Darren Cooper in Toowoomba has secured $660,000 for a 1,148-square-metre vacant land parcel in Mount Lofty, using 20 years of development knowledge to turn site constraints into selling points.
Darren from RealWay Property Partners in Toowoomba has secured $660,000 for a 1,148-square-metre vacant land parcel in Mount Lofty, using 20 years of development knowledge to turn site constraints into selling points.
The property at 22 MacKenzie Street presented a unique challenge: while the total landholding offered premium escarpment positioning with sweeping southern valley views, a power line easement constrained 561 square metres of the site, leaving a 587-square-metre building pad.
Darren’s strategy centred on making the buildable area immediately visible to prospective buyers through strategic on-site signage.
“I used standard signboards along with additional signboards to clearly delineate the building footprint from the constrained easement area, enabling buyers to visualise the 587-square-metre building pad and capitalise on the escarpment’s opportunities for great views and good passive design,” Darren said.
Technical education as sales tool
The approach reflected Darren’s background in town planning and project management across Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales – experience he now applies to residential sales in the Toowoomba region.
Rather than rely solely on marketing collateral, Darren provided direct education on development options during buyer interactions, helping prospects understand how the site’s elevation and aspect could offset the easement limitation.
The campaign ran for 85 days via private treaty, supported by a premium listing on realestate.com.au and the Audience Maximizer campaign to reach buyers specifically seeking prestige sites with view potential.
“The vendor was very satisfied with the outcome, noting that my demonstrated experience in leading challenging sales and providing high-level advice was instrumental in delivering results beyond their expectations,” Darren said.
Market context
Mount Lofty’s property market shows strong demand for residential development sites, with Domain.com.au data indicating substantial activity for three and four-bedroom houses in the 4350 postcode.
Darren’s result came in a market where vacant land with constraints typically attracts cautious buyer sentiment – making his vendor education strategy particularly relevant for agents handling non-standard listings.
“It was important to give direct education and development options, which was crucial to negotiating perceptions around the site and what you could actually do with it despite the constraint, which achieved a successful sale for a difficult land holding,” he said.
About the agent
Darren Cooper brings over 20 years of property industry experience to his role at RealWay Property Partners in Toowoomba, with a background spanning town planning, project management and real estate across three states. His planning expertise enables him to advise on land use, design and market trends with precision, while his focus on housing affordability helps first-time buyers strategise market entry through capital growth approaches. Visit Darren’s website or call Darren on +61498989654.
