The Block 2018: What you didn't see on TV at Bianca and Carla’s auction

On TV, it seemed like the bidding was pretty smooth. But what was left on the cutting room floor was a heated interaction between the initial bidder on Bianca and Carla’s penthouse apartment and the auctioneer.

With the cameras rolling, The Block veteran Damien Cooley locked horns with two agitated investors mid-auction.

About to conduct the fourth auction of the day, Hayden and Sara’s huge win just minutes before was weighing heavily on Mr Cooley’s mind. He was on a mission to land the former professional netballers a pay day well above that of the winners, because he believed he had the superior product.

“We had a recent sale for higher than what anyone expected,” Mr Cooley said. “In any normal real estate transaction, when something nearby sold for $3.02 million, I would have advised my client to adjust the reserve.”

The show’s rules don’t allow the reserves to be adjusted on the day. Instead, Mr Cooley adopted a strategy of only taking $100,000 bids after the auction kicked off at $2.7 million.

Bianca and Carla’s reserve was $2.7 million, adjusted down to $2.69 million as a reward for in-show challenges.

“I make no apology for making the decision during the auction to keep the increments as high as I can for as long as I can, rather than letting the buyer’s agents bid in $1000 bids when they’re buying a $3 million apartment,” Mr Cooley told Domain on Saturday night. “In a normal scenario, that just does not happen.”

And it worked – he was close to his desired price of $3.25 million at $2.9 million, after just three bids. But that’s when things went haywire.

Mr Cooley reneged on his strategy of only taking $100,000 bids, and allowed buyers’ agents to place smaller bids.

How much did The Block apartments sell for?

• Sara and Hayden: 3/34 Fitzroy Street sold for $3.02 million (prize money $645,000)
• Kerrie and Spence:  1/34 Fitzroy Street sold for $2.85 million (prize money $415,000)
• Courtney and Hans: 2/34 Fitzroy Street sold for $2,770,000 (prize money $410,000)
• Bianca and Carla: 5/34 Fitzroy Street sold for $2,991,000 (prize money $301,000)
• Norm and Jess: 4/34 Fitzroy Street sold for $2,859,000 (prize money $209,000)

Buyers’ advocates Nicole Jacobs and Greville Pabst were the last two bidders standing, with long pauses between each bid as Jacobs sought instructions from an overseas buyer.

The two investors then began to chime in. As well as repeatedly asking the auctioneer if the property was on the market, the pair, bidding separately, voiced opposition to the time between Ms Jacobs’ bids.

Ms Jacobs later told Domain her client, an Australian based overseas, wanted to be involved in the process, and she was trying to get final instructions.

“Because I thought it was still good buying, I wanted him to have an opportunity to make a decision,” she said.

While waiting for her buyer to text back, one bidder, who did not give his name, lashed out at Mr Cooley.

“You’ve got two bidders over here waiting to bid,” he said. “Why don’t you limit it to a minute a bid?”

Fed up, Mr Cooley challenged them. He called the property three times, and asked if either of the objectors would bid. They did not.

“Didn’t think so,” he quipped. They kept quiet after that.

Lorraine Cotter was one of the investors. She said the pauses were too long, and put her at a disadvantage.

“It’s drawn out to an unreasonable span of what any bidder to endure,” she said. “Has the Queen landed? Are we waiting for her to arrive?”

Ms Cotter said the auction strategy of taking only large bids left her unable to compete, as Cooley repeatedly knocked back several smaller bids in an effort to get the price to $3 million. The final price was $2,991,000.

“I don’t think he did his vendors any favours,” said Ms Cotter. “He wasn’t even taking $10,000 bids from anyone else [other than buyers’ agents].”

Ms Jacobs defended Mr Cooley’s conduct, saying everything he did was within his rights as an auctioneer. She said it was a classic example of not hearing the words “we’re on the market” and it was interesting that the bidders who interrupted did not bid again.

“They had huge negativity towards our auction, and I thought it was a disgrace,” Mr Cooley said. “That is a very normal scenario, to give a buyer time to make a decision.

“[Ms Jacobs] needed time, and my role as the auctioneer was to get the best price for my seller.”

In Victoria, it is illegal to disrupt an auction, prevent others from bidding or to collude.