FEMININE TOUCH: Mothers, daughters team up at MoneyWorld

Teamwork is essential to any business, and real estate sales is no different. Just ask Mike West, president of Century 21 MoneyWorld.

"Every outstanding and successful team, partnership, even marriage, has one person with a certain set of skills and the other that complements them. MoneyWorld and its customers are fortunate to have that here," West said, referring to several mother-daughter sales teams who work among the company's four offices in the Las Vegas area.

Arlene Fisher and her daughter, Abby Corpodian, work from the Summerlin office.

"We have the same goals and philosophies about how to treat a client, but because we come from two generations, (Abby) does things differently," Fisher said. "We take separate paths, but reach the same goal."

Initially, Fisher said, there were a few challenges faced by the two.

"We're both detail oriented, so we would keep checking on each other to make sure that if we turned something over, it got done. Finally, we decided that when we start working with a client together, when it's time to finish the transaction, one person takes over and completes it."

Barbara Tedder and her daughter, Leah Gonzales, have worked together for four years, and represent MoneyWorld's Anthem office.

"What I like most about working with Leah is knowing she has as much of a vested interest in the business as I do. There is more there than just a partnership," said Tedder, pointing out that each is respectful of the other.

"I have to be careful not to be a `mother' and she has to take direction without the `mothers don't know anything' attitude.

"We are always there to cover for each other, which any team is set up for, but when I tell the client she is my daughter, that seems to bring a different dimension to the process."

Cheryl O'Brien and her daughter, Brandi O'Brien, teamed up about a year ago at the company's Green Valley office. Also on the team these days is Cheryl's husband, who is Brandi's father.

"Growing up, I remember the telephone ringing all the time and how busy Mom was, but I also remember having flexibility, and when we wanted to get up and go we could," Brandi O'Brien said.

Cheryl O'Brien said her daughter is a valued member of the team.

"We want to blend as a team and as a family ... (and) because every real estate situation is so different, one of us may relate to a particular customer's needs better. And the (customer) always has availability and accountability," she said.

Michael Donovan, broker and co-owner of the realty firm, said mother-daughter sales teams are becoming increasingly common.

"Families really complement each other well in this industry; we promote (such) partnerships," Donovan said.

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