‘A life-changing move’: How opening an office with Place propelled the success of 2 high-performing agents

As the principals of Place Ascot and Place Nundah, the duo is leading the charge in Brisbane’s property market, dominating their areas and building businesses that are set to expand even further.

“It’s hard to fully grasp how much it’s changed our lives,” Davies said.

“Before Place, I never imagined I’d have the financial freedom to travel, buy multiple properties, and send my kids to private schools. This partnership has allowed me to do things I never dreamed possible, and I can’t wait for what the future holds.”

For McKinnon, the impact has been equally life-altering.

"Being part of Place has allowed me to grow from an agent to a business owner, and now into a leader. I’ve achieved financial security, bought my own properties, and can finally enjoy the kind of lifestyle I’ve always wanted."

The pair sat down to explain why they believe Place is the ideal partner for high-performing agents looking to open an office in the greater Brisbane region.

The power of Place: A life-changing partnership

The decision to partner up was no accident. Davies, a successful real estate agent with 12 years of experience, was initially hesitant when McKinnon approached him about the opportunity to open an office together.

"I was already talking to another agency about opening a branch, but when Pat reached out, I wasn’t sure. We were both strong agents in the area, but I thought we were too different to work together," Davies admitted.

Despite his reservations, Davies and McKinnon’s conversations continued. It wasn’t until Place CEO Damian Hackett stepped in that Davies started to see the potential of a partnership.

"Damian really got me thinking differently," he explained. "He said something that resonated with me: 'The last thing you want to do is partner with someone who is just like you.' That’s when I realised that by combining our strengths, we could truly dominate the area," Davies said.

McKinnon had the vision for the pair from day one.

“What I saw was - Drew and I were both strong agents in the area, but we weren’t the dominant force. By joining forces, we were able to elevate our impact and truly own the market. As Sarah Hackett said in our case, ‘1 plus 1 equalled 3,” he said.

And so, in July 2018, Place Ascot was born. Four years later, Place Nundah followed, cementing their growing presence in Brisbane’s real estate market.

Why Place? The power of branding, marketing, and support

For both Davies and McKinnon, it was Place’s standout branding and comprehensive HQ support that ultimately convinced them to both individually join forces with the agency.

“Place stood out to me because of its innovative marketing, top-tier services, and the strong support network they offer,” McKinnon said. “They take care of everything, from HR, finance, legal and compliance, marketing, contracts – you name it! So, we can focus on listing, selling and growing the business.”

Davies shared that when he looked at the broader landscape of real estate in Brisbane, Place was the brand that truly stood out.

“It was modern, fresh, and ahead of the curve. They have the best people in leadership position who work for my business – a team of experts we could never afford individually – the best branding, and the most seamless systems in place. The PR service they delivered in the first week and continue to deliver was better than anything I had experienced in my career,” he said.

Building a business based on trust, energy, and innovation

Since opening their doors, Davies and McKinnon have built a thriving team of 55 staff across property management and sales. But what really sets their business apart is the culture they’ve fostered.

McKinnon emphasised the importance of both principals being actively involved in sales.

“We’re both selling principals, which means we lead from the front. It creates a shared sense of purpose within our team and drives our success. At Place, the culture is all about collaboration and learning – we support our people to help each other grow,” McKinnon said.

“The foundation of everything we do is honesty and trust,” Davies added.

“Pat and I are completely transparent with each other, our clients, and our team. Without that, none of the high-performance results we’ve achieved would be possible.”

The team’s unique strength is their energy, which flows across both their offices and is a key reason for their success.

"Our team is driven, collaborative, and focused on delivering exceptional results. The Place brand is so well-aligned with our own values, and it’s given us the tools to truly make an impact,” Davies said. “It’s not just about one person or one office. It’s about everyone working together to achieve more.”

Looking ahead: Expanding and evolving

As they look to the future, both Davies and McKinnon are focused on continued growth, not just for their own business, but for their team as well.

“In 2025, we’re looking at expanding even further,” Davies said. “We’re wanting to open another office, and we have some great agents coming on board. Our team is growing, and we’re excited about what lies ahead.”

McKinnon added, “We’re not stopping here. We want to keep growing our business, bringing in new talent, and expanding our reach across Brisbane.”

“None of this would have been possible without the support of Place.”

For Davies and McKinnon, the journey with Place is just beginning. With their shared vision, leadership, and drive, the best is yet to come.