Making moves: Darren Curtis on multimillion-dollar deals and the subtle art of chess

Darren Curtis has worked at Ken Jacobs Christie’s International Real Estate for the past 12 years and is a partner in the firm.

He sells the homes other agents can only dream about, with his average sale price last year at about $8 million. And he can do it in three languages.

When Curtis isn’t breaking sales records, he likes nothing better than mastering the fine art of chess.

He is married with three young children, two dogs and lots and lots of chess sets. 

What is your greatest achievement (outside of property)?

Having three happy, healthy children.

Who are your heroes in real life?

They are all chess grandmasters. One is Mikhail Tal; the Magician of Riga.

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He was chess world champion 1960-61, when chess was dominated by the Russians and they had a systematic, classical way of playing.

And along came Mikhail Tal. He bucked trends and created new paths within an already established area.

You know an awful lot about chess.

I’ve been playing for 25 years. Here’s your real-estate metaphor: there’s always room to improve. And it keeps me thinking.

How many moves ahead can you see?

I’m generally thinking between four and eight moves ahead.

A grandmaster such as Anand, the Tiger of Madras, can quite comfortably see 20 moves ahead.

The sale of Elaine is one of the most memorable deals that Curtis has been involved in. Photo: Supplied

Most memorable sale and why?

One of my most memorable wasn’t mine but I had been involved. It was last year’s sale of Elaine [in Point Piper], which Ken sold for $71 million.

What is your motto?

Never be afraid to walk away from a deal.

What do you spend your amazing commissions on?

I invest in property. I also collect chess sets. I have about 30.

How did you get into real estate?

I was in London in the mid-’90s, and there was an advert for a real-estate agent in the newspaper. There I was, with no idea what I was doing.

I was fortunate. In my first quarter, I sold 17 apartments.

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I’ve been playing [chess] for 25 years. Here’s your real-estate metaphor: there’s always room to improve.” Photo: Jessica Hromas

What has this job taught you about people?

That everyone likes to be listened to.

The hardest thing you’ve done?

Played a grandmaster; Nigel Short from England. That wasn’t actually hard: I never had a chance of winning.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

On a loch in Scotland. Because I love the weather; the peace and quiet; and the local produce.

Who or what do you love most?

Do I have to say my wife and children [laughs]? Otherwise, Ken [Jacobs].

For Curtis, success means 
having the freedom to make his own choices
. Photo: Jessica Hromas

Tell us about the time a property listing surprised you…

I walked into one once and the owner had a 10-car garage that could fit a helicopter. He even had a mechanic’s hoist and all the equipment.

Your defining characteristic?

Empathy. That’s important in my job.

Success to you is …

Having the freedom to make the choices you would like to make.

What was the first home you sold?

It was a £90,000 basement studio in Notting Hill, with Tube noise.