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Bianca Chatfield sells Kew apartment where she ‘got the bug’ for renovating

Ex-Diamonds netballer and The Block contestant Bianca Chatfield has scored more property success, with the Kew apartment where she “got the bug” for renovating selling for a premium price.

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Aussie netballer-turned-renovation expert Bianca Chatfield has netted a deal for her Kew apartment.

The former Block contestant sold her first property purchase at 12/16 Grace Court before its scheduled auction on December 7.

The Agency director Peter Kakos said the home sold for $695,000, well above the $590,000-$620,000 price guide.

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Bianca Chatfield’s Kew apartment sold for $695,000.
Bianca Chatfield’s Kew apartment sold for $695,000.
The netballer used her skills from The Block to update it before sale.
The netballer used her skills from The Block to update it before sale.

“There were a number of offers that triggered a bit of a boardroom auction,” Mr Kakos said.

“But two parties in particular fought it out.”

A downsizer beat out other owner occupiers, including first-home buyers, for the keys of the two-bedroom pad.

Mr Kakos said Chatfield’s impressive renovation made a “huge difference” to the campaign.

A new kitchen inside.
A new kitchen inside.
Outdoor space on the balcony.
Outdoor space on the balcony.

“Buyers really appreciated the quality of the updates that were done, so they could literally move right in,” he said.

“There was very little investor interest in this home, with almost only owner-occupiers looking to buy it.”

The ex-Australian Diamonds player transformed the apartment over the years, with a new kitchen and bathroom part of the package.

The apartment was in a small block.
The apartment was in a small block.
The bathroom also had a facelift.
The bathroom also had a facelift.

She said the apartment had “grey walls, grey ceiling, grey carpet and grey tiles” when she first bought it in 2008.

“I purchased it when I was about 25 and it was a huge investment for me back then,” Chatfield said.

“It was also my first experience with renovating and where I got the bug … but I was on a much smaller budget back then and painted the walls with my family and replaced the carpet myself.”

Chatfield teamed up with and Carla Dziwoki on The Block. Picture: Jason Edwards
Chatfield teamed up with and Carla Dziwoki on The Block. Picture: Jason Edwards

Her “new skills” learnt on The Block with netball teammate Carla Dziwoki encouraged her to update the property again using before listing it.

Chatfield remains on the hunt for a terrace house in Bayside to become her “next renovation project”.

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Originally published as Bianca Chatfield sells Kew apartment where she ‘got the bug’ for renovating

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/melbourne-vic/bianca-chatfield-sells-kew-apartment-where-she-got-the-bug-for-renovating/news-story/3a39b7dd1321f726e381e5f413885140