Cheree agreed, adding that sharing an occupation helps them appreciate each other’s challenges. “You do put in a lot of hours, and the other person obviously understands what you’re going through and why you’re working until 9:30,” she said.

The Tirys’ partnership has placed them among the most successful Realtors in the region. Between 2002 and 2017, Team Tiry sold more homes than any other team or individual agent in the Chippewa Valley. And Team Tiry has been voted Best Realtor for five straight years in Volume One’s Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll.

Part of their success, the couple said, comes from how they handle business: Aaron works with sellers and Cheree works with buyers. Dividing the work plays to each spouse’s strength: Aaron describes himself as more analytical, which is helpful in ensuring sellers get the best price possible, while Cheree is more attuned to guiding buyers through the day-to-day joys and stresses of home-buying. “We felt that it’s easier for us to manage it and do a higher-quality of service because we’re not juggling both sides,” Aaron explained.

Team Tiry’s effectiveness also comes from their focus on the Valley: While other agents may work in a much wider area, the Tirys only deal with properties within a 15- or 20-minute radius of Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Altoona. They acknowledge that this sometimes means turning down business, but they say it allows them to focus on what they know best.

Their approach has created a sense of loyalty among customers: So far this year, 83 percent of Team Tiry clients have been past clients or have been referred by past clients. The couple’s down-to-earth style helps, too.

“We’re not pushy people,” Aaron said. “We’re not your typical salespeople – we’re told that all the time. That’s just not our personality. We’re here to help, and our main thing is we want (customers) to be happy, and I think they see that throughout the transaction. When they’re stressed out and they’re having issues, they know that we’re going to do what’s right.”

In their spare time, the couple enjoy traveling and gardening (for more than a decade, they’ve volunteered to maintain a flower bed on 10th Street in Altoona). They also participate in or sponsor a host of community activities, from Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley’s Hike for the Homeless to Literacy Chippewa Valley’s Scrabble Bee.

“We believe in giving back to our community,” Cheree said. “Giving back is an important part of our life and faith.”