The Block 2018: Bianca and Carla's penthouse price increases, now most expensive

The penthouse apartment renovated on The Block by Bianca and Carla has received so much interest from buyers that the agents managing the sale have increased the indicative selling range price, pushing it to the highest in the series this year.

The Agency Melbourne’s general manager Peter Kakos, the agent for apartment 5/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda at The Gatwick, said the price was increased from between $2.5 million and $2.7 million to between $2.6 million and $2.8 million. The rise in price comes a week before the auctions next Saturday.

Bianca and Carla’s three-bedroom, two-bathroom top-level apartment is now priced above fellow penthouse contestants Norm and Jess. Their price range remains $2.55 million to $2.75 million, which was the most expensive asking price. There is no word yet whether they will also revise the price.

The cheapest is still Courtney and Hans’ apartment — 2/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda — with a range of between $2.2 million and $2.4 million.

“We want to remain transparent with our clients and potential buyers,” Mr Kakos said on Friday.

He said conversations with interested buyers had seen a rethink in the price.

“There have been so many people inspecting the property and around half a dozen are showing solid interest,” he said.

“The buyers still play their cards pretty close to their chests, but from the open conversations we’ve had, we feel a marginal price rise was right.

“We’re just going to push it a bit.”

View the five Gatwick apartments for sale:

• Kerrie and Spence: 1/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Hans and Courtney: 2/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Sara and Hayden: 3/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Norm and Jess: 4/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda
• Bianca and Carla: 5/34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

Mr Kakos said interest in Bianca and Carla’s penthouse, originally pitched at younger executives or professionals on the show, was from a broad range of potential buyers.

“We’ve actually got a good mix [of] downsizers from bigger properties like houses, empty-nesters, investors and,” Mr Kakos said, “we’ve had some interest from interstate.” 

Mr Kakos expected multiple bidders at the auction next weekend with the penthouse views attracting serious buyers.

“Two things that stand out are the ceiling height and the orientation,” Mr Kakos said.

“There are uninterrupted views from the living space and terrace and the four-metre ceilings mean people are suitably impressed.

“We’ve [also] had some really good conversations around the quality of the apartment because the girls have done a great job on the finishes.”