About Sam Kolatchew
16 years experience
Sam is a Licenced Agent in NSW working at Chapman Property. Sam Has been in the real estate industry for 14 years.
In 2007, whilst living in Kelowna, British Colombia, Canada, a chance meeting with a top-producing real estate agent in the region led Sam to an exciting career in real estate sales spanning almost 13 years to date.
After completing 12 months of study at UBC, Canada to obtain his real estate license, he was officially granted a real estate license on September 15, 2008, which just so happened to coincide with the GFC. No doubt it was a baptism by fire. However, not knowing anything different at the time, Sam assumed that the challenges presented from day one were simply what every agent was always up against and par for the course that is a career as a real estate agent. Although the market conditions were tough, he set about finding ways to overcome those challenges to connect buyers with sellers to facilitate property transactions from the first week of becoming a Licenced Agent. This has led Sam to firmly believe that no matter what the market conditions, willing buyers and willing sellers exist everywhere, it is an agent’s duty to find them and it is an agent’s duty to have the negotiating skill required to get the results desired by his clients.
Back on home turf, Sam joined the team at Chapman Property in 2010, where he negotiated many sales across all property types and price brackets, from a $160k house in Rogers St Carrington to a beautiful beachfront house in Mitchell Street Stockton for $1.9mil (a suburb record at the time in Feb 2015) and everything in between.
After 7 years with Chapman Property, an opportunity presented itself to develop and lead an in-house sales department for one of Newcastle's most prominent and well-respected builders and developers, GWH. Being involved in off-the-plan sales for three high-rise, multi-story residential projects (Highpoint in Charlestown, 121Elder in Lambton, and Sky Residences in Newcastle) has given Sam a very in-depth knowledge and understanding of the intricate and specialised industry that is sales and marketing for development and project sales. A very steep learning curve for Sam quickly turned into an expert level of understanding given the sheer volume of enquiries, appointments, and subsequent sales transactions involved as the sole salesperson responsible for over 250 apartments during the same period.
Not many would have predicted there would be a period that would create a more challenging market for property sales than during the GFC. However, during those 3 years of selling apartments off the plan, there were some very challenging times indeed. A Banking Royal Commission and subsequent strict lending rules made it very difficult for anyone to obtain finance at the time, a looming federal election threatening the abolishment of negative gearing led to many sitting on their hands awaiting the outcome at the time, a Royal Commission into the Building and Contraction industry giving potential apartment buyers zero confidence in investing in high rise residential property at the time and of course, a worldwide pandemic, no need to elaborate on the effects on the property market in Australia at the time.
Despite those challenges, Sam was able to utilise his negotiating skill to put deals together for each of the 3 projects to reach pre-sale levels required to obtain bank finance, selling out the 121Elder Street project before completion.
In 2020, Sam was presented with an opportunity to return to Chapman Property, working alongside third-generation Colin Chapman, Sam has a passion for delivering an exemplary level of customer service and sales results for his clients.
If Sam is not working, you will be hard-pressed to find him! An avid camper, 4x4 enthusiast, and outdoorsman, he is out exploring beaches and bushland throughout the Hunter Valley and up the North Coast with his partner Jess. Lucky for Sam, she is a lover of off-the-grid camping and outdoor adventures as well. They are born and bred Newcastle locals.
If you are considering selling, contact Sam for a friendly discussion and expert advice to help you plan your next move.