Darren Palmer says Max and Karstan might triumph on The Block Glasshouse
All three design judges think Max and Karstan will probably take the prize on the compelling Channel 9 reality series, The Block Glasshouse
But despite everyone's design efforts, The Block Glasshouse auction order, if last season of The Block is anything to go by, will also play its part in this weekend's televised finale.
Especially if the buyers become more desperate to own their piece of the amazing building the more supply drops, the judge Darren Palmer says.
The auction reserves are going to be a balancing act of southerly versus internal versus northerly aspect, weighing up square meterage, views and amenity, he noted in his LJ Hooker blog.
"Deciding on the reserves is not a job I’d want to take on and I pity the poor valuer that has the task.
"I’d guess that Max and Karstan will have the highest reserve, Chris and Jenna the lowest, Simon and Shannon and Michael and Carlene will be very similar with Simon and Shannon’s reserve higher due to floor space and the wildcard will be Darren and Dee."
He suggests these apartments could never be built with their amount of value with the quality of design and architecture on offer, as there’s far more value in them than the market would be willing to pay for, other than via the television show.
"In short whoever gets one is, in my opinion, getting a great deal and apparently a sound investment, though you should seek your own advice on what suits you and your investing agenda," he wrote ahead of the broadcast this Sunday night, at 6.30pm on Channel 9.
Palmer noted auction reserves are typically set based on considerations such as location, supply and demand, square meterage, aspect, amenity, finish, comparable sales in the area and last and less tangibly emotion – or desire.
"Unfortunately for the contestants of the Block the reserve prices have been decided on the plans submitted to council, not the finished apartments, so what we have is a game of positives and negatives."
It made it fairly hard to ascertain who will come out on top, he wrote on the LJ Hooker blog.
Palmer gave his most enlightening insights into the pros and cons of each apartment, which Property Obsever has abridged.
Apartment 1 - Michael and Carlene
Southerly aspect
Second smallest apartment at 236.8 sqm internal living space.
3 Bedrooms – master bedroom with walk in robe, 2 bathrooms, powder room/laundry, kitchen with butlers pantry/scullery, open plan lounge/dining, study, upstairs internal terrace w/ outdoor shower + large indoor outdoor terrace with lounge/dining/bbq, 2 car undercover parking, on site lockable storage.
 |
The apartment is south facing which overlooks the street with trams passing by regularly however the noise is kept at bay by triple glazing of all external windows.
Michael and Carlene have created a property that is largely broad and family-friendly but also could appeal to young professionals, singles and empty nesters.
There is only one glaring issue with Michael and Carlene’s apartment - the main bathroom and the stairs to a shower.
Michael and Carlene have excelled in every other part of the home.
The terrace has the only space that is truly all weather.
So depending on the reserve and the auction order Michael and Carlene have a good chance of casting the widest net of buyers as long as they’re not bothered by the main bathroom.
Apartment 2 - Chris and Jenna
East facing internal apartment with no outlook but rooftop area with city views.
The largest apartment on the block at 277 sqm internal living space.
3 Bedrooms – master bedroom with walk in robe, 2 bathrooms, powder room/laundry, kitchen with butlers pantry/scullery + bar, open plan lounge/dining with gas fireplace, study, grand 3 level staircase leading to a rooftop terrace w/ city views + the largest indoor outdoor terrace on the block featuring dining & bbq area, 2 car undercover parking, on site lockable storage.
There were several times that they came short of expectation or came up short all together, though when it comes to the really important things to get right in an apartment they delivered in spades. The main bathroom is a master class on how to do everything right.
This kitchen nailed every single detail in terms of finishes, inclusions, space, storage, lighting, inclusions delivering a room that had everything and the kitchen sink – coated in an appealing copper coloured coating.
 |
The largest apartment will most probably also have one of the lowest reserves as it has no outlook, hemmed in on all sides by the adjoining properties. There is however plenty of natural light so it may not be detrimental to market desire for this apartment.
Apartment 3 - Max and Karstan
Northerly Aspect with City Views
3rd largest apartment at 237 sqm internal living space
3 Bedrooms – master bedroom with walk in robe, 2 bathrooms, powder room/laundry, kitchen with butlers pantry/scullery, open plan lounge/dining, study, one of the smallest outdoor terraces, 2 car undercover parking, on site lockable storage. Secret room on title.
 |
This apartment has broad appeal.
There were comments made throughout the series about some of the glossy choices feeling cold or soulless but seeing the complete apartment with the revisions made during the 24 hour redo challenge as well as the major impact the terrace space has on softening the whole downstairs level, this apartment is now as friendly as it is clean and orderly – which adds up to a very saleable package.
When you look at the Block apartments as an investment package they stack up very well.
The depreciation schedules are impressive, they come fully furnished and ready to rent as soon as you settle with all of that value covered in the sale price, which means your mortgage pays for the furniture – so if you have the deposit and the means to service the loan they’re well worth running past your financial advisors to see how they stack up for you.
Max and Karstan have used good quality inclusions, there is art in every space and for my money, and they have the best schedule of lighting and lighting choices in the whole Block.
I’ve wagered that Max and Karstan may come up trumps on auction day, though their reserve will definitely be a factor in their success.
Apartment 4 - Simon and Shannon
Southerly Aspect
Second largest apartment 249 sqm internal living space
3 Bedrooms – master bedroom with walk in robe and ensuite with custom wooden bath + separate master bathroom/second bedroom ensuite, powder room/laundry, kitchen with butlers pantry/scullery, open plan lounge/dining with sculptural staircase, study, large outdoor terrace with dining/bbq, 2 car undercover parking, on site lockable storage.
This apartment is just plain cool.
The brothers have folded the fabric of the apartment to become something more architecturally interesting in terms of the internal space, creating interest in the stairwell by framing the skylight with faceted gyprock, raked ceilings on the top floor, creative solutions to bulkheads and the most sculpturally interesting staircase on the Block.
 |
Simon and Shannon also have my favourite kitchen on the Block, creating something that is new and cool without trying to be. There’s an effortless swag in this apartment that will appeal to the young and young at heart.
Not everyone is looking for a super hip super cool apartment, so the family and older market may not be as interested in Shannon and Simon’s finished result but I’d wager that the buyers that desire the apartment desire it a great deal which could create a bidding war.
Apartment 5 - Darren and Dee
Northerly Aspect
Smallest apartment on the Block at 186.7 sqm of internal living space.
3 Bedrooms – master bedroom with walk in robe, 2 bathrooms, powder room/laundry with drying cupboard, marble topped kitchen with butlers pantry/scullery, open plan lounge/dining, study, upstairs balcony with city views + outdoor terrace with lounge/bbq, 2 car undercover parking, on site lockable storage.
 |
This is honestly my favourite apartment in terms of aesthetic.
The style of Darren and Dee’s apartment is refined, finessed and luxurious in a very friendly way. The design alone will add a great deal of value to the apartment with hints of high end such as marble, the beautiful application of the EasyCraft Easy VJ paneling they’ve used sparingly and to huge effect throughout, the herringbone floors and the graceful and elegant staircase connecting the two floors.
The big draw card in Darren and Dee’s apartment is something that they created out of thin air, or a void more the point. The balcony from the bedroom over the outdoor terrace is pure genius. This single idea has added the opportunity to take in a city view from their master suite and views can add upward of $100,000 to a selling price.
With the smallest floor plan they may well fall toward the bottom of the pack in terms of their reserve, though balancing that out they are also one of two apartments with the most desirable northern aspect.
Earlier this week another The Block Glasshouse judge Shaynna Blaze also predicted Maxine and Karstan's apartment will attract lots of bidders, perhaps putting it ahead of the competition at the auction.
Blaze told TV Week that the aspect and size of the apartment apartment at 3/121-127 High Street Prahran will appeal to buyers.
"I think there are going to be more people bidding for Max and Karstan's apartment due to the size of it, and it's north facing," she said.
Judge Neale Whitaker, from Vogue, says history has shown that come auction day it can go one of five ways!
"It’s anyone’s competition.
"In the last series Steve and Chantelle won against all odds and we’ve seen that happen before.
"On paper, Karstan and Max have the best apartment – best position and the largest space.
"In theory they should win, but they will also have the highest reserve," although Neale was strongly favouring Michael and Carlene on the show's auction eve taping.
"And The Block has a history of championing the underdog," he told The Carousel website.
Max and Karstan are the bookie favourites, with Darren and Deanne second favourite.