Debbie Reed Team celebrates 30 years in real estate
This summer marks 30 years since The Debbie Reed Team of RE/MAX Realty Group was officially established — a major milestone for one of coastal Delaware’s most trusted real estate teams.
Debbie Reed became a Realtor in 1987. Long before team structures were the norm, she was already building a reputation as a go-to agent, known for her hustle, heart and deep knowledge of the Rehoboth Beach area. What began with Debbie and a single licensed assistant eventually grew into a full team, fueled by her expanding business and word-of-mouth referrals. In 1995, The Debbie Reed Team was formally incorporated.
Reed’s first deal was an offer handwritten on the hood of her car for a beachfront property in Broadkill Beach — no glamour, just grit. That hands-on mentality remains a defining trait of the team today.
“Debbie built something lasting, not just in sales, but in relationships,” said Dolores Desmond, broker of RE/MAX Realty Group. “She saw the value of teamwork long before it was popular and stayed true to the values that made her successful from the start — integrity, consistency and drive.”
Today, the team’s stability is one of its greatest strengths. The lineup includes Cyndi Marsh, Ashlee Reed Hidell, Amy Warick, Tiffany Carver-O'Malley, Carrie Hellens, Beth Shinn, Sandra Jefferson, Karen Thomas and Olivia Cromer, four of whom have been with The Debbie Reed Team for more than 20 years.
For three decades, the team has grown organically while successfully evolving to meet changes in the market and client needs. Even their office at 319 Rehoboth Ave. has evolved, starting as an ESSO gas station owned by L.O. Phillips in the 1960s, now repurposed — still a full-service operation, just in a different way.
Year after year, The Debbie Reed Team has achieved ranking as the No. 1 RE/MAX team in Delaware. Reed herself has earned RE/MAX’s highest honors nationally, including Circle of Legends and Luminary of Distinction.
The team has also remained committed to giving back to projects supporting veterans, women’s shelters, children’s health, local food banks, breast cancer awareness efforts and youth education programs.
Ashlee Reed Hidell, Realtor and second-generation team member, said, “As Debbie's daughter, I’ve had a front-row seat to what it really takes to build something that lasts. This team wasn’t created overnight — it was built client by client, relationship by relationship, with a standard that never wavered. It’s not just a business to us; it’s a responsibility to the people and community we serve.”
“Our motto has always been ‘The Difference is Dedication,’ and that still holds true,” said Debbie Reed, founder and team leader. “We’ve been fortunate to help generations of families buy and sell in this incredible community, and we don’t take that trust lightly.”
