In an industry where agents regularly change brands, staying put for a decade says something. It gives you enough perspective to know what really matters, and whether a business delivers on what it promises.
That's why we sat down with Denis Najzar for 10 Years, 10 Questions.
This year marks ten years at Place and twenty years in real estate for Denis. In that time, he's gone from making the move to Place to opening Place Woolloongabba with James Curtain, later welcoming Mitchell Smith into the leadership team as the business continued to grow.
Rather than revisit every milestone, we asked ten questions about the journey. Here's what stood out.
For any established agent, changing brands can feel like starting from scratch.
Denis remembers exactly what worried him most.
"My biggest concern was leaving an active brand and losing momentum. That's probably what most agents fear. But Paul Curtain already had a plan ready for me. The transition was seamless, and I didn't lose any momentum at all."
It's easy for businesses to talk about support. It's another thing to have a plan before someone even walks through the door.
When asked about the standout moment of the past decade, Denis didn't mention a record result.
He talked about opening Place Woolloongabba with James Curtain.
"Seeing our dream come alive with this incredible office was pretty nerve-wracking. We'd just fitted the place out, and then COVID hit. But it all worked out extremely well."
Since then, the office has continued to evolve, with Mitchell Smith joining Denis and James in leading the business.
The biggest milestones aren't always individual. Sometimes they're the businesses you build and the people you build them with.
One of the biggest influences on Denis' career wasn't a mentor.
It was James.
Before Place, they were competitors in the same marketplace.
Today, they're business partners.
"James has had the biggest impact on my real estate career and on my move to Place. We were competitors before we became business partners. Along the way, we became really good friends."
Real estate might be built on individual performance, but long-term success is rarely built alone.
One answer stood out more than any other.
When Denis became a Director, he realised being a great agent and being a great business owner weren't the same thing.
"Being a good real estate agent doesn't automatically make you a good business owner. I had to pivot my thinking."
What surprised him most wasn't the challenge; it was the reward.
"Seeing the younger generation come in, providing leadership and watching them succeed means a lot to me."
That's the difference between building a career and building people.
The answer came quickly.
"Place is the pinnacle of real estate brands in Brisbane. If this is the pinnacle, I really don't have anywhere else to consider going."
Then he added something even more important.
"Place is always improving. Always evolving."
After ten years, that continual evolution is what has kept him here.
Denis started in an era before sales associates, prospecting from the White Pages and working entirely on commission.
Two decades later, Brisbane has changed dramatically.
So has the industry.
His mindset hasn't.
"I'd like to think I have a good understanding of the market after 20 years. But I'm still learning every day."
He's also already thinking about what's next.
His goal is to see Place Woolloongabba become the number one Place office in Brisbane.
Our final question was simple.
What's one truth that's never changed?
Denis didn't hesitate.
"Hard work. You can learn everything else. But without work ethic and perseverance, it's a tough career. With those two things, I believe anyone can succeed."
Then he laughed when we asked how his team would describe him.
"Probably tough."
High standards, he says, come from wanting people to succeed.
Perhaps that's what ten years at Place really looks like.
Not standing still.
Building something worth staying for.