- 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害羞草研究所檚 much more.

Negotiating is part of the tie that binds them together and is woven so deeply into their story it害羞草研究所檚 almost as intrinsic to who they are as their DNA.

害羞草研究所淲e had to negotiate for everything growing up,害羞草研究所� said Tamara one afternoon while sitting in a Kelowna Starbucks, prompting Shannon to nod in agreement.

害羞草研究所淥ur report card would come in and our dad would say, 害羞草研究所榯hat害羞草研究所檚 great 害羞草研究所� you got a B in math, now go and get an A.害羞草研究所� We would be like 害羞草研究所榟uh, what?害羞草研究所� And he would say, 害羞草研究所榞o back to school and talk to your teacher.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

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害羞草研究所檇 offered. Inevitably, they害羞草研究所檇 sway their teachers and their marks would inch up.

It taught them how to confront an issue, be resourceful and believe in themselves 害羞草研究所� three key ingredients to success and 害羞草研究所� more importantly for young women who wanted to one day make an impact on the world害羞草研究所� independence.

害羞草研究所淚t was important to both our mom and dad that we be able to stand on our own two feet,害羞草研究所� said Shannon.

Unsurprisingly, it makes an impression on those who have seen it in action.

害羞草研究所淲e went to list an old teacher害羞草研究所檚 house two years ago, and I said 害羞草研究所榳e害羞草研究所檙e really good negotiators,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Shannon said.

害羞草研究所淭hey were like, 害羞草研究所榦h, we know.害羞草研究所� Back when we were students, she told us, all the teachers would talk about which Stone sister was coming in to negotiate first.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所�70s and 害羞草研究所�80s. Tamara decided to follow in their footsteps in 1995, in the thick of an economic lull that hit the Okanagan hard.

害羞草研究所淓veryone actually said to me, 害羞草研究所榓re you insane, you害羞草研究所檙e getting into real estate? Why would you do that?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Tamara said, adding that she was glad she started in such a hard market.

害羞草研究所淛uly 1, 1995, was my first day and I had a dark suit and I害羞草研究所檇 cut my hair off and sold it to buy business cards 害羞草研究所� I looked like I was 11 years old.害羞草研究所�

Shannon stopped her sister there and offered some perspective as only a loved one can.

害羞草研究所淪he didn害羞草研究所檛 look 11. She was 22 and while all of her friends were going to the bar, she害羞草研究所檇 decided to go into real estate,害羞草研究所� Shannon said. 害羞草研究所淪he had short hair, and the worst blue suit 害羞草研究所� she looked older than she looks now.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 sentences. They share history, but it害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淪hannon came in after years of me begging her and she said, 害羞草研究所榦kay, but I am not going to work for you, I will work with you for six months,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Tamara, adding that they were content to go their separate ways at that point.

害羞草研究所淓veryone was worried. We have a tight-knit family, and they worried that if we didn害羞草研究所檛 get along it would wreck everything.害羞草研究所�

Of course, it didn害羞草研究所檛. They害羞草研究所檝e been a homegrown success story, awarded Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Best Realtors multiple times and continually ranking among the Top 100 Teams with RE/MAX Canada. They害羞草研究所檝e found success, balance and a way to have fun with the work they share.

害羞草研究所淚f I do anything that annoys Shannon, she just has to raise her eyebrow a little bit and I stop,害羞草研究所� said Tamara.

And vice versa.

害羞草研究所淲e know and we appreciate each other and each other害羞草研究所檚 opinions,害羞草研究所� added Shannon.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e almost one person, but we have different strengths and weaknesses that complement each other.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淭here are always people moving, sales to be had and chances to be creative,害羞草研究所� said Tamara.

害羞草研究所淎 market like this is nice because you can be honest. Lots of realtors don害羞草研究所檛 want to tell someone what they need to hear because it害羞草研究所檚 not what they want to hear. We害羞草研究所檙e in an industry where people want to be positive, but we want to be realistic.害羞草研究所�

Shannon said that means when someone says they want to downsize or expand their real estate portfolio, it害羞草研究所檚 on them as realtors to look at what害羞草研究所檚 happening in the market recommend full steam ahead, or say, 害羞草研究所渢his isn害羞草研究所檛 the market.害羞草研究所� And when there害羞草研究所檚 a real lull, it害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淲e think of ourselves as more of a marketing business,害羞草研究所� said Shannon. 害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 wait for something to happen or someone to come around and buy our listings 害羞草研究所� we look at what害羞草研究所檚 happening and go out and invite people here.害羞草研究所�

That approach has its risks and its rewards. But together, the Stones are clearly able to make it work.

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