Auctioneer David Wood on why The Block Triple Threat went so well, and why the Glasshouse didn't

Even Hockingstuart Albert Park's David Wood, who auctioned Josh and Charlotte's apartment at The Block Triple Threat finale, was surprised by the results.

"In reality, I think the results were beyond everyone's expectations," Wood told Property Observer. Although he had good reason to believe the sales would go well, based on his winning experience auctioning Steve and Chantelle's Block Fans v Faves apartment in Albert Park, the results last week were particularly spectacular. Josh and Charlotte's townhouse at 1/27 Darling Street in South Yarra sold for $810,000 over reserve at $2.2 million, clearly exceeding the $636,000 winnings amassed by Steve and Chantelle when their apartment sold for $2.47 million.

At the Fans v Faves auction, many speculated that Steve and Chantelle's final place in the auction order played an important role in the result, with demand increasing as supply dwindled.

At the Triple Threat auction, Wood's clients Josh and Charlotte again went last, and had the second highest result (after Deanne and Darren).

"We were the last cab off the rank, so the big thing for us at the end was how many buyers we were able to hold on to, and how many were we going to lose?" said Wood.

He said the buyers could be put in two categories - those who only wanted one apartment, and those who were open minded, so long as they were able to secure one of the four Block properties on offer.

The Block auctions themselves are an unusual experience, says Wood.

"It doesn't follow a regular pattern, in that we know that a lot of people are keen to get the ball rolling and get it started.

"We don't have that situation where we ask for a bid, nothing happens, and then we have to resort to a vendor bid."

One of those who got the ball rolling at the Triple Threat auctions was buyer's agent and Block judge Nicole Jacobs, who placed strong opening bids at each auction. Jacobs "had her finger on the pulse as to where the buyer interest was in the room," said Woods.

"If you know that, it's a good strategy."

The buyer interest this time round seemed to be much stronger than at The Block Glasshouse, where some couples took home as little as $10,000. Wood wasn't involved in the The Block Glasshouse, and said the disappointing results in the Prahran auctions may have partially been due to the agents.

"I do think the agents left a few things to chance," said Wood.

"I don't think they were close enough to their buyers. For a start, they didn't have the number of buyers in the room that there was this year.

"But you can't say it was a different market - the market was very strong. It's a matter of the agent really drilling down and getting the buyer front and centre in the room, on the day."

The opportunity to get the buyers in the room is something Wood would welcome at future Block auctions, saying he'd love to be involved again.

"It's a very serious program, and we take real estate very seriously," said Wood.