Photo: Supplied
National Property Editor at Domain and The Block’s resident property expert, Alice Stolz knows a thing or two about auctions in Australia. Now, as The Block contestants crawl their way to the finish line, anxiously awaiting the day when their fates are decided between the buyers and the gavel, the focus has shifted from on-screen drama to the real test: how they will fare on auction day.
For Alice, this is more than just a television finale. This is the day we see how the contestants’ efforts translate into real-world results, and get valuable insight into how Australians really feel about regional property. “We’re seeing millennials doing a mass exodus to areas like Daylesford, which has that opportunity to take more of the overflow from Melbourne,” Alice told Australian House and Garden in an exclusive interview. “They’re going there for the affordability, but they stay for the lifestyle – it’s less of a tree change and more of a permanent migration. That will only continue as [inner-city] house prices continue to rise.”
Here, Alice Stolz shares her insights on what truly determines auction day success on The Block, what goes on behind the scenes, and the key lessons any renovator can take away.
Who will be at The Block auctions in 2025?
Following Adrian’s shock announcement last year that he will be saying goodbye to The Block, the question on everyone’s lips is: who of The Block’s other big investors will be returning in 2025? “We may see more traditional buyers stepping forward,” Alice says. “The agents will be actively nurturing and following up every lead, separating the tyre-kickers from serious buyers. It’s also their role to help nurture prospective buyers and convert them into people willing to bid.”
But, given the recent increase to land tax in Victoria, it’s uncertain if investors will continue to see The Block as prosperous an endeavour as they have in the past. “When you look at just how taxed it is around property at the moment, what it’s done is push investors out, and they’ve looked elsewhere,” says Alice. “I think it’s a very inhospitable environment [for investors] in Victoria, and there’ll be a period where it is a sizable problem for people.”
“But, a lot can change in the weeks leading up to the auctions.”
How to make the most profit on The Block
Even though The Block houses each have the same price guide of $3-$3.3 million, it’s clear that on auction day they’ll all fare very differently. Alice says there are three main components that affect your sale price at auction: “accessibility, the size of the land and location”, but considering that The Block homes each sit on near identical blocks, it’s the interiors that will make all the difference on the day.
Learning from last year’s results, while 2024 winners Maddy and Charlotte’s external-access guest wing “undoubtedly helped them do better at auction” it was their design neutrality that benefitted them the most. “Maddy and Charlotte’s property probably had the most neutral and universal appeal – it was neutral, unpolarising both physically and on paper.”
“They had an understanding of not adding your own personality and how that can really work in your favour,” the property expert muses. “It’s really hard when renovators just can’t look away from what they love themselves. Really successful renovations, even a lot of flip properties, are possible because people can step back and say, ‘This is not about me’.”
Is regional property a harder sell?
While the Phillip Island holiday resort proved a challenge to sell, Alice predicts an easier road ahead for the Daylesford auctions. “Regional can be more challenging, simply because most of our population is based in capital cities, but the dream of living in a place like Daylesford is stronger than ever.”
“What made it challenging last year was that it was in a more remote location that just wasn’t as obvious to investors. Melbournians see [Daylesford] as a much more commutable area: it’s near the airport, it’s not as far from the city, the roads and infrastructure there are more established, and it’s definitely a more obvious tourist destination. Investors are always looking at those elements: infrastructure, proximity, location, and travel time,” Alice says.
“We’re definitely in a phase of life where people say, ‘I don’t want to have a big job in the city. I don’t want to hustle all the time, and I want to have a more balanced life’.
ALICE STOLZ, DOMAIN PROPERTY EXPERT
“Regional areas are getting better and better. These homes are in a unique location, and offer something completely different from anything else that has ever been on the market there, so you never know where an eventual buyer will come from. It could be a family making a lifestyle change, a downsizer looking for something turnkey, or a passive buyer who is not even currently in the market, but sees one of the houses, falls in love and knows they have to have it. I’m constantly astounded at how often this happens in property.”
Who will win The Block 2025?
When asked who she thought could take out the prize on auction day, The Block insider Alice refused to name names. Rather, she said, “It will be the house that attracts the most genuine and emotional buyers. That comes down to how well the contestants have planned, executed and been disciplined but also creative. It’s a fine balancing act!”
So, what does this mean for you?
The popularity of The Block is no coincidence; it’s indicative of Australians’ keen interest in renovation, property flipping, and the art of creating a life that you will enjoy. As Alice puts it, “A home is not just about the value, there’s a quality of life that comes with it. How you live in that place changes everything – to me, that is priceless.”
Tour The Block 2025 houses
