The softer side of Darren Krongold: an interview with Caulfield’s favourite family man

I look up from my latté as Darren Krongold walks in. Stepping out of Alma Road’s bustle and into the organised chaos of Caulfield’s Common Room Co café, the Director arrives with a firm handshake – and a pleasantly piercing gaze.

Settling down across the table with his own latté, Darren smiles. With a shaved head and a fine film of stubble covering his face, it’s easy to see why Darren, at first glance, could be considered ‘hard’.

But as our conversation unfolds, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. An avid surfer, committed family man and self-confessed real estate addict, Darren takes a sip.

Then talks me through his upbringing, life and career to date.

Testing the waters: steel, building, stables and surfing

“All I wanted to do when I was younger was surf. Head up to Queensland, sit on a beach. And surf!”

They’re interesting words for a man on the cusp of his 35th?year in real estate. But as it turns out, Toorak-born Darren weighed up several other options before settling on his chosen profession.

Always more ‘get stuck in’ than ‘get studying’, Darren left school early. But after dabbling in an accounting course at Swinburne, he soon swapped book-balancing for building.

It is, after all, in his blood. Darren’s twin brother Wayne, and their father Lionel, head up the family’s construction business: Krongold Constructions.

“My father instilled a lot of strong values in us to work,” Darren explains, crediting his iron-clad work ethic to his teenage years. Even as 15-year-olds, Darren and Wayne regularly traded in entertainment for exertion: labouring in the factory of the family-owned steel company, KH Stramit.

When 1988 rolled around, Darren –?now a fresh-faced 19-year-old –?was ready for a change. Seduced by real estate ads in the local newspaper, he decided to give selling houses a shot.

But it didn’t?quite?click. And after four and a half years learning the real estate ropes in property management –?first in commercial, then in residential –?Darren needed a change.

From the company.?Not?the industry.

Darren’s career break took him back, for a few months, to the surf and sand of Queensland. Then into the arms of the family business: not in metal, this time, but in mares. (Another business the Krongold family was involved in; Lionel loves horses.)

Because in the early 90s, the Krongold clan bred racehorses – operating a farm in Whittlesea which, at one point, served 120 mares: for racing, breeding or selling.

Soon, however, the time came to trade in horses for houses. A call to Sally Zelman – Darren’s friend and former colleague –?scored him an interview with the owner of a small local real estate agency.

A confident, charismatic chap called Gary.

Learning the ropes: riding the waves of real estate

Darren started at Gary Peer & Associates in January 1993.

“Teach me the ropes,” Darren says, recalling his promise to his then-new employer, “and I’ll make you a lot of money. Because I have a lot of connections and friends.

“I think that’s the key to real estate: having plenty of mates! Plus, I had a lot of time and energy to give. I was 23, and single –?I didn’t get married until I was 30. So I spent a lot of years in-between growing and dedicating my life to real estate.”

He didn’t quit his unquenchable thirst for surfing, of course –?simply channelled it in a new direction.

“I grew up idolising the sport’s top Australian competitors: Mick Fanning, Mark Occhilupo, Joel Parkinson. These guys follow their passion and do they best they can. They’re dedicated to what they do, and they perform at the highest level –?all while mentoring the younger generations.

“As my own role and career progressed, I took a lot of inspiration from that.”

Darren’s own passion for the profession – mixed with the Gary Peer brand’s already upward trajectory –?made for a heady cocktail. The business took off; Darren thrived.

“Real estate is like a drug,” the man in front of me grins, “and I have an addictive personality.

“Once you get a taste of success –?of pleasing people; of the phone ringing with a buyer on the other end –?it excites you. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Or working anywhere else.”

When Darren joined Sally: excellence without ego

With his trademark transparency and uniquely ‘no bullshit’ approach, Darren quickly made a name for himself.

“I’m not a person who hides behind a problem. I just tell you how it is. There’s a lot of agents out there who are afraid to tell the truth. But people are only going to believe in you if you’re upfront.”

It’s a skill that set Darren up to work well with his clients?and?his colleagues – particularly Sally, his long-term mate and mentor. Yet the pair’s similarly top-end niches and overlapping territory set them just as much up for conflict as camaraderie.

So in 2003, spurred on by Gary Peer co-founder and Director Phillip Kingston, Darren and Sally joined forces. Together, they set up what Darren describes as “a business within a business” within Gary Peer’s Caulfield North office.

Their partnership stretches back almost two decades. Their friendship over three.

Unsurprisingly, it works.

“Sal and I have never had an argument. We’ve never yelled at each other or got in each other’s way. We just click. It’s so easy to work with her –?and with everybody here.”

And 18 months ago, that partnership got?even better –?when Joel Ser joined. In real estate since he was 20, Joel’s highlights include representing a couple on “The Block” for Channel 9 – and being recognised in the AREA’s top 100 agents in Victoria in 2021.

“Joel has added a new dimension to the partnership,” says Darren. “He’s quickly become integral to it; the trio is working really well.”

Darren is equally quick to acknowledge the ongoing friendship, partnership and mentorship of Phillip – his long-term colleague and confidant. As well as inspiring Darren and Sally’s partnership, Phillip has been an invaluable source of leadership and learning.

With Darren, Sally and Joel captaining Gary Peer’s Caulfield ship, they still need people?steering?it. And, thankfully, they have two of the best doing so.?Aliza Szylit?and?Mariam David, Executive Assistants and Campaign Coordinators, support the three partners in every aspect of their work.

Now co-leading a thriving team of nine, Darren’s selfless approach (and softer side) are helping him mentor the next generation. Between?Daniel Fisher,?Idan Gutman,?Isabella Bracka?and?Kevin Huang, you’ll find many of Melbourne’s finest real estate agents under Darren’s wing.

What you?won’t?find? Ego.

“I tell my team to put people first, and yourself second. Many agents make it about themselves, make it personal –?‘what about me? How does that affect?me?’ –?well, it shouldn’t affect you. You’re the middleperson.”

“Egoistic people don’t work with me. And vice versa!”

A system, not a secret: the recipe for real estate success

Over $400 million in property sales, as a team, across 2022. Three and a half decades –?and a directorship – at one of Melbourne’s leading independent real estate agencies.

A sale of over $10 million in Q2 2022. And, in the following quarter, the sale of Caulfield’s most expensive home –?for a price in the vicinity of a staggering $20 million.

I have to ask. What’s the secret, Darren??Is?there one?

“What my career has taught me is that the secret to success isn’t actually a secret at all –?it’s a?process. You have to have a system. It’s not only building a network and a database, but?working with?that database; communicating with those clients in a close, personal way.

“So many people just text now, but I’m very old-fashioned. I pick up the phone and talk to them!”

As Darren speaks, it becomes clear his view of success isn’t as some vague, intangible goal perched far off on the horizon. It’s not something to be attained, but?practised.?To be worked at – every day.

“The longer you’re in real estate, with the one company – as long as the community can see you growing, see you slapping those ‘SOLD’ stickers on the board –?you’re succeeding.”

Because, Darren explains, clients don’t only buy homes. They buy into?you.

“If you put your heart and soul into it, people will see you’re serious about selling. They’ll hear about it from others; they’ll try you out and recommend you to their friends.?That’s?where it comes from. If you’re systemised to do all that, it comes together eventually.”

Listen, learn and love: Darren’s formula for a functioning family

Asked what key qualities a person needs to excel in real estate, Darren doesn’t hesitate.

“Be a good listener,” he begins, ticking them off on his fingers. “Learn not to talk too much. Become a strong negotiator. And have the courage to break through your comfort zone.”

Funnily enough, these are the same attributes that helped Darren thrive as a family man. As a devoted husband to Hayley, and a proud father of three daughters: twins Rikki and Britney (both 20), and Hope (14).

One look at the twins’ CVs, and it’s clear they’ve inherited their fair share of their dad’s (and grandad’s) work ethic. His love of a latté, too!

Rikki Krongold?is Head of Hospitality here at Gary Peer, and –?alongside studying communications – leads the coffee van team on its weekend rounds. Britney is off to study law next year, while also providing admin support to Gary Peer’s Caulfield North-based office.

Darren and I talk for a little longer about his top sales; his reputation; his fruitful 34-year (and counting!) Gary Peer tenure. But it’s clear there’s one achievement that stands head and shoulders about the rest: his family.

“I have four women in my family,” Darren chuckles. “Five, if you count the dog! My life revolves around these ladies; I live for them. I was a ‘hard’ man in my youth. They’ve softened me up!”

These five, after all,?are?the softer side of Darren Krongold.

His best side!

Want to get inside the hearts and minds of even more of the Gary Peer team?

Get to grips with Darren’s partner?Sally’s story. Explore?Phillip Kingston’s purpose. And immerse yourself in?a day in the life of Jeremy Rosens.