The Melbourne agents have brokered over $3 billion in career sales across more than 1,000 transactions during tenures at global organisations Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers International. MAKER Property specialises in retail, office and development site sales across the CBD and metropolitan Melbourne, with a core client mix spanning family offices, high-net-worth investors, developers, owner-occupier brands, SME owners and other private parties. It also offers property management services to asset owners.
MAKER Property co-founder Anthony Kirwan said the decision to start the business followed years of working together within the global agency environment and a shared ambition to build an independent alternative.“George, Raph and I have built genuine trust in each other’s judgement, integrity and ability over a decade working together. The launch of MAKER is our opportunity to bring that experience into a business where clients deal directly with the owners,” Mr Kirwan said.
“For a client, that means direct access to the people responsible for the advice, the campaign and the negotiation. We want that accountability to be clear from the first conversation through to settlement. “Many of our clients are business owners, and now so are we. That gives us a very clear understanding of the importance of making good decisions, being accountable and
delivering on what we say we will do.” The agency enters the market with several major campaigns already secured, including two prominent retail listings on High Street in Armadale and a Woolworths supermarket investment opportunity in Albert Park.
The founders bring more than 30 years of collective industry experience to MAKER, with previous notable transactions in the past 12-months including the:
- $22 million sale of 500 Church Street in Cremorne to an interstate private investor
- $18 million sale of 56-72 Stephenson Street in Cremorne to a national creative agency
- $13.05 million sale of 24-42 Alexandra Parade in Clifton Hill to developer Time & Place
- $11.88 million sale of 203-207 Elizabeth Street in Melbourne’s CBD to an interstate private investor
Co-founder George Davies said changing client expectations and Melbourne’s relative value compared with other Australian property markets were driving forces behind launching the agency. “The commercial property market has changed considerably over the past five years, and so has the way clients want to work with their advisers,” Mr Davies said. “We saw an opportunity to create a modern commercial real estate business that combines institutional experience and market intelligence with the speed, transparency and personalisation of an independent. “We believe Melbourne presents increasingly compelling relative value compared with other major Australian cities through a wide breadth of opportunities across retail, office and development sites. “In this environment, being selective and having access to the right information is critical. Our focus is on helping clients identify where value exists and executing the right strategy to capture it.”
Co-founder Raphael Favas said the partners’ combined experience and established network provided a strong platform to grow the business through changing market conditions. “We have spent a decade working through both rising and falling property markets and building relationships across Melbourne,” Mr Favas said. “We are at the right stage of our careers to put everything into MAKER Property and build an agency we believe can become one of Melbourne’s most respected independent commercial property businesses.
“A successful campaign starts well before a property goes to market. Owners need clear advice on positioning, likely buyers and what could affect the result,” Mr Favas said. MAKER Property is a registered member of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.
For more information or to make a confidential property enquiry, please visit www.makerproperty.com.au.
