Couples in real life, real estate

Valentine's Day is Thursday, and that reminds us that real estate is a romantic topic.

What's one of the most important decisions a couple makes when they fall in love and want to share their lives together? That's right, they buy a home.

And if they are lucky, real estate continues to be an important part of their lives. Milestones such as raising a family and retirement are marked with appropriate domiciles.

Not to mention the hope for healthy increases on their investment.

For some couples, real estate is more than sharing a home. Selling real estate is also a shared career.

Perhaps Jerry Ide says it best.

"Nothing is better than working with your best friend," he said. "We motivate each other and help each other keep everything in perspective."

His wife, Sally Ide, agrees.

"We understand when the other is having a bad day," she said.

The couple works with Coldwell Banker in Arlington Heights.

They both were in accounting, but Sally Ide has been selling real estate for 22 years, and her husband joined her 6½ years ago.

Their financial background helps them explain to buyers the investment benefits of owning real estate, said Jerry Ide.

Historically real estate increases in value. And leverage means the buyers invest only their down payment and other fees while receiving any increase on the whole value of the home.

Homeownership also brings income tax advantages, said Jerry Ide.

Three couples who work together in real estate -- each married at least 30 years -- all report successful careers.

Facing the slower real estate market with both bread winners in this industry has meant working harder, they all said.

Each couple has a different style of working together or dividing the labor.

The Ides always make their first presentation together -- whether it's for a buyer or seller.

Showings depend on who's available.

"I just know that we're giving better customer service with two of us," said Sally Ide. "I was kind of spread thin before. I really needed a partner."

Unlike couples where one member follows the other into real estate sales, Pat and Dick Lindemann went into the business together 14 years ago. They sell with RE/MAX Accord of Bloomingdale.

"I guess it's lucky we get along because we're together 24 hours a day," said Dick Lindemann.

The Lindemanns do as many open houses and showings as they can together.

"Dick usually does the presentation, the comparative market analysis, then we switch places and I do the paperwork," said Pat.

As far as the Lindemanns are concerned, the best feature of working together is that they have the same schedules. If one is working late, they both are. Dinner might be late, but eventually they sit down together.

Open houses are an important part of the business plan for Jane and Jim Pickle, who work with Baird & Warner in St. Charles.

"On Sundays we go to church and brunch and sit separate open houses," said Jane Pickle.

She admits there was a little friction when her husband retired from management with DuPont five years ago and joined the career she had been building for more than 20 years.

"I think he thought he was going to manage me," reports Jane Pickle. "But we established our roles. I had been successful for a number of years."