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June 6th, 2017 – Raj Qsar, owner/principal of The Boutique Real Estate Group in Orange County, California shares his unique journey into the real estate profession. Unique is an appropriate term, as no other guest has traveled the path Raj details. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, so tune into Episode 97 of The Real Estate Sessions and enjoy.
We caught up with Raj to get his take on the advantages of being an independent broker and what other indies should watch out for in the coming year.
Ability to adapt, change and execute quickly and the freedom to create & curate stories from the ground up.
Real life networking and using technology to become more efficient.
Good: The merging of multiple techs into one platform.
Bad: So much “copying” and not enough creation.
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Recently, Raj Qsar — the principal/owner of The Boutique Real Estate Group — composed an intriguing and inspirational post on the Facebook group Lab Coat Agents about how a listing for a leased property, which he made no initial profit from, snowballed into at least 11 subsequent sales, countless connections and increased visibility over the course of the past three years.
“Even on million-dollar listings, if agents can take a reduced commission or they feel like it’s overpriced or whatever, they’re not going to put their best foot forward,” he said. “That’s just too bad that they’re not thinking downstream. ‘Cause the world is able to see anything that we drop on the Internet, and who knows what opportunity that will bring. It’s all downstream.”
Qsar says he knew he wasn’t going to make any money from the initial lease listing, but he decided to take the opportunity anyway.
He invested in professional photos and brochures, staging, a single-property website and even ordered custom signs that were up to the neighborhood’s code.
In addition to stellar marketing strategies, Qsar provided five-star customer service through appointment-only showings.
“We’re able to look the tenant and the tenant’s agent in the eye; we’re able to open the door for them, make sure the beds are made, the lights are on, the music is playing, the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming,” he says with a laugh. “We’re driving, taking time out of our day to make sure we can open the door for someone we don’t even know. That’s doing it right.”
Qsar says he treated the leased property like a million-dollar listing to “give the client the best chance of success.” Plus, he knew that his current efforts would lead to future rewards.
“What we preach at our brokerage is that it’s all about downstream. You’re not taking a listing for this listing, you’re taking it for the next listing,” he says. “You’re taking a listing for the digital content you’re going to produce, and you’re taking it for the online leads you’re going to generate from that one listing.”
Furthermore, Qsar says most agents are transactionally trained, which means they are trained for “this one and only transaction.” Basically, agents are playing a game of checkers when they should be playing chess, which puts them behind in the long run.
“[Agents are] not trained digitally, they’re not trained for content, they’re not trained to meet real people in real life,” he says.
Out of all the aspects of being a successful real estate agent, it’s clear that Qsar treasures his ability to make personal connections the most.
“Something that everyone seems to forget is that you’re going to meet real, live human beings from this listing,” he says. “That’s an opportunity for you to connect with people in real life, and when you connect with people in real life your chance of success is much greater.”
Qsar says that personal connections not only make it easier on the agent but also the client, which is what the work of real estate is all about.
Join The Boutique Real Estate Group this Saturday April 22nd from 2-5pm for the 1 Year Anniversary Celebration of La Floresta in Brea.
The event will consist of live music, a DJ, fashion shows, fitness exhibitions, a photo booth and kids activities. Stop by and say hi to your favorite Boutique Agent and bring the whole family!
Meet us at The Oasis Plaza at La Floresta. Corner of Imperial Hwy & Valencia Ave. 3301 E Imperial Hwy, Brea, Ca 92823.
via inman
The Boutique Real Estate Group has added another person to its team, and it’s not another agent, marketing guru or office management whiz — instead, owner Raj Qsar opted to hire a “Goodwill Ambassador,” a person whose only job is to spread positivity wherever he goes.
The inspiration for this new position came from Qsar’s father-in-law, who has owned a commercial cleaning company for more than 35 years.
“The idea came from him and his good friend,” Qsar said. “They are in the soap business where they sell soap to restaurants.”
“His friend would always eat at restaurants and comment on how beautiful the silverware and stemware looked,” he added. “So after some time, he designated him as his goodwill ambassador.”
When thinking of the perfect person to take on this role, Qsar says he immediately thought of Chuck Underwood, a close family friend who recently listed his home through The Boutique.
“We recently sold his home in Orange County and found him a gorgeous new home,” he says. “Throughout the process, he fell in love with The Boutique and was so impressed by how we operated our brokerage and the way we marketed his home.”
Beyond his newfound passion for the brokerage, Qsar says Underwood’s experience as a business owner along with his wide network of friends, associates and colleagues make him the perfect person to extend The Boutique’s reach beyond the immediate community.
After Qsar announced Underwood’s addition to the team on Facebook, a number of friends offered their congratulations, saying that he was the perfect man for the job.
“I can’t think of a more qualified person for the job,” wrote one commenter. “Congrats, Chuck!”
Underwood will take on a number of projects, the first of which is attending a build day with Giveback Homes on June 3, and taking on the hosting duties for the brokerage’s new office opening in Brea, California, and all of the festivities surrounding that event.
Underwood says he was “a bit intimidated” when Qsar came to him with the idea, but he knew he had the chops to take on ambassador duties.
“The Boutique is such a powerhouse brand in the Orange County real estate market, but I knew that with my outgoing personality, dedication, drive and true enthusiasm I could get the job done for The Boutique,” he says.
“It means I have a weight on my shoulders and am determined to spread goodwill to everyone I meet every single day,” Underwood added.
Although Underwood is barely a week into this new position, Qsar says they’re planning to expand the program to include additional ambassadors.
“Yes, of course,” he says excitedly of adding more ambassadors. “We already have a waiting list of three prime individuals who have applied for the position.”
For more information the the Goodwill Ambassador program or to learn more about The Boutique please visit www.JoinTheBoutique.com
Social media has been a powerful tool for the real estate industry. Real estate social media accounts have sprouted up everywhere! Brokerages, publications, investment firms and realtors are all on social media.
Below is a list of amazing real estate social media accounts! Click on the buttons below to skip to your favourite platform!
It’s safe to say that you could follow The Boutique Real Estate Group on any of their social media accounts. But, with over 30,000 likes on their Facebook page, we saw it fit to include them in this section! However, it’s not just about likes, they also get hundreds of likes, loves and wows on every post!
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As part of its “Meet The Intern” campaign, tech company HP filmed a series of commercials showcasing Fox Sports host and Extra co-host Charissa Thomson interning at four companies.
Two of them were Giveback Homes and The Boutique Real Estate Group — two hallmark brands within the real estate industry.
The campaign ads, which began airing on Super Bowl Sunday, show Thomson helping craft a travel packet for Giveback Homes and organize a swanky open house for The Boutique RE Group, all while showing off HP’s newest OfficeJet Pro printer.
Giveback Homes co-founder Caroline Pinal said HP found them through social media and noted Giveback’s “authentic social media presence,” and that the company was captured by co-founder Blake Andrews’ story and mission to spread the message of social responsibility to the real estate industry as a whole.
Pinal says the feedback on the ad has been positive, with supporters inside and outside of the industry giving their kudos.
“Giveback Homes Members are thrilled to see the Giveback Homes movement taking on a consumer-facing approach and proud to be part of it,” she said.
“Giveback Homes has also received online support from their friends like Toms Founder Blake Mycoskie, TV host Charissa Thompson, and animal conservationist Black Jaguar White Tiger.”
Raj Qsar, the principal and owner of The Boutique Real Estate Group — who is known for his vibrant digital presence and strategies — said HP reached out to him via social media as well.
“It was a super fun project,” said Qsar, and the ads have brought amazing feedback and robust traffic to his brokerage.
The ad campaign is only the beginning for both companies.
Giveback Homes is taking their relationship with HP offline by hosting a “Build Day” on April 21 in Los Angeles, with Thomson continuing her “internship” by helping to build a home.
As for The Boutique Real Estate Group, Qsar says the brokerage will be working with other big name brands in the very near future.
When TV Host Charissa Thompson visited The Boutique Real Estate Group, a worldwide luxury real estate brokerage firm, her ideas and the lightning-fast HP OfficeJet Pro 8720 printer helped to make an open house a success! She easily printed from her smartphone and took advantage of two-sided printing for superb productivity. Get your OfficeJet Pro printer at Staples: http://hp.tl/60548Pox2
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So, I did some heavy lifting for you to find some of the most influential real estate agents and influencers to learn from online. Then, I curated some of the best resources they created, as a one-stop shop.
Rather than list these experts in random order (or choosing our favorites), we took the time to rank each person based on their influence across social media, using scores from FollowerWonk, Klout, and our own judgment.
While not a perfect science, by ranking each influencer by their social impact, you will have a better sense of who you want to learn from as you master your craft.
As the Principal/Owner of The Boutique Real Estate Group, Raj has invested heavily in bringing all aspects of the real estate experience completely in-house. From custom design, professional staging, architectural photography, cinematography and social media to technology, internet optimization, cloud based transaction management and global listing syndication. This design & tech-forward approach has earned The Boutique Real Estate Group accolades & awards worldwide.
In 2016 Raj was named to the prestigious SP200 Honoring The Most Powerful 200 People in Residential Real Estate. Raj was selected as Most Innovative Real Estate Agent in 2014. Raj was also selected as 33 People Changing The Real Estate Industry by Inman News and was also named Top 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders For 2013.
Yorba Linda, California is no stranger to accolades. It’s been ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States. It’s also been singled out as one of the best small cities anywhere. Last but not least, it just so happens to be one of the wealthiest cities in the United States.
Life here is sunny, idyllic, and filled with opportunities for enjoying the good life. For starters, there’s the Black Gold Golf Course, a stunning, Arthur Hill-designed par 72 that stretches out over 219 magnificent acres and is widely regarded as one of the best courses in the country.
Yorba Linda is also home to the famed Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, which features a replica of the White House East Room, an immaculately kept rose garden, the presidential helicopter, and the former President’s actual boyhood home, complete with the pepper tree his father planted back in 1912.
Need more adventure? You don’t have to travel far. This quiet community is a mere 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles, 18 miles from Disneyland, and only 30 miles from Huntington Beach – popularly known as “Surf City.”
In Yorba Linda, six-figure incomes are the norm, and those who can afford to build their dream homes tend to do just that. That’s why the Yorba Linda area is home to so many opulent residential properties.
But even in this rarified Southern California enclave, 22750 Hidden Hills Road is a rare treasure. Find out why Pinnacle House is worth every penny of its $10 million asking price.
Situated on one of the highest peaks of Orange county with a commanding vista of Yorba Linda, the beachfront cities that lay farther afield, and the glittering Pacific horizon, Pinnacle House certainly earns its title.
But it isn’t just the jetliner views or prestigious neighborhood that make this home desirable. It’s the thoughtful design that’s apparent in every square inch of its 8,000+ square feet of living space.
DKY Architects’ David Streshinsky designed Pinnacle House exclusively for Yard House restaurant’s corporate executive chef Carlito Jocson.
You’ve seen Streshinksy’s work, whether you know it or not. After all, he’s worked on such large-scale design projects as the Jurassic Park and Jaws rides at Universal Studios. He’s also designed restaurants and businesses all over the world. But even though he’s worked for a who’s who of household names, he’s said that Pinnacle House is one of his proudest achievements.
It’s easy to see why. This home is a masterpiece of modern residential design. Here, forward-thinking architecture coexists with aloha spirit, and the resulting residence is both serene and supremely stylish.
Take, for example, the entryway. As you pull up to this stunning home, a waterfall greets you, and that waterfall actually flows into the home. Beyond the stately, 9-foot tall mahogany door, you’ll find a home that is as comfortable as it is elegant around every corner.
There are captivating views of the surrounding hills from nearly every room in the home, but the residence itself has a way of stealing the show.
Spend a moment in that sleek, modern kitchen. With its custom cabinetry and crisp lines, it’s a dream come true for those who know that making a great meal is wonderful for the soul. And as it was designed for a professional chef, you can bet that it has the very best appliances money can buy.
The dining room features that ever-present skyline panorama, a custom chandelier with hundreds of Edison light bulbs, and a dining table that’s as much a work of art as a piece of furniture.
Down below, the wine cellar is a showpiece in itself. It’s a climate-controlled, glass-enclosed time capsule that will keep your favorite vintages in fine form while providing plenty of visual panache.
This home offers plenty of opportunities to entertain and to be entertained. There’s a home theater with a huge, Ultra-HD screen and seating for all of your favorite cinephiles. There’s also a billiard room and an outdoor kitchen equipped with imbedded walnut cutting boards, a pizza oven, and an oversized wok range.
But of all of this home’s many amenities, the outdoor infinity edge pool has to be the most captivating. With its forever views and glass-tiled fire pits, it’s the piece de resistance to this design tour de force.
At the end of the evening, you’ll retire to your 1,600 square foot master suite. It has a private parlor, an expansive dressing room worthy of a Hollywood starlet, and spa-quality master bath enclosed in expansive picture windows. In the bedroom itself, there’s a wall of sliding picture windows that open directly to the pool, so you can jump out of bed and into the swimming pool each morning before breakfast.
Listed by Raj Qsar & Christina Boladian, this is a California dream home in every sense of the word. Here, the world is at your feet, and nothing can intrude on your peace of mind or your ideal lifestyle. It’s everything a luxury home should be – a private escape, a trophy, and a work of art. And it can be yours for $10 million.
Listing information for: 22750 Hidden Hills Road, Yorba Linda CA, 92887
Trying to be a better realtor, investor, and business woman is tough. To keep on top of your game, you know the value of learning from the best.