When Sara Waldron’s relationship ended, all she wanted was a safe home for her children - somewhere they could stay close to school, friends, and the support network they relied on. On her budget, that felt impossible.
That’s why she turned to Darren Keen from Keen on Property: a trusted Gold Coast buyer’s agent with the negotiation skills and off-market connections to make the impossible, possible.
The Gold Coast property market is white hot. What challenges did that present for you as a newly single parent?
“When my relationship first broke down, I thought I was going to have to move away from my support network.
“I’ve lived in Pacific Pines for years, all my friends are here. But I thought I wouldn’t be able to afford to stay in this suburb.
“I was preparing myself to sit in the M1 traffic every day to get to and from work, and to deal with the stress that would have come with that - getting my children up earlier for school, and the battles that would have followed.
“But Darren was determined from the very beginning to get me a property in Pacific Pines.
“There were moments when I sent him links to real estate up in Coomera or even Pimpama, but he wouldn’t even entertain the idea.
“He would redirect me and kept me on the straight and narrow toward what I truly wanted.
“He’d reassure me: “No, I’m going to get you something in Pacific Pines, where I know you need to be. You don’t have to worry. ”
“And he did. He truly delivered.
“Darren found me the perfect home within five minutes walking distance of work and school.
“That has been absolutely amazing. I couldn’t be more grateful. And I got to keep my support network, which has been vital for me going through this separation.”
That’s fantastic. But did you have to compromise on size to stay in the suburb you wanted?
“I’d resigned myself to the fact that me and my two children were likely going to have to move into a two-bedroom duplex and make do.
“I thought financially that would be all I could afford.
“But with Darren’s help, we’ve got a three-bedroom townhouse in a beautiful gated complex where we feel safe, the girls have a pool, and we’ve got a community here.
“The girls have their own bedrooms, which means no more arguments, and that saves me a lot of stress.
“They’re even on a different level to me, which makes things a little easier and more peaceful at home.
“So Darren far exceeded my expectations in terms of the type of home I could afford on my budget.”
How did Keen on Property make your life easier?
“I didn’t have time to go through all of the open homes. I was a newly single working mum - juggling two children and their lives as well.
“Darren found the perfect properties for me. Every single one he chose was worth looking at, whereas the ones I found myself were absolute garbage.
“He saved me so much time by having the right contacts, knowing where to look, and knowing who to speak to.
“He also saved me an immeasurable amount of stress - handling everything from the mortgage broker, to the building and pest inspections, to even getting me access to this property off-market through the real estate agent.
“Darren also did a fantastic job negotiating for me, which is something I never would have done. I would have just accepted the price as it was.
“After my building and pest inspection, there were only minor issues, but Darren said, “There are a couple of little things we can negotiate on here. I didn’t even know you could negotiate once you’d already agreed!
“The very next day, he contacted me and said, “They’ve accepted your negotiation -we’ve dropped $2,000 off your purchase price.
“I was absolutely elated because that idea had never crossed my mind. I just wanted to secure the property.
“That $2,000 helped me pay for a removalist instead of trying to do everything on my own. It gave me extra wiggle room and eased my anxiety about money.”
You engaged Keen on Property to buy your new home, even though you’ve purchased property before. Why was that?
“Even though I had bought property before, this was the first time I was navigating the process on my own.
“I knew I needed help because the market on the Gold Coast is so volatile right now, and without a buyer’s agent, I worried I wouldn’t be able to secure a home.
“I was scared. I didn’t even know where to start. I was worried that me and my girls wouldn’t have somewhere to live.
“Darren made the process clear. He walked me through everything step-by-step, and that gave me peace of mind.
“Because of Darren, I was able to purchase my property off-market, which meant I wasn’t competing with dozens of other buyers.
“Before this, I’d been to open homes where 50-plus people crowded through, and it made me so nervous.
“With Darren, it was different - he found my home, and I got to walk through it calmly with just him and the real estate agent.
“Without him and his experience, I wouldn’t have been able to get this property.”
Open homes can be stressful, overwhelming and time-consuming. How did Darren make the process easier?
“The thought of going to open homes had me completely out of my comfort zone and out of my depth.
“I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect.
“The last time I bought property, the market was very different and there wasn’t nearly as much competition.
“Darren made the whole experience so much easier.
“He would pick me up from my home, coffee in hand, and on the way he would talk me through what to expect.
“He had already researched the property and knew everything about it, even details about the sellers. His background knowledge gave me confidence before we even arrived.
“When we got there, it was the little things that stood out. While others had to line up and give their name and details, Darren had already scanned everything in, so we could just walk straight through.
“Inside, he walked with me through every room, pointing out things I never would have noticed on my own - especially building-related details that I had no knowledge of.
“On the way home, Darren would debrief with me. He’d share his thoughts on what the property was worth, and whether it was even worth my time.
“Quite a few times, he told me, “This isn’t for you - we can find something better.
“That honesty and guidance were invaluable. He was just fabulous in that regard.”
Please tell us about the financial disaster Darren helped you avoid - so others may learn from it
“There was a situation where I thought I’d found the property that I wanted. I was adamant that this was it.
“I contacted Darren and said, ‘I really want to go ahead with this property. I want to put a deposit down.’
“At that point, my settlement hadn’t gone through yet. It was expected to be done within the next week.
“Darren was very straight with me and said, ‘No, Sara, you can’t put money down. You cannot put a deposit on this because if something happens and, for whatever reason, settlement doesn’t go through, you will lose your deposit.’
“I really tried to talk him into letting me do it, because I was convinced this was the house I wanted and I wouldn’t find another one. I was quite anxious about the whole process.
“But it was so lucky that I listened to Darren, because my settlement ended up being delayed another month.
“Had I gone ahead and not listened, I would have lost my deposit, which meant I would have been $10,000 down and I wouldn’t have been able to buy the house that we’re in now.
“So, if I hadn’t listened to Darren, I could have made a really, really silly financial choice. I’m so glad I did listen to him.”
You speak very highly of the standard of service you received from Darren. What does that actually look like, day-to-day?
“Darren showed up early every single time. He offered genuine care and a listening ear, which is especially important when you’re going through such a huge life event.
“There were phone calls, there were tears, and he was always there to reassure me. He was the voice of reason, every step of the way.
“He answered every call, and if he didn’t, he called me back immediately. That, to me, showed how much he truly cared.
“He was with me from the very beginning, for over a year, guiding me through and making sure I ended up in the property I wanted.
“He showed up for me, time and time again.
“He was steady, supportive, and reassuring. That was something I didn’t have elsewhere, especially when it came to my biggest concern - finances.
“Darren even sat down with me and crunched the numbers to show me that yes, I could do this. With every step forward, he proved more and more that he had my back.
“That trust grew as the process went along - and it paid off. Because today, I am comfortably sitting in my new home with my girls.
“He is such a professional. He’s a gem, he truly is. I couldn’t speak more highly of him.”
Describe Darren’s responsiveness - and the impact that had
“The weekend after I finally received my settlement money, Darren called me and said, 'A property has come up - you need to come and see it now.’
“It was a Sunday, and he dropped everything to meet me at the property with the real estate agent.
“He spent a long time talking me through the pros and cons, and started negotiating for me that same Sunday evening.
“I remember being at a friend’s house while Darren was handling everything - emailing me, messaging me, and keeping me updated throughout the night.
“I was so grateful, because it was all too much for me to manage on my own.
“Darren secured the property for me - they accepted my offer, which was amazing.
“From there, he organised the building and pest inspection (something I would have had no idea where to even begin with).
“He was here when the inspection was done, and he patiently talked me through the report, explaining all the things I didn’t understand.
“After that, he even renegotiated my purchase price and managed to get another $2,000 off, which I was so thankful for. He even gave me the name of a good removalist.
“Darren could not have made this process easier for me, from beginning to end.”
XHEAD: In what other ways did Darren go above and beyond for you?
“Darren found me my perfect property, but the challenge was that it had a tenant in it until February.
“Darren discussed this with me upfront and asked, ‘Are you sure you’re happy to go ahead with this? It may mean you’ll have to stay where you are until February before you can move in.’
“But it truly was the perfect property, so I said yes.
“However, thanks to Darren’s contacts and support, me and my girls were able to move in three months early.
“Darren connected me with a property manager who found a new home for the tenant.
“Being in our new home for Christmas, setting up our Christmas tree in our own lounge room, was so special for us.”
Where would you be now without Keen on Property?
“I honestly shudder to think what could have happened had I not had Darren’s advice and expertise.
“I could have ended up not being able to purchase at all - competing with 20 other people at open homes, not having a voice, or even buying something that wasn’t worth the money.
“I hate to think what might have happened without his guidance. I could have ended up living in Logan with my parents. I just don’t even want to think about it.
“I’m very grateful to have a safe place for me and my girls.
“We’d had a rough year, but this house represents new beginnings. It’s a place of happiness, a place of safety, and a place where we can be comfortable on our own.
“Darren is a bloody dead-set legend.”
Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of buying on your own?
If you’re going through a big life change - separation, becoming a single parent, or simply starting fresh - the idea of fighting crowds at open homes, negotiating with agents, and juggling paperwork can feel like too much.
At Keen on Property, we step in so you don’t have to carry it all.
- We take the stress out of searching and inspecting
- We negotiate fiercely on your behalf
- We unlock off-market opportunities you’d never find alone
- And we walk with you, step by step, until the keys are in your hand
Because buying a home isn’t just about bricks and mortar - it’s about creating a safe place to start again.
If you’re ready for someone to have your back, reach out today. Let’s find the home that feels right for your next chapter.
Whether you’re buying, renting, or investing in Queensland, you don’t have to do it alone.
