Rick and Tayla followed at $4.355 million, ahead of Lisa and Rosco at $4 million, Adam and Jolene at $3.905 million, and Chantel and Wyatt at $3.817 million.
For WHITEFOX founder and CEO, and The Block judge, Marty Fox, the results demonstrated how property, presentation, campaign strategy, price expectations and auction execution must work together.
“A great home gives you something to sell. A great campaign gives buyers a reason to inspect. The agents build relationships, answer questions and help people get into a position to bid,” Fox said. “Then the auctioneer has to read the crowd, manage the pressure and work for every extra dollar.”
Courtney and Sev’s campaign attracted a reported 17 registered bidders, giving auctioneer Paul Tzamalis a strong platform from which to build competition. That depth of interest reflected the work completed well before auction day.
But competition does not always translate into fast bidding. Lisa and Rosco’s auction stretched to almost 45 minutes, at times progressing in increments of just $100, before reaching $4 million.
It was a clear demonstration of the patience and judgement required from auctioneers and agents: knowing when to maintain momentum, when to give a buyer room to think and when to keep working for the next bid.
“An auctioneer’s job goes well beyond calling out numbers,” Fox said. “There’s timing, negotiation and an understanding of people. Sometimes the most valuable work happens when the bidding slows.”
The homes themselves remained central to the outcome. Houses one, two and three offered bay views, while houses four and five had larger sites and ultimately achieved the two highest prices. Land, accommodation, functional layouts and the way each property worked as a complete home all influenced its appeal.
“As judges, we assess the rooms each week. Buyers look at how the whole property comes together,” Fox said. “They’re thinking about where the kids sleep, how the living spaces connect and whether the home suits their life.”
When a property gets these fundamentals right, buyers are more likely to form an emotional attachment and compete strongly, even in more challenging market conditions.
Courtney and Sev’s win also illustrated the difference between preference and purchasing intent. Despite finishing last in the Domain Buyers Jury, they achieved the highest sale price. Feedback remains useful, but prospective purchasers bring their own budgets, requirements and priorities.
The published reserves provided another important ingredient. At $3.45 million per property, buyers had a clear reference point before bidding began. Every home ultimately sold above that level.
The results cannot be attributed to reserves alone. The Block’s national exposure, the quality of the homes, marketing, buyer follow-up and the skill of the selling teams all played a role. Achievable expectations helped those elements translate into participation.
“Buyers need to believe a deal is possible before they commit their time and energy,” Fox said. “You can have exceptional presentation and plenty of interest, but expectations still need to be grounded in the market.”
The Block operates in a distinctive selling environment, and contestant winnings above reserve should not be confused with conventional development profits. Its national platform also makes direct comparisons with everyday property sales difficult.
For sellers, however, the lesson is practical: a strong result is built through preparation, presentation, informed pricing and a team capable of converting interest into competition.
“The result starts well before auction day,” Fox said. “Every inspection, every follow-up call and every buyer question matters. When that work comes together, you give the auctioneer the best opportunity to deliver.”
