House four triumphs at The Block auction with record-breaking sale

In an extraordinary display of success on The Block, Steph and Gian Ottavio of House Four have set a new benchmark, selling their ‘Japandi’ styled home for a staggering $1.65 million over the reserve price during Saturday’s Block Auctions. This historic sale on the Channel 9 series netted the couple an unprecedented profit, earning them $100,000 in prize money and an overall tax-free gain of $1.75 million.

The sale was a collaborative effort, with Ray White Sunbury’s directors Aaron Hill and Marin Durkovic, alongside agents Chelsea Kleeven and Sharn Bayes, orchestrating the sale with auctioneer Tom Panos. This year’s result has surpassed last year’s record, which saw competitors Omar and Oz win $1.586 million over their reserve.

“We didn’t think we’d be able to achieve what we were able to last year – with Omar and Oz breaking the initial record and winning $1.586 million over reserve – but once again our expectations have been exceeded,” said Aaron Hill.

The design and effort invested by Steph, an architect, and Gian were clearly evident, culminating in their ‘Japandi’ house becoming the standout of the year. The couple’s journey to the auction was intensive, featuring late-night calls and numerous photoshoots to showcase their home in the best possible light. “From late night calls to endless photoshoots of the house to get the right angles, rolling into the auctions with full confidence that the team will get us over the line,” the couple reflected on their preparations.

Following the auction, the couple expressed their heartfelt gratitude: “We have no words, we are so, so grateful,” Steph shared, with Gian adding, “The Block has changed our lives.”

The winning bid for House Four came from Adrian “Lambo Guy” Portelli, a notable bidder who also secured three out of the five houses on offer that day.

Domenic Belfiore, CEO of Ray White Victoria | Tasmania, expressed pride in the support provided to Steph and Gian, stating, “Ray White is so pleased to contribute to the winning team’s success.”

Aaron Hill, along with the Ray White Sunbury team, have now cemented their reputation with back-to-back record-breaking sales, even in the semi-rural setting of Sunbury, contrasting with the urban Hampton locale.

“We’re so proud of everything we’ve been able to achieve with this sales campaign,” Aaron proclaimed.

In a competitive field, sisters Liberty and Eliza from Victoria claimed the second spot with a profit of $1.05 million. Meanwhile, Kristy and Brett, along with Kyle and Leslie, also saw profits from their sales, and Leah and Ash are looking to negotiate following a pass-in at auction.