Daniel is a property industry expert with over 19 years of experience in property and high-value purchase experience. He has a strong background in sales, marketing, and operations, and has worked in and owned a variety of businesses, including developers, investors, and new home construction companies.
He has a double degree in Economics and Public Relations/Marketing from Deakin University and a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice & Diploma in Property (Agency Management). Daniel is also a speaker and writer on business and real estate topics, having published articles in various publications including the Financial Review and the Herald Sun.
Daniel’s expertise extends to market analysis and forecasting, sales and marketing strategy, operations, and management.
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Here we sit down with Daniel, to learn a bit more about his journey as an industry expert.
Q. Tell us a little more about your journey as an entrepreneur – how did you get started?
Daniel: I started my career in new home construction and then property development coming out of university but I was always working on some type of side hustle. In 2016, after having 12 years of experience as a national marketing director I decided to take the leap into self-employment and started CALIBR. – a hybrid marketing consultancy business that leveraged a network of agencies to offer an on-demand, full-service sales & marketing function.
At the beginning of 2020, we launched our own First Home Buyer building company, First Place Building Co., an end-to-end sales, marketing, and construction business during COVID with a unique capital light sales model offering an Australian first same-day contract, Bitcoin and PayPal payment gateway integration and online self-checkout. The result of this was over $110 Million in new home contract revenue in under three years, 450 new home contracts signed and 340 homes built. The brand and model were so successful that we were bought out by Victoria’s second-largest builder in April 2023.
In September 2023 we launched REALBROKERS. It’s a new approach to real estate sales, offering a 360-degree service for property developers sourcing sites, running feasibilities, and then exiting the stock. Given our network and demand, we’ve also entered high-end residential sales offering no-fuss, hands-on service and guarantees around listing price success and flat-price sales fee options.
Q. What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive?
Daniel: Turning up and showing up is the most important thing you can do to remain productive. I find time in the office, for me particularly mornings/evenings or over a weekend, almost forces you to focus on the business without distractions.
There is also no end of benefit to discuss business ideas and concepts with like-minded people and mentors to fire up the motivation. Some of the best ideas have come over lunch and a glass of red with colleagues, collaborators, and competitors alike.
Q. How do you stay organized with such a busy schedule?
Daniel: I am a creature of habit and routine. Everything is diarised. Time in the office, meetings, appointments, gym time, social time. So, I run several calendars both at work and at home and share them with relevant people so we are all on the same schedule. I also run my own workflow for each business. I’m currently operating the business (as well as start-up ideas and workflows for new ones..) using CRM systems, Google Sheets/Drive, and Trello.
Q. What are some of the core issues you focus on?
Daniel: I think anyone with a social conscience, or even just having young children, would want to focus on the core issues facing us today:
1. Ending all war and conflict
2. Eradicating poverty and hunger
3. Creating a long-term, sustainable, future on the Earth for the human race
Q. What motivates you?
Daniel: I would say successes, even minor day-to-day wins, motivate me to strive for growth. Sort of like habit stacking. One minor success in the scheme of things may not mean much, but 5 minor wins each built on the last, now you’re getting somewhere!
Q. What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made
Daniel: Travel. Not only is traveling a great reset after a stressful period it’s also exceptional for growth – particularly if you throw yourself into an environment you don’t know, with a language you don’t understand.
Q. What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in?
Daniel: There’s a very famous, and highly contested quote, about being the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. I’m not sure if I believe that entirely, but there is something to be said about surrounding yourself with people who raise you – they may have achieved what you are looking to do or are perhaps on the same path as you are. I would suggest finding these people as soon as possible and spending a lot of time with them.
Q. What is your ‘one-sentence’ piece of advice you’d like to give to someone who wants to become an entrepreneur, coach, or business owner?
Daniel: Grow from positive cash flow. Taking on too much debt at the beginning of a start-up can feel like you’ll never catch up. Do as much as you can yourself, start small, and build on success. It will be more sustainable in the long term.
To keep up to date with Daniel and his journey, connect with him on Instagram.