Life by design
Jacquelyn Barber, owner of Elite Quarters Corporate Lease, loves people, property and helping others find and create a home.
A self-proclaimed Air Force brat who married a man in the Navy, Barber considers herself a “moving and relocation expert,” who loves meeting new people and helping them get their new or temporary home set up. “I’m also full of recommendations for the best restaurants and bars,” Barber said.
Barber was inspired to start Elite Quarters after her home burned down in 2005. “I moved into a four-plex that had film people living in it, and I realized then the possibilities of renting furnished units,” Barber said. This was ideal, as her passions go beyond property.
“My passion is film projects,” Barber said. “I love the process. It’s cool to be able to watch a movie or show and personally know the people. Some have become good friends. The folks working on the Salem TV show are like family.” She knew she was on to something very good.
Barber started with renting those apartments she was in and slowly added properties to it. “I do all of my business by word of mouth – soon, instead of begging people to let me rent their house, people were coming to me asking if I could rent their property.” Barber said.
Business really took off after that. She’s now able to combine her love of property and helping others with her passion for the film industry by helping celebrities rent furnished, temporary residences while filming on location.
Barber has worked with Uma Thurman, Alexander Skarsguard, Anna Pacquin, Jessica Biel, Oliver Stone, Casey Affleck and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“I remember getting the call that Gerard Butler wanted to see one of my properties on Cross Lake,” Barber said. “I was at work at my day job at Haverty’s, and it was a busy Saturday. I told everyone that I was taking my lunch break. I flew out to Cross Lake, met Gerard, showed the property and made it back to work in record time. I had a smile on my face for the rest of the day but could tell no one.”
Barber looks forward to the film industry starting to return to its original growth after July 1 of this year. “The tax credits then will be guaranteed at the rate that they were before Jindal’s decision last year. I think that the film business in Shreveport will only get better,” Barber said.
Barber, who is also the art director for Philadelphia Auction Against AIDS, a designer for Christmas In The Sky and a designer/sales representative for Haverty’s Furniture, is never bored. Known as the “non-profit queen” among her friends, Barber would rather work events on her days off than take vacations.
“I’m currently working on my fourth auction for the Philadelphia Center,” Barber said. “The theme is a New York fashion show. Later this year, I will start on my seventh bi-annual Christmas in the Sky, which occurs in December. I like doing elaborate events because the process is very similar to the process of making a movie.”
Elite Quarters is a unique company and goes over and above the typical rental business services. “I like to think that I provide more of a concierge business, not just properties,” Barber said. “I’ve helped my clients locate babysitters, personal chefs, beauty services and more in one stop shop!” For more information on Elite Quarters, visit Elitequarters.com.
– Betsy St. Amant
