The Block 2020: Frank Valentic, Nicole Jacobs predict the winner
Will this weekend’s Block auctions soar to success or be stunted by COVID? The show’s experts have declared what they expect to happen and who they think will win the Brighton series.
The Block Brighton is tipped to be another roaring success for the hit reno series, with the properties ready to go under the hammer this weekend.
But the auctions will look a lot different as the show works within coronavirus restrictions.
The Block regular buyers’ advocate Frank Valentic said only seven registered bidders would be permitted into the auction room and they’d be forced to cough up $5000 to register to bid.
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But he believed the limited numbers wouldn’t stop each Block house selling under the hammer on Saturday – a day before the show’s final airs.
“Demand for family homes is strong in bayside suburbs at the moment and they are of limited supply,” Mr Valentic said.
“If the reserves are at the lower end of the price range, as they have been in recent years, there’s every chance we’ll see similar successful results.”
He said “young upsizing families” had been most interested in the houses, valued at $3.2-$3.4m.
After taking more than 100 buyers through the homes, Mr Valentic said Luke and Jasmin’s Federation-style abode was a frontrunner to be crowned winner.
“The overall feel is neutral, light and bright and there’s a really good style about it,” he said.
“Another dark horse would be (Melbourne team) Harry and Tash, who have also had a lot of good feedback about their living room. It’s the biggest on The Block and it flows out to a great entertaining courtyard.”
But winners were often decided by auction order, which had previously favoured houses that were first to go under the hammer.
“House five (Jimmy and Tam) get the chance to decide what the auction order will be, so they almost hold their own destiny in their hands,” Mr Valentic said.
It’s an important decision for the Queensland couple, who haven’t had quite as much interest on their 1950s-style house.
“While all the houses have positives, buyers are probably saying that house five is not for them the most,” Mr Valentic said.
“A few people said it’s not really blending in with Brighton period homes in the area … but it has had some really positive feedback from others as well.”
Competing buyers’ advocate Nicole Jacobs, who recently sold her own Hampton home to The Block, said Jimmy and Tam’s mid-century-inspired home was her personal favourite.
But Harry and Tash’s light-filled home had attracted the most attention during the sales campaign.
“I also love the story of Sarah and George coming home strong with their property … it could be a dark horse,” Ms Jacobs said.
“But we won’t really know until later in the week when we know the depth of buyers on each of the houses and the all-important auction order.”
She expected all five properties to sell under the hammer, with competition fuelled by the stock shortage.
“There are homeowners as well as investors interested in these properties … there has obviously been a Brighton contingent interested as well,” she said.
“But buyers are looking from far and wide, with many of them wanting a sea-change after coronavirus.”
The five auctions will be held behind closed doors on Saturday before all is revealed in The Block finale on Sunday night.
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Originally published as The Block 2020: Frank Valentic, Nicole Jacobs predict the winner