Reality Tv

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GUEST OBSERVER
Washington Brown has crunched the numbers on The Block’s latest development in Melbourne’s inner-city bayside suburb of Port Melbourne, and something just doesn’t add up.
From a financial point of view the development, which consisted of transforming a 1920s art deco building into a luxury apartment block, was one of the worst I have ever seen.
While I understand the magic of television, Channel 9 have outdone David Copperfield in creating the illusion of a profit to the public!.
Let's look at the numbers:
According to reports Channel 9 bought the site for around $5 million, which allowed for 6 apartments. Only 5 were sold on TV and for calculation purposes let’s say the acquisition costs is $4.2 million.
The construction cost and depreciation allowances totalled over $11 million, for the 5 apartments.  
That’s $15.2 million alone in construction and acquisition costs.
It’s worth noting that under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 the initial vendor (ie. the developer) has an obligation to pass on the actual costs of construction to the purchaser, where the costs are known.
Let’s not forget there’s then a variety of other costs involved in buying and selling, and undertaking the development, including:
<ul>
<li>Stamp duty</li>
<li>GST on the sale</li>
<li>Demolition</li>
<li>Marketing</li>
<li>Agents’ fees</li>
<li>Legal fees</li>
<li>Interest</li>
<li>Rates</li>
</ul>
Whilst some of these costs may have been avoided due to contra deals, the bulk would have to be outlaid by Channel 9.
I estimate these additional costs to conservatively be $2 million, which brings the total cost to $17.2 million.
The Block’s<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-block-2016-will-and-karlie-win-and-take-home-815000-in-prize-money-20161113-gsoefv/" target="_blank"> total sales </a>realised just a little over $12 million, leaving the development in the red by around $5 million, yet it has been indicated that <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-block-2016-the-auctions/" target="_blank">profits</a> of up to $715,000 were made by the contestants. 
That something David Copperfield would be in awe of.
You know it’s the peak of the market when reality TV shows are pulling rabbits out of a hat to show a profit.
Whilst the contestants may have walked away with some ‘profit’, if the numbers are to be believed as shown on the show that development was a stinker.
Tyron Hyde is director, Washington Brown, and can be contacted <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

How successful was The Block Port Melbourne as a development?

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Professional renovators Gav and Waz, who appeared on the first series of The Block reality television in 2003, have listed their two-bedroom Rockwall Gardens, Potts Point apartment.
It is a ground floor apartment on Tusculum Street advertised on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-potts+point-120052945" target="_blank">realestate.com.au</a>. They are testing the apparently buoyant market in the inner city suburb where <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">CoreLogic RP Data</a> actually have the median apartment price down to $525,000 since they bought last year. The median price for a two-bedroom unit with a car space in the suburb sat at around $1 million, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/43068-inner-city-car-parking-convenience-costs-record-264-000-at-the-chimes-potts-point" target="_blank">before the recent $264,000 car space sale</a>.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/photogallery_new.ds?id=120052945&amp;theme=rea.buy" rel="photos" data-id="120052945"><img src="https://i2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/4927987fff45b2431ac9aa8f042cc376784a626a3fb04b694aa08379fd410724/image7.jpg" alt="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" title="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" data-index="6"></a>
The renovation duo settled only last July at a hefty $2.25 million, with renovations completed since on the apartment with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a car space. There are still trademark Deece Giles interiors since the boys bought from the renown Sydney architect.
<img src="https://i3.au.reastatic.net/800x600/de77c1b00ad9bb49b76435f854d9a20119e636f73fe6782622a2c83b1db64537/main.jpg" alt="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" title="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" data-index="0">
Now surrounded by greenery, the total floor space, inside and out, is 180 square metres. It comes with outdoor fireplace by Rolling Stone Landscapes, gold medal winners at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show.
<img src="https://i2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/4311073f62ad842d671b4b094e23b21e3485102865d75ae1a1db9c8ada01cff4/image3.jpg" alt="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" title="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" data-index="2">
Jason Boon and Geoff Cox, of Richardson and Wrench, won't reveal how much profit the boys really want for their snug viewless offering, but Title Tattle gleans high $2s will  make them content.
Charlie, their Jack Russell, featured in the advertising (below) to stress the pet friendly nature of the block, is not included.
<img src="https://i4.au.reastatic.net/800x600/583595704b77639853d24a55dd1425c5fc8b48a2eebc3fc9d552e0ecfebdc893/image5.jpg" alt="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" title="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" data-index="4">
Two contracts were issued following the initial weekend open for inspection.
Warren Sonin and and Gavin Atkins have poured serious money into the Potts Point precinct in recent times spending $1.38 million on three investment acquisitions between 2013 and late 2014.
They sold their 23-hectare farm, Charltons, in the Byron Bay hinterland for $3 million in 2013.
<img src="https://i4.au.reastatic.net/800x600/b69408cc3be8b2c1cd61d65297a5fc53735f12a679a8ca18f16fdd4dac073583/image9.jpg" alt="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" title="G06/1A Tusculum Street, Potts Point" data-index="8">
Some 26 registered parties ensured a strong price today for a top-floor unit <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-potts+point-119904929" target="_blank">6/1 St Neots Avenue, Potts Point</a> that fetched $1,846,000 under the hammer through Ray White Double Bay agent Kim Hayes. 
It sold to an investor.
It came with harbour views.
Sydney's overall weekend clearance rate was a smidge down at 83.2%, compared to last weekend's initial 83.3%, which was then revised down to 81.9% after the late notified results.
Mosman again had the highest sale across Sydney - at $3.05 million at 4 Sverge Street - again through McGrath, albeit at half last weekend's top reported sale.
It was a 1960s original (below) on 768 square metres.
<img src="https://b.domainstatic.com.au/w1600-h1200-2012013305_4_pi_150608_050755" width="593" height="445">
 
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Inside Gav and Waz's garden Potts Point quick flip

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Last night's episode of Location Location Location Australia showed buyer's agents Veronica Morgan and Bryce Holdaway helping out two relocating couples.
Though one couple was upsizing and the other downsizing, they were both forced to negotiate the tricky realities of moving far from home.
Veronica was working with retirees Sue and Barney. After living in Port Macquarie for 16 years, they wanted to relocate to Wagga Wagga, where their son and his young family lived.
The couple, who have been married for 47 years, raised their own family in Wagga Wagga before moving northward to the beach.
For their return to Wagga, they wanted a three bedroom house with a double garage and a shed, which was close to the grandkids.
Their move, which they think might be their final one, had to be done on a tight budget of $350,000.
With limited stock on market in Wagga, Veronica was tasked with finding them the perfect final home among very few options.
She started by taking the couple to their preferred area of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Turvey Park</a>, in the heart of Wagga and only minutes from their son Ben. The three bedroom house, on the market for $329,000, had three bedrooms, a shed and a backyard.
The recently renovated home was a lot smaller than what Sue and Barney were used to, and the couple believed it would take a lot of hard work to make it worthwhile. It was immediately struck from the list despite its great location and the search continued.
The second house they inspected was in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Kooringal</a>, south of Turvey Park but only four kilometres from their son's home. The bigger house, with three bedrooms, only had a single car garage and the shed was on the small size.
While Sue loved the brick bungalow with an open plan kitchen, Barney was pretty skeptical. At $339,000, the house fell under their budget - but only just.
The third home they inspected was in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Bourkelands</a>, four kilometres from Central Wagga. The former site of a military base, developers have recently taken a liking to the area, with new builds popping up.
The house, which also had a $339,000, had a double garage, an open plan kitchen and living room layout. The master bedroom came with a walk in robe and ensuite, which also appealed.
With somewhat shabby bathrooms, the house (pictured below) would require a little bit of work. It <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bourkelands-116920539" target="_blank">remains on the market</a>, with its asking price now at $332,500. 
<img src="/images/2014/09/24/1.jpg" alt="">
After visiting three homes, none of which ticked all the boxes and all a step down from their dream home in Port Macquarie, the true reality of downsizing began to set in.
Sue and Barney showed just how difficult it is to downsize, especially from a home you love. Though they both wanted to be closer to their family, they weren't quite ready to make the final purchase of their life - especially if it meant settling for a home they weren't happy in.
In the end, although they couldn't find the perfect home, Sue and Barney decided they needed to be in Wagga. So they sold their Port Macquarie home and set out to rent a house in Wagga while waiting for the right home to come onto the market.
This article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 Bryce teamed up with Melbourne couple Ben and Amelia, who had the opposite move in mind.
They were planning to migrate northward, to the Gold Coast. After watching prices skyrocket in Melbourne, they decided they wanted more warmth and luxury for their dollar.
The upgraders, who want a family home they can grow into, had a budget of $1 million. They've been searching for a home in the Gold Coast for some time, but were finding the interstate property inspections a little impractical.
Enter Bryce. He was tasked with finding them a four bedroom home with a minimum of two bathrooms, a pool and canal views. Ben and Amelia wanted something close to the beach, with plenty of entertaining space.
Bryce was optimistic about their prospects, especially on their budget. The property market's downturn means that homes are more affordable than before, and it's a buyers' market.
According to Bryce, good capital growth potential can again be found in the Gold Coast, with high price growth in the southern states spurring on upgraders just like Ben and Amelia.
Their hunt began in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Broadbeach Waters</a>, at a home situated right on the canal. The four bedroom, four bathroom house had a pool and a six car garage. Unfortunately, it required some renovations - but with a price of $800,000, there was plenty of money leftover in the couple's budget for that.
It seemed, however, that Ben and Amelia had other things in mind. They weren't interested in extensive renovations, and wanted at least two living areas.
So house number one was a bust, and they moved along to house number two: a <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Mermaid Waters</a> house with two open plan living areas. The contemporary tiled house had four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a spot to tie up the boat.
There was also an outdoor entertaining space by the pool. On the market for $995,000, it was within their budget, and made a good first impression.
But Ben and Amelia, it turned out, wanted a home with a better indoor-outdoor flow. So house number two was also out.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-broadbeach+waters-116288195" target="_blank">third home they inspected</a> was one on main road, which caused some concern. But its huge contemporary interior space and layout, pictured below, won them over. The home, on a wide plot, also included a pool and spa facing the canal, with its own jetty.
<img src="/images/2014/09/24/2.jpg" alt="">
While the home's bedrooms weren't amazing, the outdoor entertaining area was enough to win them over.
The house had a $1 million asking price, but it turned out that the vendors had accepted a $950,000 offer previously, and finance had fallen through.
They inspected a final house, a single storey home with two large living areas and four bedrooms in Broadbeach. The house, which the couple wasn't keen on, had an asking price of $950,000.
The price gave Amelia and Ben a point of comparison, and solidified their preference for the third home.
Knowing that the vendors had accepted a $950,000 offer, Bryce proposed a $930,000 to $950,000 price for the home. Amelia and Ben decided to put in a $920,000 bid, and were happy to play the waiting game.
However, so was the vendor, who rejected the bid. Amelia and Ben pushed up their offer to $945,000 - which, after a few days of waiting, was accepted by the vendor.
By knowing the previous offers put in on the house, Amelia and Ben were able to gauge the vendor's needs, securing the home for $55,000 under the asking price.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Location Location Location: Big moves and big decisions

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Shaynna Blaze will front Nine’s silly new property series Buying Blind.
The show features buyers who hand over their life-savings to others to secure their home.
Buying Blind was originally aired on <a href="https://redarrow.tv/broadcasters-get-the-keys-to-red-arrow-internationals-buying-blind/" target="_blank">Danish television</a> - made by the same production company behind the Married At First Sight.
The Block/Selling Houses Australia expert will be joined by buyer’s agent, Rich Harvey and builder, Marshal Keen.
Some have dubbed it Mortgage at First Sight.
“Buying a home is the biggest investment a couple will ever make together, so I couldn’t be more excited to join these couples on their journey to find, build and design their dream home,” said Blaze.
Nine’s Head of Content Production and Development, Adrian Swift, said the show had "unlucky house-hunters who take the ultimate leap of faith".
It’s marketed as edge-of-the-seat drama with the biggest reveal on TV.
Mark Fennessy, CEO of Endemol Shine Australia, the series producers says Buying Blind is a high-stakes property thriller.
An airdate is yet to be announced.
The show's moment of truth comes when the family must decide whether to grant the experts power of attorney over their life-savings to buy a house on their behalf.
The experts then start house-hunting, culminating in them putting in an offer, negotiating the price and completing the purchase.
Then the family are taken to the property, blindfolded, and their new house is revealed to them for the first time.
Disappointment often ensues; and then the experts spend some of the client's money for renovations.
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MAFS for property: Buying Blind to take property television to new lows

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Gav and Waz, one of the competing couples in the first series of Channel Nine’s The Block back in 2003, are coming back to the city from the Byron Bay hinterland.
Title Tattle gleans they have spent about $2.25 million on a poolside Potts Point apartment.
It had to be ground floor garden given their dog, Charlie is a priority. The Richardson and Wrench agent Jason Boon showed them the ground-floor apartment in Rockwall Gardens, which was then sold by the architect Deece Giles.The Jack Russell had apparently been in residence round the corner at the Diamant Hotel since they all left the 23 hectare farm.
The Designer Boys <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/nsw/26473-gav-and-waz-list-charltons-their-byron-bay-hinterland-retreat-at-31-million&amp;sa=U&amp;ei=I-w9U57kIsS3kAXluoHgDQ&amp;ved=0CAYQFjAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;usg=AFQjCNHR4eOr9iBBP-8V35IdGDV7TUqYmA" target="_blank">recently sold Charltons</a>, through Nicolette van Wijngaarden at Unique Estates for $3 million to the Garnham family of Watsons Bay. It was a 120 year old farmhouse on a hillside block (pictured above), which they bought in 2007 for $610,000.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34" style="font-size: 14px; margin: 5px; float: left;">
Meanwhile Dan Reilly and Dani Wales have secured $429,500 for their one-bedroom Ark, Richmond apartment which they moved into while debuting on The Block in 2012 renovating terraces in South Melbourne.
The reality TV celebrity couple - with the twitter handle <a href="https://twitter.com/DaniandDan" target="_blank">@DaniandDan</a> - had it listed through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-richmond-115965119" target="_blank">Justine Harris of Hocking Stuart</a> with a $439,000 asking price.
They paid $420,000 off the plan in late 2010, settling in late 2011, just before they moved into the derelict Cameron Street, Richmond Block set.
Melbourne unit prices have recently come in at a $448,000 median, according to the latest RP Data-Rismark index with prices up 8.9% across Melbourne just in the past year. The RP Data median unit price in 2011 was around $424,000.
Designed by Fender Katsalidis Architects, the 114/253 Bridge Road apartment has open-plan living and dining along with an outdoor entertaining area.
<img src="/images/2014/04/04/richmond%20april%203%20one.jpg" alt="">
The current <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Richmond</a> median unit price is around $522,500, up 3% over the past year. <a href="https://mail.privatemedia.com.au/owa/14.3.174.1/scripts/premium/UrlBlockedError.aspx" target="_blank">There was a $525,000 median peak in 2011</a>.
Dani Wales runs the online magazine <a href="https://mail.privatemedia.com.au/owa/14.3.174.1/scripts/premium/redir.aspx?C=Zypvoq-Ft0-Zo--uD2WkVVUBMIcZI9EIgvcF3B5QsaRmMoZQ3xffbBvdZwi7mrZ-nA6Kk5sm-Ps.&amp;URL=http%3a%2f%2fthehome-journal.com%2f" target="_blank">The Home Journal</a>.
Dan Reilly works as a carpenter while studying to be a builder.
They bought a 114-year-old property in Seddon <a href="https://mail.privatemedia.com.au/owa/14.3.174.1/scripts/premium/UrlBlockedError.aspx" target="_blank" title="UrlBlockedError.aspx
Cmd+Click to follow link">in May last year</a> which needs renovating. It was secured for around $460,000 which was less than its previous $480,000 purchase in 2009.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34">The filming of the next Block series in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Prahran</a> has begun. Title Tattle gleans there's a mystery former professional sports star among the contestants who are installing apartments in <a href="/news/28637-the-block-shifting-to-high-street-prahran-after-objectors-fail-to-lodge-vcat-appeal" target="_blank">a former High Street office complex</a>.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" alt="flagtitletat" width="25" height="34">An apartment that took second place in the 2004 series of The Block goes to auction this month in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/property-observer" target="_blank">Manly</a>. It is the second time the two-bedroom pad in Manly has traded since it sold for $872,000 in front of the cameras on behalf of renovators Jason and Kirsten Johnson. Title Tattle recalls all four of the Whistler Street units sold after renovation for silly prices.
This apartment last sold at $882,000 in 2008, so it went up $10,000 in the first four years following its renovation. 
It's now a decade later and Chris Boys, director of strategy and solutions at Dun and Bradstreet, has hopes of more than $1 million. That's around 2% growth over the past six years. 
The Whistler Street block of four was the location for the second series of the popular TV show, won by Andrew Rochford and Jamie Nicholson. Now coming with updated finishes, the garden apartment goes to auction on April 12 through Jason Pantzer, of Philips Pantzer Donnelley.
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Gav and Waz from the Block spend $2.25 million on Potts Point apartment

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The rookie renovators took out the $100,000 prize on top of a $636,000 profit on the series finale of The Block: Fans v Faves.
Despite copping the lion’s share of the criticism this season, Geelong couple Steve O’Donnell and Chantelle Ford attracted the highest price for their warehouse conversion which sold for $2.47 million.
All four apartments on The Block sold within a relatively small price margin, with Brad and Dale bringing up the rear with $2.31 million.
The results were as follows:
<ol>
<li>Steve and Chantelle, 1/47 O’Grady: $2.47 million ($636,000 above the adjusted reserve)</li>
<li>Alisa and Lysandra, 3/47 O’Grady: $2.375 million ($616,000 above the adjusted reserve)</li>
<li>Kyal and Kara, 2/47 O’Grady: $2.44 million ($567,250 above the adjusted reserve)</li>
<li>Brad and Dale, 4/47 O’Grady: $2.31 million ($507,250 above the adjusted reserve)</li>
</ol>
The top two teams would hardly have minded losing the final challenge to Kyal, Kara, Brad and Dale, who got $27,250 lopped off their reserve price against the twins’ and Steve and Chantelle’s $16,000 reserve cut.
Steve and Chantelle originally preferred apartment 2 for its city views, but after losing a coin toss to Kyal and Kara, chose apartment 1. While Kyal and Kara’s apartment at 2/47 offers both a sunny northerly aspect and city views, 1/47 also sits at the northern street side of the warehouse, with the advantage of windows all along the building’s western side.
Despite the team’s inexperience and the criticisms levelled against their styling credentials, the apartment’s stellar location had them take out the major prize. As one property expert commented, “You can change the furnishings, but you can’t change the aspect.”
But it seemed that perhaps one of the greatest factors at play was the order in which the auctions took place, with prices ascending with each successive auction. Each team nominated their position in the proceedings, with Brad and Dale choosing to go first, followed by Kyal and Kara, then Alisa and Lysandra before Steve and Chantelle.
By volunteering for final position, the winning couple were able to take advantage of buyer desperation with all other apartments already sold.
Proceedings opened with Brad and Dale’s apartment, auctioned by Karl Gillon of Buxton Albert Park. A vendor bid was placed at $1.75 million, finishing at $2.31 million. Kyal and Kara’s apartment was auctioned by Warwick Gardiner of Greg Hocking Holdsworth, who brought in $2.44 million for the married couple. Next was Alisa and Lysandra’s tri-level, auctioned by Anton Wongtraken of Dingle Partners, who handled the sale of their winning apartment on The Block: Sky High. 
Steve and Chantelle’s auction by David Wood of Hocking Stuart saw two buyers’ agents locked in a bidding war, with Block mainstay Frank Valentic of Advantage Property Consulting securing the final apartment for a young couple at $2.47 million. The result makes Steve and Chantelle's profit margin the highest ever seen in The Block's 11 year history.
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Substance over style as Chantelle and Steve win The Block 2014 Fans V Faves

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There’s less than a week until the four apartments of The Block: Fans v Faves go up for auction, and fan team Kyal and Kara are in great shape to take out the big prize. With experience and some serious dollars on their side, the so-called Super Ks have carried out a veritable blitzkrieg on their Block competitors.
This week, the couple added their rooftop terrace to their room win list, which stretches longer than that of any other team this season. Their huge terrace not only boasted the best fittings, including a mirrored splashback and granite benchtops in their outdoor kitchen, but also city views. 
According to carpenter Kyal, the terrace is the highlight of their apartment.
“We’re probably the most proud of our rooftop terrace,” said Kyal. “That’s part of the reason we picked that apartment, just because it had that aspect and that view. We worked really hard on it and have done something really amazing, and hopefully that’s reflected on the auction day.”
With a slightly smaller downstairs living area than the other teams, the Ks have thrown all they have into the upstairs terrace space, and it shows. <a href="/expert-insights/29568-the-block-on-show-at-this-weekend-s-open-for-inspection" target="_blank">On open for inspection day</a>, it was the only terrace that didn’t feel crowded despite the masses of spectators, with ample cooking, dining and living space.
Kyal says that if the couple had their time again, they wouldn’t change any of their decisions.
“We often ask ourselves what we would do if we had the opportunity to pick another apartment,” he said. “But we keep coming back to that aspect and that view. The downstairs terrace has really amazing arched windows at the front – we’re so glad we picked that apartment.”
Thanks to a killer run throughout the competition, the Ks have managed to collect a tidy sum of prize money which was poured back into their property.
“We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved, and received a lot of good feedback, especially with the finishes. We’ve obviously pumped an extra $50,000 into our apartment, so we’ve been able to get high quality furnishings, high quality appliances,” said Kyal.
But it wasn’t just the extra money that put Kyal and Kara ahead of the pack. As a carpenter, Kyal brought his construction experience to the competition which, along with Kara’s formidable design chops, gave the team an edge.
“Being a carpenter helped us out a lot, especially with time. The other teams would have to stop when their builders went home, but we could keep going round the clock if we needed to,” said Kyal.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t all easy for the team, who struggled along with all the other contestants with The Block’s punishing schedule.
“The toughest week was the week we did the loungeroom/dining room hallway and virtually completed the entire downstairs, and then did the upstairs. That was back to back. So finishing off the interiors was the toughest thing. Especially with the stairwell - we had all the timber work going up the stairwell, going 10 metres high.”
As for life after Tuesday’s auction, the couple are planning to launch a boutique renovations company called Diverse Design and Construct. Kyal says that the couple are considering a move from their home by Tuggerah Lakes on New South Wale’s central coast.
“We haven’t thought about it too seriously, but our long term goal is to get ourselves as close to the coast as possible. So we’re thinking about selling, maybe in the next 12 months.
“Obviously we’ve put so much work into renovating our own home though, so it might be tough to see that go.”
Kyal and Kara’s apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-albert+park-116390163" target="_blank">2/47 O’Grady Street, Albert Park </a>will be selling at auction on Tuesday April 8.
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Kyal Demmrich on the trials and triumphs of The Block

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After months of watching the four teams of The Block: Fans v Faves battle it out to produce the best apartment, viewers will tomorrow night finally get to see which property beats the rest.
Closure will come a little earlier for the contestants themselves, with the Albert Park apartments going up for auction at 5pm tonight. While there will be plenty of spectators, Property Observer guesses that self-represented buyers won’t be the major bidders of tonight’s auction.
The big players are likely to be the usual suspects of Melbourne’s buyers’ agent scene. Frank Valentic of Advantage Property Consulting will be there; the buyers’ agent has been <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankValentic" target="_blank">busy on Twitter</a>, posting pictures of himself and his kids with contestant Dale and host Scott Cam on his tour of the apartments. 
Viewers may remember Frank from last year’s The Block: Sky High, where he bid on all five apartments, successfully securing the final apartment renovated by Matt and Kim for a single woman from Glen Iris.
As for which team will win, the final result will be anyone’s guess.
KYAL AND KARA
<blockquote>
Kyal and Kara's- First impressions count, and this might not cut it. 
</blockquote>
While Kyal and Kara’s apartment at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/2-47-o-grady-street-albert-park/Property-Details-buy-residential-6831567?gclid=CMW7svjcz70CFUchpQodXVkA9Q" target="_blank">2/47 O’Grady Street</a> (pictured below) has the best upstairs terrace by far, with high quality finishings, their living area feels the smallest of all the four apartments. While we noted <a href="/expert-insights/29568-the-block-on-show-at-this-weekend-s-open-for-inspection" target="_blank">after the open for inspection</a> that this wasn’t such a bad thing, first impressions do count with buyers – and two storeys up is a long way to travel for the eventual return.
<img src="/images/2014/04/08/2%2047%20albert%20park%20april%208%20one.jpg" alt="">
ALISA AND LYSANDRA
<blockquote>
Alisa and Lysandra's- Light-filled but perhaps not one for emotional buyers.
</blockquote>
The twins’ <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-albert+park-116350463" target="_blank">apartment at 3/47</a> (pictured below) makes itself known immediately upon entering, with its huge light filled kitchen. However, the void is compensating for the apartment’s south-west aspect, and eats up space from the bedrooms. While the finishings in their apartment are high quality, the bedroom spaces in particular do feel quite cold, which may turn off emotional buyers.
<img src="/images/2014/04/08/1.jpg" alt="">
STEVE AND CHANTELLE
<blockquote>
Steve and Chantelle's- Despite teething problems, there's value to be had. 
</blockquote>
While Steve and Chantelle’s struggles were well documented on-screen, in reality <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-sale/apartment-unit-flat/vic/albert-park/?adid=2011049155" target="_blank">their apartment</a> (pictured below) has a great northerly aspect and is well planned. While some of the furnishings and styling choices may read a little tacky, a smart buyer with value in mind will disregard the superficial details of 1/47 and recognise its underlying value.
<img src="/images/2014/04/08/15.jpg" alt="">
BRAD AND DALE
<blockquote>
Brad and Dale's- Leaves a strong impression and is a strong contender.
</blockquote>
Brad and Dale’s <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/4-47-o-grady-street-albert-park/Property-Details-buy-residential-6799205" target="_blank">apartment at 4/47</a> (pictured below) is clean, bright, and makes a strong impression. In particular, its living room and kitchen area feels expansive, with high ceilings and bright décor. The boys have been smart to accentuate the size of their kitchen and living areas and their master bedroom. 
<img src="/images/2014/04/08/3.jpg" alt="">
At Property Observer, our money is on Brad and Dale, on the strength of their living and kitchen spaces and terrace views, with Steve and Chantelle's bright apartment coming in second.
Before tomorrow's finale, brush up on The Block with our highlights from the season:
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/29847-the-block-fan-v-faves-kyal-speaks-about-his-experience" target="_blank">Kyal Demmrich on the trials and triumphs of The Block</a>
<a href="/expert-insights/29568-the-block-on-show-at-this-weekend-s-open-for-inspection" target="_blank">The Block on show at this weekend's open for inspection </a>
<a href="finding/29540-the-block-fan-v-faves-open-for-inspection-this-weekend" target="_blank">Open for inspection: The Block Fans v Faves doors open to the public this weekend</a>
<a href="/news/29125-raw-timber-and-red-brick-industrial-design-on-the-block" target="_blank">Raw timber and red brick: Industrial design on The Block</a>
<a href="/news/28804-2014-02-12-23-42-55?limitstart=0" target="_blank">Art styles for apartment décor: Lessons from The Block</a>
<a href="/news/28648-creating-the-perfect-new-york-style-loft-lessons-from-the-block?limitstart=0" target="_blank">Creating the perfect New York style loft: Lessons from The Block</a>
<a href="/news/vic/28614-five-lessons-from-last-nights-the-block-fans-vs-faves" target="_blank">Five renovation lessons from last night's The Block: Fans v Faves</a>
 
 
 
 
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On the auction Block: Our faves for the finale

<html><body>
The Lifestyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia will return next year, with filming currently taking place.
It seems filming for the new season began at the start of this month, with host Andrew Winters tweeting the following:
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/sha1.JPG" alt="">
As always, the locations for the new season are a tightly held secret, but Winters offers a little clue with this tweet:
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/sha2.JPG" alt="">
Winter, along with interior designer and The Block judge Shaynna Blaze and landscape designer Charlie Albone, will be helping home owners who are desperate to sell their properties, which might be struggling to attract buyers due to poor staging, bad conditions or the sellers’ attitudes.
Winter has been in the real estate business since he was 17, selling homes in Central London and Australia and imported his television franchise from England, where he was the host of Selling Houses – he was also the host of another spin off, Selling Houses Abroad.
Blaze is also a familiar face in renovation reality TV as a judge on The Block, with Belle Magazine editor-in-chief Neale Whittaker and interior designer Darren Palmer. Not to be beaten by Winter and Blaze, Albone has hosted other Lifestyle Channel shows including The Party Garden and Charlie and the Flower Show.
Selling Houses Australia makes a point of tackling particularly difficult to sell houses, including the three bedroom <a href="/news/nt/26092-sept-11-flicker-selling-houses-australia-andrew-winter-renovated-rapid-creek-darwin-penthouse-sells" target="_blank">apartment of boilermaker Robert Crispe</a>, which even Winter couldn’t  help - the home failed to sell at its filmed auction. 
If you have a home you’re hoping to offload, applications for the show are open through the <a href="https://www.lifestyle.com.au/tv/selling-houses-australia/apply/" target="_blank">Lifestyle Channel’s website</a>.
The application reads:
“Can't sell your home and need a makeover from the team? We want to hear from you!
“Selling Houses Australia are always searching for homes that will offer fresh challenges for the team. They've been hit with just about every real estate nightmare from on site pylons to flood affected homes, to inner city hovels but there are always more testing property scenarios out there and more home owners in unique circumstances.
“So, if your home is stagnating on the market with no buyer in sight then register now. Try to be as specific as possible with your dilemma whether it be location, décor, or an urgent need for a sale.
“Please note: your house must be on the market to qualify and must remain on the market after the makeover until it sells."
Applicants are asked to provide their contact details, descriptions of their home and its selling history (including the time it’s been on market, the agent’s details and the house price). They are also asked whether they are Foxtel subscribers. 
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