Agent Sam Danckert is highly regarded in the industry, as the director and auctioneer at Danckert Real Estate in Mt Martha, Victoria.
Sam Danckert's career started out as some of the best things do - entirely by chance. After being approached by a well-dressed stranger, Sam hasn't looked back since.
He's now the director and auctioneer at Danckert Real Estate, specialising in the Mt Martha area.
WILLIAMS MEDIA caught up with Sam to chat all things real estate.
How did you start out in real estate?
It was complete kismet. My fate to become a real estate agent came about when 18 years old working for a direct sales company selling landline phone plans on commission only.
I was on $30 per sign up which involved door knocking to try and convince prospective customers on the doorstep to change phone providers. I was working hard but earning very little.
Whilst working this job I was approached by a gentleman in a nice suit and a European car who asked if I’d consider working in real estate as the commissions were significantly better - I haven’t looked back since.
Before then, I had a brief term as a service station attendant when on holidays from boarding school, and door to door sales for AAPT SmartChat.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The problem-solving. Essentially every customer has a goal they’re seeking to achieve or a problem to solve. I thoroughly enjoy understanding their journey and how I can assist them in getting to the next stage.
Pictured: 13C Williams Road, Mornington. Avail through Sam Danckert of Danckert Real Estate, as seen on Luxury List.
The experiences and relationships that have stemmed from this privileged advisory role are rewarding for me at an intellectual, emotional and social level.
Can you tell us about an interesting property you’ve sold?
‘Green Gables’, 474-475 Esplanade, Mt Martha - is an iconic coastal property in my core market.
Built from blocks created from the local beach sand and occupying a prominent corner block, the property is a significant landmark and it was a wonderful listing to represent.
Prospective buyers enquired from all over the globe but the ultimate purchaser was a Melbourne-based family who purchased it as a holiday home.
What’s your advice to young people starting out in real estate?
There are three key factors that will dictate your career success and the good news is that you control all of them. Drive, Network and Attitude (DNA).
If you have clear goals that excite you, a focus on building a quality network (peers, buyers and sellers) and an impeccable attitude you will succeed. There are times when your results are not immediate but if you can keep focused and push through these ebbs the results are guaranteed.
If you could change one thing about the real estate industry, what would it be?
Recordkeeping requirements. In 2018 it’s absurd that the Estate Agent Act still requires hard copies of all sales documentation which forces a doubling up for what is mostly a redundant record in the hard file.
Pictured: 45 Wonderland Terrace, Mount Martha. For sale through Sam Danckert of Danckert Real Estate, as seen on Luxury List.
Our accountants, auditors, buyers, sellers, solicitors and conveyancers have all embraced digital documentation so it would be great if the Act was amended to remove the need to waste paper.
What’s your outlook for the property market in Mount Martha for the next 12-18 months?
Optimistic. I acknowledge that the property market fundamentals have shifted stemming from the Banking Royal Commission.
The general impact on consumer confidence and the specific lending policy changes that have been enacted have all meant there is a smaller pool of borrowed money available and buyer confidence has been dampened.
Despite these factors, our Mt Martha market is underpinned by significant rates of outright property ownership and we generally see strong equity levels at the time of buying if the buyers offer is subject to finance.
Based on this, the normal financial stress that causes large asset price decreases isn’t a prominent factor in our market.
Pictured: 42 Fairbairn Avenue, Mount Martha. For sale through Sam Danckert of Danckert Real Estate, as seen on Luxury List.
Having worked through the GFC in 2008, I observed a relatively minor downturn of -4 per cent in Mt Martha property prices. If there is a price shift, I’d expect it to be negligible in the scheme of the 10-year growth picture.
Where do you live now, and what would be your dream home if you could live anywhere in the world?
My wife, 2-year-old son and I live beachside in Mornington.
We love the coastal lifestyle, the people and the proximity to Melbourne if we need to head up to the city for anything. Our dream home is a simple, single level home in beachside Mt Martha with a sun-filled aspect and alfresco area to catch up with friends and enjoy this magnificent Peninsula lifestyle.
To escape the winter, our second house would be a waterside in Lake Como!
Read some of Sam Danckert's articles on The Real Estate Conversation: