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Place ready to help agents find their ‘happy place’

By Grace Ormsby
28 August 2024 | 12 minute read
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Following 22 years of perfecting its business model, this Brisbane-based network is ready for growth.

With a roadmap already in place all the way to 2032, Place Estate Agents, which boasts 18 offices plus Place HQ in Fortitude Valley, believes it has all the systems and processes in place to effectively double in size.

Now, it has identified and earmarked 19 new markets for offices across the greater Brisbane area, spanning Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and Moreton Bay for expansion over the coming eight years.

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Damian Hackett, chief executive of Place Estate Agents, believes the business is now in a strong position to be cultivating exceptional leaders and forging authentic partnerships with agents.

When queried on what defines an “exceptional” person, Hackett said it embodies individuals who align with and embrace Place’s core values, of “excellence, respect, innovation and community”.

“They not only excel as a real estate agent, but also demonstrate a strong alignment with our mission to be a market leader in their respective areas,” he commented.

Hackett himself founded the business back in 2002, and shared they had spent the last 22 years “investing [in], redefining, and perfecting a unique business model, and we are now ready to responsibly scale and partner with exceptional people”.

With more than 500 people already working within the network, Hackett said they’ve spent a long time finely tuning the platform for growth.

The CEO believes it is now at a point where it’s able to “expand at a measured and effective place”.

That’s also been possible through a focus on “refining and honing the technology, systems and processes” and the team of more than 60 people working out of Place HQ, which now allows them “to scale at size and bring on more offices”.

Place HQ, the company’s head office, is the hub out of where all those systems and processes that streamline operations take place, “allowing real estate business owners to prioritise revenue generation and team growth over administrative tasks”.

With recruitment, HR management, marketing, training, finance, legal and technology all taken care of from the Fortitude Valley space, it has been touted as leaving agents free to engage in invaluable face-to-face client interactions and negotiations.

Hackett acknowledges “at Place, we do things differently”.

“This is an opportunity for high-performing agents ready to take next step into business ownership or for existing business owners wanting to leverage Place’s market-leading services.”

“Our goal is to help agents become great leaders and build genuine partnerships with great people, and help them find their happy place,” he said.

It’s no small task, given the definition of a “happy place” will differ for every individual.

“For our team of over 500 people, it involves understanding their personal aspirations and supporting them in achieving their goals,” Hackett pointed out.

That’s why they’ve enlisted the help of a dedicated dream manager, Mike Gordon, who “helps identify key areas such as health, finance, business and fulfilment, guiding our team in setting and reaching their objectives, both professionally and personally”.

“We foster a learn-it-all culture and provide tailored leadership training programs to support our partners throughout their business journey,” he continued.

There’s also a focus on finding the “happy place” of their clients, which Hackett said means securing financial freedom for landlords, helping tenants find a suitable home, assisting sellers in transitioning to the next stage of their lives, and helping buyers find their dream home.

“Ultimately, it’s about creating a fulfilling and satisfying living experience for everyone we serve,” he concluded.

To contact Damian Hackett for a confidential discussion, reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Grace Ormsby

Grace Ormsby

Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.

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