day can be a disadvantage at times.

"It's good to know what is going on in each other's lives, but sometimes you need distance from each other, and you are not necessarily going to agree on everything," she says.

There have been times when they thought doing business together was a bad idea.

"But most of the time we think the opposite; we love being in business together and we've been able to serve our clients well because of that," Gray says. "I think if it ever comes a day when he is not sharing an office with me, I will be very sad."

McConnell, on the other hand, never thought doing business with her husband might be a bad idea.

"It's been good for us," she says, but she admits that sometimes they feel like they only talk about business.

Ross Austin says even when they are not working, he and his wife do everything together, which is why he liked the idea of joining her in the business. However, he pointed out one main drawback of the job.

"Like most businesses, it becomes your life, so it's difficult sometimes for us to have times when we are both able to get away from the business," he says.

As much as she likes working with her husband, Cynthia Austin thinks the fact that their entire income is based on commission is a stressful component of their business partnership. They only get paid if there is a closing, and sometimes that does not happen, so they don't get paid at all.

"I think that's probably why for most people in real estate, it's just one person, and they have the other spouse's income to depend on in between commissions," says Cynthia Austin.