The Block auctions are upon us for 2020. The reality renovation series is one of the biggest shows on Australian TV. And this year it has been one of the most challenging seasons yet. 

Along with four other couples, Sarah and George are getting ready for The Block auctions. They’ve built a beautiful home in Melbourne’s bayside suburb of Brighton. It has been home to one of the most difficult years in the show’s long history. Interrupted by the pandemic, contestants were also required to pre-order everything they needed for the whole build after just a few weeks. What a massive job!

It didn’t stop any of them from delivering great properties. Sarah and George renovated a 1940’s bungalow alongside four other homes from the 1910s through to the 1950s. They have done a beautiful job with interiors, exteriors and gardens that are on point for the Melbourne market. And Sarah and George are in the running to win the major prize at The Block auctions if they make the most profit on the sale of their property.

The houses have indicative price guides ranging between $3.2 million and $3.4 million, which according to Domain is at least $400,000 above Brighton’s median house price of $2,617,500.

So in this episode of At Home with Lauren Keenan, Lauren and Scott find out how Sarah and George are feeling, just how hard it was and what they loved most about being on the show.

Thanks for listening to our award-winning home, lifestyle and interior design podcast. Stream the show here now. Or subscribe in your favourite podcast app like Spotify, iHeartRadio or Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. 

A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR SARAH AND GEORGE ON THE BLOCK

Sarah and George have told us how proud they are of what they’ve achieved on the show this year. 

“Probably one of the best things we can experience now is watching people coming through to buy your home and seeing their reaction. And they say ‘the photos just don’t do it justice’. You’re so passionate about it. It’s not my house, but I feel like it’s my house,” George said. 

For Sarah, who sadly was unable to attend her grandmother’s funeral because of the pandemic, it was a very different experience to what she had imagined. 

“I do have to admit we all copped it on the chin. It’s a testimony not only to us but the crew, the cameramen and the other contestants that we all just did our very best,” she said.. 

“It was a really rough time in the world and it was nice to see us all working together to get it done. And it was just in the nick of time. When we finished, we got sent home and Melbourne went into Stage 4 lockdown. 

“It’s just crazy because even now we didn’t know if we were able to come back? Would we have auctions that were virtual? It’s a very very different experience but we’re doing the very best we can and we’re enjoying it for what it is.”

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE BLOCK 2021

The final episode of The Block 2020 airs Sunday night at 7 o’clock on Channel Nine. That’s when you can see all the drama from The Block auctions. Or you can catch up on the whole 2020 series on Nine Now.

We will be following the results of the auctions closely, especially after the challenges in Melbourne this year from coronavirus.

“The property market in Melbourne has been hit really hard by the pandemic and the lockdowns there. These are luxury properties with big price tags. But hopefully it gives things a push along and we start seeing more activity in the southern capital before Christmas,” Lauren said. 

The Block starts shooting the next season in February. The show will feature five houses again in 2021, but the twist is that they’ve bought existing homes in a cul-de-sac. If you think you’ve got what it takes to tackle the biggest renovation reality TV show on the planet, check out the application forms now on the Nine website.

MORE ABOUT OUR PODCAST

If you’ve been listening to us for a while, you might have noticed our new podcast artwork!

Our award-winning interior design podcast, hosted by Sydney interior stylist Lauren Keenan, is now in its fifth year. Lauren and Producer Scott are helping you to adapt to new ways of doing things during the pandemic. And we want to keep helping you create a home you love.  

Get in touch if you have a topic you want us to talk about on At Home with Lauren Keenan. Rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts. And subscribe in your favourite podcast app like Spotify or iHeartRadio so you never miss an episode.  

And if you want to hire Lauren to help create your perfect home email lauren@laurenkeenan.com.au. Find out more about the services offered at Lauren Keenan Home and check out Lauren’s portfolio of work for some inspiration. And thanks for listening!