Proficient in Illustrator, Photoshop & InDesign Ability to edit social media videos Must LOVE helping people You are not afraid to think outside the box Creative in nature Loves Social Media Has an amazing personality A phone voice like no other Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (Definitely a positive but not a must)
job details
Reports to our team lead & owner You are the go-between our team & the world Ability to be the face of The Boutique at our Brea office Office-based position M-F Knows Apple & Droid Operating Systems Designing artwork for use on social media & real estate marketing Digitally edits photos & videos Managing & organizing digital paperwork Ability to upload to multiple websites
skills are cheap. passoin is priceless.
please email your resume + headshot to info@theboutiquere.com
In the spotlight this week: Meet Raj Qsar, the cabernet-drinking, country music-loving CEO and owner of Orange County, California’s The Boutique Real Estate Group. Find out how he creates once-in-a-lifetime marketing experiences that surprise, delight and win referrals.
Brokerage full name: The Boutique Real Estate Group
Team size: 40 agents
Transaction sides: 200+
Sales volume: $250 million
Why Raj Qsar is in the spotlight
After starting out in medical school, Qsar made the move to real estate following a “horrible experience” with the sale of his home. Since then, he has built a business on marketing acumen, offering custom design, professional staging, architectural photography, cinematography, and even feng-shui consultations. He has been featured on CNBC, HGTV, and has been the recipient of scores of awards, including being named a Top Video Influencer on Social Media by BombBomb.
Qsar prides himself on the white-glove service he provides and it shows in his referral rate — 75 percent of The Boutique Real Estate Group’s business comes from past clients and referrals. Their least expensive sale was $20,000 while their most expensive was $20 million.
Qsar has taken the stage at some of the industry’s most prestigious real estate conferences where he speaks on the value of marketing, technology and social media. Find out more about how he maximizes the marketing experience for his clients.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get your start in real estate?
I went to medical school and decided to take some time off after my third year. A friend of mine was in the pharmaceutical industry and asked if I wanted to “take some time off” by working for them. They were hiring people with advanced medical degrees.
I did that for about five years before deciding to sell our first home. I hired the local real estate agent who lived on my street. It was a horrible experience. My wife said, “I could do this job and do it way better.” Hence, I sat for my exam and got my license in 2006.
What do you wish more people knew about working in real estate?
Almost eight years ago, I got a call from a friend who had a friend, who wanted to list her home. We were prepared and ready to hustle and sign a potential $1.6 million listing (listing presentation ready, CMA ready, marketing material ready, iPad charged, game face on, and ready to Boutique-ify this listing).
We showed up to this estate home, which governed 30-foot entry doors and the sweetest little lady struggles to open the door. Arms wide open, smile from ear to ear, and just so full of life. As I peer over her shoulder all I see is a baby grand piano sitting in the dining room with views of the backyard, pool and a half-acre lot.
She sat us down in her garage (where she was living — the home was about 4,000 square feet, mind you) and told us her life story. She had us in the palm of her hands. Once we wiped the tears from our eyes she gave us a tour of her home.
As we came to the dining room I asked her who played the piano? Her eyes started watering and you can see the story pouring out of her soul. She said, “My husband.” I asked, “Did he have a favorite song?” She simply said, “The Summer Wind,” by Sinatra.
I asked her if we could do a “mini-movie” in her home with someone playing that song. She said sure but had no idea what we had planned! Hence, the real estate story begins. I had the storyboard for this listing. The vision. The emotion.
We did a casting call for someone who could play the piano, sing “The Summer Wind” and do a little acting. After a few days of screening, we came across a reel of the “blonde gal” you see in the video. She also had a husband who could act and so that fit perfectly into our storyline of a surprise birthday party that she prepared for her ultra-busy husband.
The entire video is her singing “The Summer Wind” as her husband comes home, head down on his phone, and not even noticing all his family and friends in the backyard as he sees a note on the kitchen island and walks outside.
People ask me why we do what we do? Why do we take so much time, money, and thought into one single listing? Why not just do the easy thing — point, shoot, and list? Why do you do appointment-only showings?
Why are you doing a 24-page glossy booklet? Why are you staging the home? Why are you taking three days to shoot content for this home? Why are you doing a 3D tour? Why do you provide 2-dimensional floor plans?
Why did you have a crew of 5 people here? Why did you hire a drone pilot? Why are you spending money on digital ads? Why do you provide booties at the front door?
This single home recorded the highest closed sale in that city for homes of similar characteristics. The highest closing price per square foot in the entire city for the past five years. And the story told from this effort has been mentioned across the country and internationally for the past eight years.
There is literally not a week that goes by that I do not get a text, email or call asking to use this video as an example of real estate marketing. I always say, let me tell you the story of this video before you simply just play the video.
This effort gives our clients the absolute best chance for success, and it is what they deserve. Even if the average days on market is zero, you still do everything and do it right upfront.
Our clients are our clients. They are real. They have their own struggles. Treat them amazingly. Cherish them. Make them feel like they are your only clients. Create beautiful memories from the work that you do.
Capture these moments. Think bigger, and then go big. Pour your passion into everything you do. Love your team (I mean love them). You have one life so live it well.
What are 5 things you’d like readers to know about you and your brokerage?
I am an extrovert and feed off people’s energy.
I love wine. Especially Napa wine. Cabs are my favorite. I even have a wine account on Instagram called CounterClockwiseSwirl to showcase what I am drinking during the week. It’s all just for fun.
I am a huge country music fan. It’s just about all I listen to.
The idea for my company came to me at John Wayne Airport on the way to an Inman Conference. I did not tell anyone but knew I had something unique and special.
I work out five days a week at a local Crossfit gym.
What’s one thing you wish every agent knew?
The other day someone drives by me while I was hanging a sold sign on one of our listings. They said, “Hey, don’t you have people for that?” Then they laughed and drove away.
There is a reason I still hang my own sold sign on all of my listings. It’s a constant reminder to me of how tough yet how rewarding this business can be. This industry is both physically and emotionally challenging all at the same time. It’s no wonder why 90 percent of agents don’t even make it past their first year and 80 percent do not make it to their third year in the business.
Everyone and everything in the “deal” matters. Nothing can be left to chance or luck. From our clients, our staff, our agents, every handshake, every showing, every click of a wine glass, email, text, social media post, print campaign, social strategy, websites, networking events, worldwide listing syndication, conferences, co-operating broker, lender, escrow team, inspectors, every connection we make completely matters.
No home will ever sell itself, and if someone tells you that then find someone who thinks like this. It’s been a blessing to be in this business and even more of a blessing to survive in this business for 16+ years. I have made some truly amazing lifelong friends along the way, and I am truly excited about the future.
Troy Palmquist is the founder and broker of DOORA Properties in Southern California. Follow him on Instagram or connect with him on LinkedIn.
The owner and CEO of The Boutique Real Estate Group in Orange County has seen a significant shift in buyer attitudes since the onset of the pandemic
This spring has been an exceptionally tumultuous one for the luxury market — a pandemic, an initial fear of a market crash and, later, a boom of affluent buyers looking to spend big money on homes in places like Orange County and the Hamptons.
Raj Qsar
Raj Qsar, the owner and CEO of The Boutique Real Estate Group, has been at the forefront of that ride through the unknown. His brokerage, which works with homes from $2 million to upwards of $10 million in Orange County, California, has seen a direct shift in buyer attitudes — from fear and hesitation when the pandemic first hit in March to a present-day focus on finding a home that can be a long-term source of shelter and enjoyment. Money is going toward not just primary and vacation home markets but also home improvements aimed at making a home a personal haven.
“Many dual-income millennials who are making decent money have really changed their perspective,” Qsar told Inman, adding that size and amenities are the hottest trends in real estate. “You can see a definite mindset shift. They’re really coming in and not buying that tiny shack with room for one bed. They want a single-family home with a front yard and a backyard.”
We’ve interviewed Qsar about what his buyers are asking for and how that could shape the future of luxury real estate for years to come.
Inman News: What’s been happening in the Orange County luxury world during the last few weeks?
Raj Qsar: We’ve definitely seen a change in the luxury market. You could even say it’s on fire. It’s picked up a lot, at all price points — $1-$5M, $5-$10M and $10M and up. Buyers and sellers are definitely both in the market. There was a pause at the beginning of the virus just because no one knew what was going to happen. The last two weeks of March were definitely interesting but then things slowly started picking up. In the blink of an eye, the market was back. It’s now the strongest it’s ever been, really.
Is that due to pent-up demand, springtime buyer interest or a combination of both?
We keep hearing about pent-up demand from every news channel. I think there’s a little bit of truth to that but I think that people also, after going through what the country went through and spending so much time locked up inside, just want a nice place. Home offices were gone and now everyone wants a home office again. They’re working from home and want a place to be when the kids are all over. The secondary housing market is strong too because people want a place that they can escape to.
So the initial fear of the pandemic prompting a housing crash has been far from your experience?
That’s right. They’ve been saying that the market is going to crash and that we’re going to go into a recession for the last four or five years. The exact opposite is happening, actually. The market is stronger than ever, and people want to spend money on real estate. The first couple of weeks were a little bit scary, but I really do feel like people want to spend and they want to spend it on their house.
What are some other things that luxury buyers are asking you about?
Pools are back in, outdoor kitchens, outdoor barbecues — anything outdoors. People are putting money into their homes, upgrading with really nice high-end appliances, things like that. Owners want to love their house and everything about it. A lot of stuff that was being put off, like adding another bedroom or bathroom, is back. People are doing whatever they wanted to do.
You’ve observed a big change in buyer priorities?
Yes. Many dual-income millennials who are making decent money have really changed their perspective. You can see a definite mindset shift. They’re really coming in and not buying that tiny shack with room for one bed. They want a single-family home with a front yard and a backyard. All the stuff that wasn’t important has become important again.
Could these buyer preferences alter how future houses are built for years to come?
I think so. There’s definitely a shift in the whole indoor/outdoor space. People want the inside to feel like the outside and the outside to feel like the inside. Living rooms, cabanas, TVs — the stuff that we’re seeing right now is jaw-dropping. The stuff people are doing to their houses, it’s like going to a beach party in Vegas. We’re just a few months into the virus, but the aftermath of it is going to be years and years. People are always going to remember 2020 and being locked up at home. That will influence what they want in their homes.
Raj Qsar and Rachel Holder join Chris Smith & Jimmy Mackin on their latest #WaterCooler roundtable discussion, as they discuss the specific tactics and strategies they are using to navigate “the new normal.”
The best agents are focusing on how to market, sell, and recruit during these unprecedented times. Find out exactly what they are doing day in and day out to stay productive and keep their teams motivated.
As stay at home orders are modified, it is essential that all possible steps be taken to ensure the safety of workers and the public.
This guideline is intended to help people involved in real estate transactions implement their plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and is summarized from the Guidance for Real Estate Transactions. This summary contains excepts from the full document, referenced above.
This document provides guidance for businesses operating in the real estate industry including sales and rentals of single-family, multi-family, apartment, commercial, and industrial properties to support a safe, clean environment for workers. The guidance is not intended to revoke or repal any employee rights, either statutory, regulatory or collectively bargained, and is not exhaustive, as it does not include county health orders, not is it a substitute for any existing safety and health related regulatory requirements such as those of Cal/OSHA. Stay current on changes to public health guidance and state/local orders, as the COVID-19 situation continues. Cal/OSHA Interim General Guidelines on Protecting Workers from COVID-19 webpage. CDC has additional requirements in their guidance for businesses and employers.
Worksite Specific Plan
Establish a written, worksite-specific COVID-19 prevention plan at every facility, perform a comprehensive risk assessment of all work areas, and designate a person at each facility to implement the plan.
Identify contact information for the local health department where the facility is located for communication information about COVID-19 outbreaks among employees.
Train and communicate with employee representatives on the plan.
Regularly evaluate the workplace for compliance with the plan and document and correct deficiencies identified.
Investigate any COVID-19 illness and determine if any work-related factors could have contributed to risk of infection. Update the plan as needed to prevent further cases.
Identify close contacts (within six feet for 10 minutes or more) of an infected employee and take steps to isolate COVID-19 positive employee(s) and close contacts.
Adhere to the guidelines below. Failure to do so could result in workplace illnesses that may cause operations to be temporarily closed or limited.
Shown Properties Specific Plan
Establish a written COVID-19 prevention plan to be followed by agents who show properties. Display a set of rules for agents and home viewers at the entrance of the property that are to be a condition of entry. The rules must include instructions to use face coverings and hand sanitizer. It must include instructions to maintain physical distancing and avoid touching surfaces of the shown property. The rules or a link to the rules should be part of online public and MLS listings. Posted rules show be clearly visible and include pictograms.
Real estate and rental agents must confirm understanding of the rules with visitors before showing the propetty and provide a digital copy of the COVID-19 prevention plan to clients, appraisers, inspectors, stagers, purchasing agents and contractors and obtain their agreement to follow the plan prior to enterting the property.
Regularly evaluate compliance with the plan and document and correct deficiencies identified.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols for Shown Properties
Thoroughly clean shown properties and disinfect commonly used surfaces including counters, door and cabinet handles, key lock boxes, keypads, toilets, sinks, light switches, etc. These surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected before and after each showing.
During a showing, introduce fresh outside air, for example by opening doors/windows and operating ventilation systems.
Instruct employees to wipe down and disinfect equipment that passes between employees and customers, including clipboards and keys, after each use.
Provide time for workers to implement cleaning practices before and after shifts. If cleaning is assigned to the worker, they must be compensated for that time.
Equip shown properties with proper sanitation products, including hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, for use by employees and clients.
Provide and strongly recommend clients, real estate licensees, and inspectors to use face coverings and hand sanitizer. Place these items at the property entrance so that people can put them on before entering. Ensure disposable covers are properly discarded after use, for example in a tras bag that is sealed prior to disposal.
All people entering a property, including agents, brokers, inspectors, and clients, must wash hands with soap and water immediately upon entry and before touring or inspecting the property, or use hand sanitizer when handwashing facilities are not available.
Adjust or modify showings to provide adequate time for regular deep cleaning and disinfecting. If the property is currently occupied, ensure adequate time to disinfect after occupants leave for showings and before and after clients view the property.
Physical Distancing Guidelines for Shown Properties
Discontinue holding open houses and showings open to the general public on a walk-in basis; use an appointment or digital sign-in process to control the number of people in the house or property.
Ensure current occupants are away from property during showings, consistent with their legal rights.
Utilize virtual tours in lieu of open houses via digital technologies, social media, etc. in lieu of property showings whenever possible. If virtual tours are not feasible, limit the number of people present during showings. When a real estate licensee or renter is present, maintain physical distance at all times.
Employees and/or contractors must open doorways or other areas of ingress or egress prior to in-person property showings to minimize clients touching surfaces.
Real estate licensees should remind clients to maintain physical distancing during showings and refrain from touching handles, switches, pulls, etc.
All persons on property for in-person showings should avoid touching knobs, faucets, toilets and toilet handles, light switches, garage door opener buttons, handles and pulls, alarm system controls, fan pulls, remotes, thermostats, switch boxes, gates and gate latches, window locks and sashes, pool coverings, and other such items.
Prior to and concluding in-person showings, real estate licensees must disinfect mobility and safety fixtures on the property such as handrails and banisters.
All home inspectors and prospective homebuyers who accompany the inspectors should use face coverings while performing on-property inspections. Home inspectors must have access to and utilize soap and hand sanitizer.
All information must be delivered electronically. Discontinue providing handouts or other types of promotional or informational materials.
Our team at The Boutique Real Estate Group has been collecting data and information from the California Association of Realtors (CAR), and will continue to update our reports to help our clients and community better understand the impact of COVID-19 on a statewide and county level.
Statewide, existing, single-family home sales totaled 373,070 in March on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, down 11.5 percent from February and down 6.1 percent from March 2019.
Despite a dip in housing demand, the statewide median price rose from both the previous month and previous year. March’s statewide median home price was $612,440, surging past the $600,000 benchmark for the first time in three months, moving up 5.6 percent from February and up 8.3 percent from March 2019.
The statewide Unsold Inventory Index was 2.7 months in March, down from 3.6 months in February and from 3.6 months in March 2019, making it the lowest inventory level in three months.
*The index indicates the number of months it would take to sell the supply of homes on the market at the current rate of sales.
OC at a glance: March 2020
In Orange County, the median sales price of existing single family homes in March 2020 was $882,000 increasing 0.2 percent from $880,000 in February 2020 and 9 percent from $809,500 in March 2019.
Gains in house sales for individual counties, which had been at or near double digits in February, also did an about-face in March. Orange County posted a 1.6% sales gain, compared with a 34.7% increase in February.
With so much panic and uncertainty in the world today, I figured there was no better person to interview for this week’s 10 Questions series than my good friend, Raj Qsar. Raj is the owner of The Boutique Real Estate Group based in Orange County, CA. Not only is Raj one of the leading minds in real estate innovation, but he’s not too proud to share everything he knows with the industry he loves to challenge us all to find new ways of doing things. His marketing is a step above the rest (just check out one of his videos) and when it comes to just about anything – I know Raj not only has everyone’s best interests at heart but delivers with a laugh and a smile. Get to know more about Raj here.
With a new “smart” something coming out almost every day, what products amaze and astound you?
I am pretty sure you know my answer to this… TikTok. It is not just a dancing app where you are being silly. It truly is addictive. And the skills an individual can learn from mastering the app will carry on for years to come. What you can simply do on TikTok used to take a team of five people to pull off 5 years ago. It also gives you some insight into what is trending and relevant in today’s world.
With a million things happening at any one moment, how do you manage your time?
I am a huge believer in having a schedule and time-blocking chunks of the day. My routine is pretty much the same everyday (for work and my personal life). The details of what I am doing may change, just like a real estate transaction, but the core is the same.
What is something you’re really proud of? Why?
Probably the fact that back in 2008 I decided to take a leap and shoot a video. And not just a video but an actual movie on a listing. This was back before any of us knew how to shoot video on anything. I wanted to be different. I wanted to stand out. I wanted to give our clients the best chance of success on selling their home (which they tried to do several times before they met me). We had no idea of what we were doing or how to cut or edit the video but it was one of the most critical “ah ha” moments in my real estate career.
What’s the best and worst thing about getting older?
Worst – The fact that you are getting older and realizing that you can not control time. Best – You truly realize who your tribe is over time. The people that stick with you, love you no matter what and want to do time with you. You also realize that life is full of moments with people (not things). And every moment is what you make of it and is irreplaceable.
How do you relax? Ever since I was a kid I have loved the ocean. I am not sure why because my parents really do not love the water. I mean my Mom does not know how to swim? But at an early age, they got us all into swim lessons and started taking us to the beach. In Orange County, I love to relax (in the afternoon) on any beach and watch the sunset.
What kind of projects would you like to do more of? I think there is a huge need in our industry for true camaraderie, especially in leadership. CEO’s helping CEO’s navigate the waters we sail every day. Our industry is so complex and slammed with “what if’s” that it can sometimes be difficult to have a standard way of doing things. So to answer the question, I would love to be able to reach out to more CEO’s and give my time and see where I can assist and have a CEO sounding board where you can throw stuff and see if it sticks.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? As you know I went to medical school. So pretty much from college on that’s what I wanted to do, but life does take some interesting turns. I found out by going to medical school it truly was not my calling. It’s a long story on how I eventually landed in real estate but, for now, it is where I belong.
Why do you believe having mentors is so important? Sometimes I think the world puts people in front of you for a reason. There are some really good people out there and these are the folks you need to cling to. When starting a business there are people who have run your race and finished the course and are willing to share their experience with you. Whether they take on the role of “mentor” or simply “friend” it is these opportunities that make you and your business better. No one business person has all the answers, it is humanly impossible.
What gets you fired up/energized? It has become a trend that most people in our industry will do the least amount of work possible, put in the least amount of time and try to have the biggest rewards. Our team has become know in Orange County as the cleanup kids (and we are not kids anymore). But basically, when a listing does not sell due to over promises and under delivery, we get the call. This is not a business where your brothers, daughters, next-door neighbors dog sitter who just got licensed should be navigating the sale of someone’s most valuable asset should come into place to save x%. So coming into a listing that has not sold, charging the same amount and delighting our clients is what gets me the most fired up. We recently took a listing that had been listed 5x by 5 of the top brokers in Orange County and we sold it for full price. We truly care and every single listing matters.
Everyone in Hollywood wants to be famous – even the houses. The Boutique Real Estate Group founder Raj Qsar is merging entertainment and real estate to give each home’s story some screen time.
On the set in Hollywood with Cheddar TV Raj Qsar, Max Godnick & Alyssa Julya Smith
As I walked into the lobby of the Cheddar Los Angeles TV building in #hollywood this morning I was hit with a huge neon sign that read, “do what you love.” 💡 My mind travels 100 MPH in a 55 MPH world so it is difficult to pause, reflect and take it all in and realize that I am doing what I love. So I made the most of my 6 minutes on the air today with co-hosts Max Godnick and Alyssa Julya Smith on CheddarTV 📺 chatting about my journey in real estate, video marketing, and social media. When we were done I just wanted more. I was like, “it’s over? Ask me more?” So what’s next? Video clip coming soon… 😉
BRING YOUR OWN PUMPKIN Please join us for a Pumpkin Painting & Carving Party! Free event! Fun for the whole family. Art supplies will be provided. Taco Cart & Soft Drinks provided.
The event is located at the Lakeview Field in Yorba Linda! Park in the Foxfield Neighborhood on the Corner of Lakeview Ave & Bastanchury Rd (Churchill Downs Dr or Temhurst Court) and walk towards the end of the cul-de-sac to the dirt path to access field.
Sunday, October 20th from 3-6 pm
Call or text Christina at 714-501-8585 for more info and details.
