Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Key.
Taylor, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have over seven years of experience in the customer service industry. This often comes as a surprise to some, considering how frequently I get comments about how youthful I look for my age; however, I actually started in the business when I was very young. As a child, I had seen both of my parents operate in the arena of self-employment. Initially drawn to their ability to use the flexibility of their schedules to simultaneously run a business and raise a family, I was also intrigued by the level of personalized care they were able to provide to their clients. They’ve always taught me that success means two things: putting the client first and working hard for the things that you want. I took that advice to heart and at 14 years old, I started my own direct sales business, maneuvering my way through it until I was ranked in the Top 5% of my team. This opportunity not only developed me as a person, but it also allowed me to gather a thorough understanding of how a business is run.
Prior to entering college, my long-term goal was to have my own retail space, so at 18, I began working as an Assistant Manager on my first retail job. Never wavering in my resolve to become the best version of myself, with each career move, I gained experience and furthered my knowledge in enterprise. That same year, I entered the real estate industry, taking the class shortly after I graduated high school & while still working my retail job. I was encouraged by my mom, LaToshia Hines-Key – who is also a Keller Williams Realtor- to get licensed based on my entrepreneurial background & my advanced interpersonal skills. She introduced me to this amazing industry & has totally opened my eyes to being a multifaceted entrepreneur.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, the road has been smooth because of the abundant amount of training and encouragement I’ve received while being licensed. However, the biggest obstacle that I faced was actually getting the license, simply because I got distracted. I had passed the class test with flying colors about a week before I was scheduled to move into my dorm at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) and I was so excited! The excitement of being a college freshman, meeting new people, and embracing the college experience made me lose focus for that short amount of time that I should have used to study for my State Test (the final test you have to take to get licensed). I made the mistake of telling myself that I was going to take a “short break” so that I could “settle in” to college—terrible idea.
Eventually, after several months of mediocre studying and frustrating results, I realized that I’d caused myself to get too far removed from the course. I didn’t have it in me to give up just because I wasn’t doing well, so I decided to take the course a second time. It was then that I passed the class test and the state test first try because I took the tests back to back & never broke focus. Although I consider this my biggest obstacle, I also consider it a proud moment of personal development because it taught me tenacity, determination, and focus.
Because of that experience, this is the biggest nugget of advice I offer to anyone looking to get into real estate. Devote the necessary time and energy to studying for the course; when it’s time to take the class and state tests, learn from my mistake and take them as soon as possible. You’ll be happy you did!
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Keller Williams is a top-ranking real estate franchise that places an extensive focus on training and real estate education. When I became licensed, I had limited knowledge of what it took to run a real estate business so this brokerage was the perfect match for me because it allowed me to build a strong foundation of knowledge. In addition, I am pleased to be a part of a company that has such a positive company culture that is directed by the values of God, family, then business. These three things -in addition to giving back- influence everything we do.
As a Keller Williams Realtor and a Georgia native, I am licensed to service all of Georgia and I am very much familiar with doing so! I love what I do because – not only does it allow me to work with my mom who specializes in listings – it provides me the opportunity to assist seasoned Buyers as well as First Time Home Buyers in finding their dream home. In this process, I find comfort in knowing that I am providing my clients with ample information that will allow them to make an informed decision on their next investment. One of the ways that I have decided to communicate these ideas is through a book! My first book titled The Complete Guide to Buying a Home is a short read that was released September 2020 & features an abundance of vital information for Buyers to use on their home purchase. In the near future, I look forward to releasing my second book, which will inform First-Time Home Buyers of common mistakes to avoid and how to make the most of their first large investment.
Simply put, I am proud to say that my mom, LaToshia Hines-Key, and I specialize in getting homes sold and providing the “Keys2dreams”.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My first proud moment in real estate was initially getting my license as I mentioned prior. Aside from that, another one of my proudest moments was when I sold my highest priced home at the time which also happened to be my first new construction home – in exactly 30 days. Although I had sold a number of resale homes, I was aware that the new construction process was a bit different, so I wanted to ensure I took the necessary steps to provide my clients a smooth & seamless transaction. During this process, I worked with a phenomenal Builder’s Agent: she commended me on how easy I was to work with and -to my surprise- informed me of an additional monetary builder bonus that I would be receiving at closing. After the closing, I had the ultimate satisfaction of accompanying my clients to their new home and helping them capture their initial moments of homeownership.
To this day, I continue to check in with my clients and the Builder’s Agent continues to send me referrals. This experience really supported what my parents had taught me since I had been a young entrepreneur: Always put the clients first, for when your clients are happy, so are you.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1960 Satellite Blvd #1100, Duluth, GA 30097
- Website: https://taylorkey.bestlocalexpert.com/
- Phone: OFFICE – (678)775-2600; CELL – (678)698-8402
- Email: taylorkey@kw.com
- Instagram: BUSINESS – https://www.instagram.com/taylorkeysellsatl/?hl=en ; PERSONAL – https://www.instagram.com/taylorkey22/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylorkeysellsatl-105353444625325
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