Stacey Taylor

Passionately Putting Clients First

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

Photos by Jessica Laine Photography

Photos taken at Cranbrook Custom Homes — The Heights in Rochester

Stacey Taylor has always looked forward to reading all the Real Producers stories each month — especially the Top Producer features — and gleaning as much as possible from them, but she admits that she didn’t initially see herself soaring to the top of the industry. “Honestly, reaching that level almost felt out of grasp, but those stories served as a measuring stick to see if I could get close to what some of the solo agents were doing,” she said.

Then, after being honored as a Rising Star in January of 2019, Stacey realized that she had the potential and the drive to rise to the ranks of a Top Producer. Fueled with newfound confidence, she grew her listing business to establish an equal balance of buyers and sellers, a move which she viewed as an important time-management strategy for herself as a solo agent. Stacey also focused on increasing her SOI every month as well as on staying in close contact with and providing value to present and past clients.

“I really wanted to increase my use of technology to leverage time and connect with new clients, and I made the decision in 2019 to join Quest Realty, which proved to be such an amazing decision,” she said. “Being surrounded by an office of amazing real estate agents helped me increase my monthly and yearly goals, and in 2020, I was able to far exceed those goals.”

Stacey didn’t just exceed her goals; she had a record-breaking 2020 with 91 closed units and $24 million in sales. “My business and my life in general have really changed since my last feature in 2019,” Stacey shared. “I have more than tripled my business volume and number of closings since joining Quest Realty, and I continue to feel motivated and supported by my amazing broker, Ali Berry — he makes you want to do better each and every day!”

Despite the many changes that Stacey has encountered in the past few years, her approach to business has remained the same: Always put clients first. “My clients know I am available just about any time, any day, no matter what — I never lose sight of how important their transaction is, and I always make sure they know I am there for them,” Stacey said. “Instead of focusing on numbers, I focus on the client and doing all I can do to exceed their expectations in every area. No matter the price point, I never lose sight of the fact that this is someone’s biggest financial investment.”

As the former co-owner of a development and excavating company, Stacey has been licensed for over 20 years, but she didn’t begin her career selling real estate until 2015, following a difficult divorce that forced her to walk away from her 18-year career at the company that she had built from the ground up. After becoming the sole provider for her daughter, who was just accepted to an Ivy League university, and also for her nephew, whom she was raising at the time, Stacey needed to re-enter the workforce and quickly find a career that would allow her to support her family. “The circumstances of my divorce were not pleasant, and I was determined to not only survive but also thrive after it,” Stacey said. “My daughter is my best friend and biggest cheerleader … no way was I letting her down!”

At first, Stacey had just hoped that she would be able to do well enough to support her family, but, fortunately, she discovered something much greater in real estate: her true passion. “For personal reasons, I am a huge advocate for women and for really anyone trapped in any kind of abusive relationship,” Stacey shared. “Real estate has helped me overcome so many insecurities and truly healed me at a time when I needed it so badly, as well as provided me the opportunity to be a role model to women in situations similar to the one I experienced in 2014. When I hear my clients tell me the difference I have made in their lives and for their families, it truly makes my heart so full — I cannot imagine any other career!”

Stacey’s passion for the real estate industry — and for making a positive impact on the lives of the people around her — is manifested in her ongoing support of new agents as well as in her unwavering dedication to her clients and in the strong friendships she forms with them as a result. For the past two years, Stacey has been voted as the Quest Realty — Troy “MVP,” an award that honors an agent’s willingness to help their colleagues and go above and beyond for their office. In 2020, Stacey was the top listing agent and the top closer at her office. She also has been featured on two real estate podcasts and on a 2019 episode of HGTV’s “Lakefront Bargain Hunt,” an amazing, fun experience which brought a lot of publicity to the Oakland County lakes area.

Stacey’s efforts to make a positive impact extend beyond real estate: She has been deeply involved with HOPE (Helping Oakland’s People Every day) Hospitality and Warming Center in Pontiac, and she recently joined the Women Build team of Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County. “Being in the housing industry, I love being a part of efforts which help underprivileged and homeless individuals,” she said. “I grew up in Pontiac, so it is very rewarding to now be able to help serve in that community.”

“My clients know I am available just about any time, any day, no matter what — I never lose sight of how important their transaction is, and I always make sure they know I am there for them.

In her free time, Stacey enjoys traveling to warm climates, reading, watching real estate shows on Bravo and HGTV, driving around in her 2020 mid-engine Corvette, and relaxing at summer campfires along with friends, wine and charcuterie. She is also all about spending quality time with her fiancé, Dan Jackson, who is an architect and designer; her 24-year-old daughter, Sierra, who recently graduated with honors from Cornell University and works at General Motors; and her 22-year-old nephew, David. “When Sierra and David were younger, my favorite thing in the world was watching them play their sports, but now I am just proud of the adults they have grown into,” Stacey said. “We love to travel to warm climates together, and between us, Sierra and I have three adorable English Bulldogs that truly are part of the family — I even often feature them in various social media advertising posts.”

Stacey, who always gives 110% to her clients and genuinely enjoys every aspect of her career, says that she cannot imagine a life without real estate. “I love what I do, and it does not feel like work,” she said. “Yes, the numbers are great to hit and the industry accolades are nice, but, to me, the true definition of success comes from my clients and from helping them accomplish their real estate dreams.”

Stacey Taylor - Top Producer -- COVER