'What's meant to be will be': Canberra's Raize the Roof home goes under the hammer

It was an auction almost 10 years in the making. On Saturday the Canberra home that charity built went under the hammer.

The home at 17 Clancy McKenna Crescent, Bonner was built with the sole intention of raising funds for charity, under the project name Raize the Roof. Since its inception, more than 350 Canberra businesses have volunteered or contributed to the project.

This has resulted in a quality three-bedroom home, perched on an elevated position with views across Gungahlin. Features include double-glazed windows, high ceilings, a separate children’s retreat and multiple entertaining areas.

On Saturday morning, more than 140 people gathered at the auction, and while the house was unsuccessful under the hammer it did not dampen the celebration of the remarkable feat.

Raize the Roof co-founder Danielle Dal Cortivo expressed the day’s feeling. “What’s meant to be will be,” she said.

The siblings still want to ensure they raise as much money for the charities as possible. 

“The Raize the Roof charity house is very beautiful and has been finished to the next level, we’ve made sure it’s of high-quality and has lots of beautiful features,” she said.

“Every dollar the project raises makes a profound difference to the lives of children so we are absolutely committed to making sure we get the price the house is worth and the right buyer.

“We’ve had the right people contribute to this project the whole way and we know the right buyer will appear when they are ready.”

Ms Dal Cortivo founded Raize the Roof with her brother, Lincoln in 2009. The two were motivated to give back after they both experienced the deaths of childhood friends.

Ms Dal Cortivo also spent some time volunteering at an orphanage in Tanzania.

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There was one bid from the crowd on the day, with a couple placing a bid for $600,000. Luton Properties Gungahlin listing agent and auctioneer Jason Roses then placed a vendor bid for $800,000. After no further bids, the home was passed in.

Mr Roses told the crowd there was an interested party not registered that were keen to negotiate after the auction.

The auctioneer said he believes the home will attract more interest if a price is to be listed.

“It has a lot of unique features and a lot of people during the auction process were a bit uncertain as to what level it was positioned in terms of pricing expectations so I think when a price is listed there will be a lot more inquiries,” he said.

“It was really important to Danielle and Lincoln to maximise the price because 100 per cent of the proceeds are going to charity.”

When the home does sell the proceeds will be split 50/50 between the Starlight Children’s Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages Botswana.

“SOS Children’s Villages Botswana supports orphaned and vulnerable children who are unable to live at home. The difference every dollar makes over there is profound,” said Ms Dal Cortivo.

“With the Starlight Children’s Foundation, every extra dollar makes a difference to the number of children who can have their wishes granted, and that’s why we are really committed to making sure we get the right price.”

While the home did not sell, thousands of dollars were still raised for the charities. On the day, furniture from the home – all donated by IKEA – was auctioned off and many were keen to snap up a new lounge or dining table. 

Money was also raised via votes in the Decorate for a Difference campaign – a Block-style competition between five local teams who fought it out by decorating a zone of the home with the supplied IKEA furniture.

Team ‘Sisters from Southside’, Maria Cerne and Nicole Liakos were declared winners on the day – they designed the girl’s bedroom, kids’ retreat and powder room. 

Allhomes was a major sponsor of the event.