Meet Chris Johnson | Luxury Realtor and Team Leader

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Authenticity. We decided to be ourselves no matter what falls in our path each day. In an industry of hard-core sales based hugely on image, we have chosen to “buck real estate cliche”.

To start, we have focused on video and digital marketing heavily for years. We don’t want to be the realtor who points out a kitchen in a walk-thru video so we do it a bit differently. Each house deserves special treatment. We create a story about the home, our kids write our scripts, and we create an experience that must be watched. We have sold homes to dogs, walked through a portal and been ‘transformed to elegance’ supernaturally, had a Scooby Do experience on a home we had closed, and even an Italian experience in a Calabasas mansion. I think people want to see something new these days.

We drive different cars. Gone are the days of BMW’s and Range Rovers, hello F-150 and Jeep. We have driven up to homes and there be 5 other BMW’s just like ours. We choose to stand out and start the conversation.

We laugh a lot! Our newest agent to join us asked us a week in, “Is this all you do is sit around and laugh?” to which I answered an adamant YES! Why do something you don’t enjoy. We want to create a welcoming environment, one that all want to join.

I believe this has given us an edge and a very organic following both within the industry and with homeowners in our community.

What should our readers know about your business?
Many agents contact us asking how we continue to produce during changing markets, and sometimes I feel like I have no answer. The reason why is that we are just doing what we are supposed to do as agents to sell homes. Our coach always says, up or down market, follow the procedure and the rewards will come, and they do. During the beginning of the pandemic when many gave up, we doubled down. As the market has changed recently, we continued doing what we do and as agents are telling us they have no business, we are thriving, even growing.

I can’t say any of this was easy, and one of the first things I mention when people want to be an agent is, this business is NOT easy, but boy are the rewards great if you work hard!

I have learned many lessons along the way, but the most important is to treat everyone right! I believe in the strength of a realtor-realtor relationship, that you will run into them again and they will remember and treat you accordingly. People are going to speak about you, your absolute best and worst marketing, so why not make it work for you. We have done several deals just because the agent knew who we were and knew exactly how we would manage the transaction.

Holly and I have both come from painful pasts that have taught us that teamwork, respect, integrity, and honesty, create strength. The saying is ‘it takes two’, well I found my second. We are on completely on the same page and I couldn’t be happier.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This area is rich in adventure. One of the allures of Calabasas, Westlake Village, Malibu, is it’s proximity to, well, everything one would want to do. We could surf some of the best beaches from Malibu to Rincon, ride a Harley up to Neptunes Net for a beer, or sushi at Nobu. One of our absolute favorite restaurants is in the Broadstreet Oyster Company in the Malibu Country Mart for Lobster Rolls. The same evening, you could be sitting by a firepit or in a jacuzzi in Big Bear, preparing for a day of boating or snow-skiing, depending on the season, and play a little billiards at Whisky Daves in the Village. The following day, you blast down the hill to soak in the sun at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, after eggs & bacon at Elmers. Don’t forget to take the Aerial Tramway up the hill for some amazing views. After all that, you probably need a bit of a slower day, maybe shopping in the capital of shops, Beverly Hills. Stroll thru the shops for fashion and jewelry, people watch, sit on the street for some coffee, and then dinner and celebrity sightings at The Palm or Craigs LA. Could there be more? Jump over the hill to Taisho, one of the newest sushi restaurants on Ventura Boulevard, then drive out to Agoura Hills to Boar Dough, a tiny wine restaurant with the BEST service and fried chicken.

After that, start all over again. There are a million paths, no matter which, it’s yours.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I need to shout out two people who are invaluable to me. First is Holly Hatch, my fiance and business partner. She is the BEST real estate agent I have ever met, both chill and driven. She has motivated me to become the best I can be and I couldn’t do it without her.

Second is our real estate coach and friend, Sina Azari. Our success is partially due to the advice and energy he offers us. Coaching is a necessity for anyone driven for success, and Sina is the gold standard!

Website: www.HollyandChrisLuxuryHomes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cj_socalestates

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjjcmg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjsocalestates/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chris-johnson-holly-and-chris-luxury-homes-group-malibu

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HollyandChrisLuxuryHomes

Other: https://www.flippinitshow.com

Image Credits
Photographers: Liz Fields and Andrew Orozco Videographer: Jason Kritzberg