The Block 2026 auction is right on the horizon, so speculation is mounting over which team will walk away with the highest profit.
Courtney and Sev have dominated the competition, securing six room wins. However, Adam and Jolene are emerging as auction favourites, with experts tipping that their luxe finishes and spectacular views will attract deep-pocketed buyers.
Lisa and Rosco are another strong contender, while Chantel and Wyatt’s designs have failed to impress the judges, along with Rick and Tayla, although the father-daughter duo did secure a coveted $50,000 reserve reduction.
So who will win on auction day? Chris Carroll of TLC Interiors has thrown a massive spanner in the works.
He told Chattr in an exclusive interview that the race will actually be between consistent performers Courtney and Sev (House 4) and underdogs Tayla and Rick (House 5).
“We have to take the home’s orientation on the block into account. Houses 4 and 5 have the better block orientation in terms of how you arrive at the home,” Chris told Chattr.
“Those blocks alone are going to sell those homes first. I predict the other three will struggle more, and it’s through no fault of their own. Houses 1, 2 and 3 all have an odd feel in terms of how you arrive at the home. The pools feel like they’re in the front yard in full view of the street.”
The interior designer even believes that Rick and Tayla will be the first to sell. “Overall, I think Rick and Tayla’s will sell first. The outdoor zones are insanely good.”
Chris feels that despite their consistent low scores, buyers will be impressed by Rick and Tayla’s stunning exteriors. “Rick and Tayla’s home is going to be the surprise. While a lot of their internal living spaces and bedrooms felt sub-par, their front and backyards are stunning. I predict a buyer will be so wowed by those zones that they’ll forgive some of the issues in bedrooms,” Chris told Chattr.
He added that some of Tayla’s debatable stylistic choices are not going to dissuade buyers. “It’s easy to fix a bad curtain or change some wallpaper. But the outside areas involve bigger changes that will feel more daunting for a buyer,” he said.
“There’s nothing that needs tweaking in Rick and Tayla’s outdoor spaces. They make an incredible first impression and sell the dream.”
Interior designer picks which The Block team deserved to win
Chris did want to highlight one team he believed showed the most improvement during their time on the renovation show — and he thinks their win would be the most deserved.
“I feel Lisa and Rosco listened each week and tweaked their rooms based on the judges’ feedback, so they deserve it in my books. That said, the most well-designed or stylised home (or the one the judges love the most) tends to make no difference to how the home sells,” he added.
“Often it’s the size of the land, how the homes are oriented on the block and more that come into play. The teams with the better layouts will sell for more.”
The Block airs on Channel 9 and streams on 9Now.
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