- Story by Kathy Michaels Photography by Darren Hull
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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Saying the Stone Sisters are impressive negotiators may sound like little more than an endorsement for their real estate partnership. But in actuality, it香蕉视频直播檚 much more.
Negotiating is part of the tie that binds them together and is woven so deeply into their story it香蕉视频直播檚 almost as intrinsic to who they are as their DNA.
香蕉视频直播淲e had to negotiate for everything growing up,香蕉视频直播� said Tamara one afternoon while sitting in a Kelowna Starbucks, prompting Shannon to nod in agreement.
香蕉视频直播淥ur report card would come in and our dad would say, 香蕉视频直播榯hat香蕉视频直播檚 great 香蕉视频直播� you got a B in math, now go and get an A.香蕉视频直播� We would be like 香蕉视频直播榟uh, what?香蕉视频直播� And he would say, 香蕉视频直播榞o back to school and talk to your teacher.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
They would trundle back into their classroom the next day and start making the case for a better mark, pointing out that perhaps the grading of a paper or exam failed to take note of some nuance of the answer they香蕉视频直播檇 offered. Inevitably, they香蕉视频直播檇 sway their teachers and their marks would inch up.
It taught them how to confront an issue, be resourceful and believe in themselves 香蕉视频直播� three key ingredients to success and 香蕉视频直播� more importantly for young women who wanted to one day make an impact on the world香蕉视频直播� independence.
香蕉视频直播淚t was important to both our mom and dad that we be able to stand on our own two feet,香蕉视频直播� said Shannon.
Unsurprisingly, it makes an impression on those who have seen it in action.
香蕉视频直播淲e went to list an old teacher香蕉视频直播檚 house two years ago, and I said 香蕉视频直播榳e香蕉视频直播檙e really good negotiators,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Shannon said.
香蕉视频直播淭hey were like, 香蕉视频直播榦h, we know.香蕉视频直播� Back when we were students, she told us, all the teachers would talk about which Stone sister was coming in to negotiate first.香蕉视频直播�
It香蕉视频直播檚 part of what made real estate such a natural fit for the sisters, although they came to that realization at different times.
Their parents were realtors in the 香蕉视频直播�70s and 香蕉视频直播�80s. Tamara decided to follow in their footsteps in 1995, in the thick of an economic lull that hit the Okanagan hard.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone actually said to me, 香蕉视频直播榓re you insane, you香蕉视频直播檙e getting into real estate? Why would you do that?香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 Tamara said, adding that she was glad she started in such a hard market.
香蕉视频直播淛uly 1, 1995, was my first day and I had a dark suit and I香蕉视频直播檇 cut my hair off and sold it to buy business cards 香蕉视频直播� I looked like I was 11 years old.香蕉视频直播�
Shannon stopped her sister there and offered some perspective as only a loved one can.
香蕉视频直播淪he didn香蕉视频直播檛 look 11. She was 22 and while all of her friends were going to the bar, she香蕉视频直播檇 decided to go into real estate,香蕉视频直播� Shannon said. 香蕉视频直播淪he had short hair, and the worst blue suit 香蕉视频直播� she looked older than she looks now.香蕉视频直播�
With that, the two laughed and the story shifted to include the added insight.
The Stones have an easy way of communicating. They speak at an energetic clip, encouraging each other as they tell stories and laughing at jokes and shared memories. They even finish each other香蕉视频直播檚 sentences. They share history, but it香蕉视频直播檚 also clear they have a strong bond that carries them forward.
That closeness is part of the reason why their family was concerned when, 10 years after Tamara donned her blue suit, Shannon decided she too wanted to be in real estate.
香蕉视频直播淪hannon came in after years of me begging her and she said, 香蕉视频直播榦kay, but I am not going to work for you, I will work with you for six months,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 said Tamara, adding that they were content to go their separate ways at that point.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone was worried. We have a tight-knit family, and they worried that if we didn香蕉视频直播檛 get along it would wreck everything.香蕉视频直播�
Of course, it didn香蕉视频直播檛. They香蕉视频直播檝e been a homegrown success story, awarded Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Best Realtors multiple times and continually ranking among the Top 100 Teams with RE/MAX Canada. They香蕉视频直播檝e found success, balance and a way to have fun with the work they share.
香蕉视频直播淚f I do anything that annoys Shannon, she just has to raise her eyebrow a little bit and I stop,香蕉视频直播� said Tamara.
And vice versa.
香蕉视频直播淲e know and we appreciate each other and each other香蕉视频直播檚 opinions,香蕉视频直播� added Shannon.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e almost one person, but we have different strengths and weaknesses that complement each other.香蕉视频直播�
They found a groove that allows them to take on all challenges, including market fluctuations. They choose to look at the positives in the market, and work with what they have.
香蕉视频直播淭here are always people moving, sales to be had and chances to be creative,香蕉视频直播� said Tamara.
香蕉视频直播淎 market like this is nice because you can be honest. Lots of realtors don香蕉视频直播檛 want to tell someone what they need to hear because it香蕉视频直播檚 not what they want to hear. We香蕉视频直播檙e in an industry where people want to be positive, but we want to be realistic.香蕉视频直播�
Shannon said that means when someone says they want to downsize or expand their real estate portfolio, it香蕉视频直播檚 on them as realtors to look at what香蕉视频直播檚 happening in the market recommend full steam ahead, or say, 香蕉视频直播渢his isn香蕉视频直播檛 the market.香蕉视频直播� And when there香蕉视频直播檚 a real lull, it香蕉视频直播檚 on them to look elsewhere to find new clients to bring to the market. This approach has landed them in Seattle, Toronto and even the oil patch, depending on the year.
香蕉视频直播淲e think of ourselves as more of a marketing business,香蕉视频直播� said Shannon. 香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 wait for something to happen or someone to come around and buy our listings 香蕉视频直播� we look at what香蕉视频直播檚 happening and go out and invite people here.香蕉视频直播�
That approach has its risks and its rewards. But together, the Stones are clearly able to make it work.
See them online
