We were lucky to catch up with Taiye Singletary recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taiye, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Talk to us about building a team – did you hire quickly, how’d you recruit the first few team members? Any interesting lessons?

Yes, building a team was a bit scary in the beginning. I was a leader in retail management, but real estate is a little different. I first had to build trust with my partner. We talked about building a team but had reservations in doing so. Although we have a lot of similarities, we still had differences that would make us a unique partnership. We set down and talked about what makes us both different and how that value can add to the team dynamics. We wanted to ensure that we could provide value to each other but also to the team members we desired to add to our team. We didn’t add to our time right away because it was a process in finding the right fit. When looking to add new team members we wanted to ensure it was always quality over quantity. After interviewing a ton of people, we selected the first few people based on their goals and their alignment with the team qualities. They were new and looking for leadership. Although we’d love to bring everyone on to our team, we know that’s just not possible. We are adding new team members as we see fit. I’ve enjoyed this journey so far to say the least!!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Taiye Singletary, realtor & team lead of The Singletary Phillips Group of Harris Hawkins & Co. I serve the Maryland, DC & Pennsylvania area. I started my real estate career when a company I was employed with decided to do a companywide restructure. This was the very first time in my life I had been laid-off and it was painful. At that moment I realized I couldn’t allow a job to have that much power over me and my livelihood. For a moment I was stressed and depressed. To add to the situation, I was about to welcome my first child into the world and knew something needed to be done.

I knew starting my real estate career would be the best fit for me. I had been in customer service for 10+ years and I knew that I enjoyed helping people. Well during this time, it also took me back to when I purchased my first home in June of 2015. I really loved our home buying process and the way it made us feel, I knew I could have the same effect on others. I’ve always been a person that loves to share my knowledge with others to help them get to the next step in life and that’s what real estate is all about. Building and networking with people for them to become successful through investing their wealth through real estate.

I am a solution-oriented person. As for my clients I am all about making their process as seamless as possible when buying or selling a home. My clients know that with my number of resources I will always have a solution to their problem. If I don’t have the answer at that very moment, I will find it and get back to them.

Ultimately, what I am most proud of in real estate is the positive impact I have made on my clients’ lives. Knowing that I have played a role in helping them find their ideal living spaces and witnessing the happiness it brings them is immensely fulfilling. It’s a privilege to earn my client business and to be part of such a significant milestone in their lives. I’m also able to contribute to the growth and success of the real estate industry.

What sets me apart in my career is my extensive experience, transparency, integrity, client-centric approach, technological expertise, and negotiation skills collectively set me apart in the real estate industry. I am confident that with these qualities, I can deliver exceptional results and exceed ALL my clients expectations.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that of me stop projecting my feelings/thoughts onto others and assuming that others think, feel, or react in the same ways I do. It’s natural for individuals to project their own perspectives onto others especially when you see great potential in others that they may not see within themselves. However, it’s important to recognize that everyone is unique and has their own thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

To overcome these challenges, it was important for me to practice active listening, empathy, and open communication. Engage in genuine conversations, ask questions, and be open to understanding different perspectives. By doing so, I was able to cultivate stronger relationships and develop a deeper understanding of others’ unique experiences and emotions. I’ve come a long way but I’m still learning.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What helped me the most was building a firm foundation in my brand and always being true to myself, while always displaying my true authenticity. This market can be challenging with all the highs and lows that come with it. Along with seeing an enormous number of realtors in the business. I learned quickly that looking like you’re doing business and doing the work in your business are two different things. So, I vowed to myself that I would solely focus on my business, team and how to effectively & consistently make my clients experience one that they will forever remember.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://taiye.thesingletaryphillipsgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taiyesingletary/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taiye.roane/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taiye-singletary-245568105

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Jermaine Gibbs, RJ Paulk & Elena Felton