Thread: Get what you deserve at The Block

Didn't see the programme, but wondered whether they gave the exact location....just want to make sure no $$$$$ are invested there in the future judging by comments?

Cheers

Johnno

The block of flats in question is in Roscoe Street, Bondi. I know it well - my wife used to run a school there (before we moved to Perth 16 years ago). Small world.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi gang,

There are two kinds of renovators (at least).

One fixes up the place to sell it at a profit and other is doing up the place to live in.

I have nothing to say adout the first kind or the people who buy those houses.

The second group tries to to the best job for themselfs, after lots and lots of recerch abd do it whithin their budget. These guys learn their limitations and what bits they can do and what bits are vlbest left to proffesionals. I suppose I fall in to this catogary.

There are tasks which cannot be done on DIY mode to the level of perfection, one would expect unless you get trads to do them. ie- rendering, finishing plasterboards etc. Some tasks should only be done by crertified trades- pluming, electrical etc -

In my case, I limit my adventures to wood related work.

now, re the bolck-

there was some footage of the "ckick of the block" sanding plasterboards; she must have been an expert because she did not get any dust on her at all.

Any sugestions on how it is possible or how can I learn her technique or will she be avilable to coach us morons?....

Cheers,

Theva

Theva,

As to " Chick on the Block" sanding plasterboards without any dust, thats easy - just dress seductively and get somebody to film it but above all don't switch on the sander.

After all its only make believe - its television.

Cheers,

Peter.

Put yourself in the place of the sander - would you be doing any sanding?

Not as long it is one of the chicks handling me - but if its one of those guys I'd blown my fuse.

Peter.

but if its one of those guys I'd blown my fuse

Uuuuuuummmmmm ...... okay Sturdee, :eek:

You might want to rephrase that mate

Sorry guys,

If my musings was either unclear, open to misinterpretation or offending any sensibilities I apologise.

As suggested I rephrase :


.............................I'd refuse to work.


Peter

I can honestly say that I didn't watch any of this series, but what with all the hype in the press about it, it was impossible not to be aware of it. Anyway, the auctioned them on Saturday. The top price was $750,000. This for a two bedroom flat without parking.

This is also, according to the newspaper, at least $100,00 more than the going rate for that sort of flat in that suburb.

I'll never understand people !

well the places where sold last night and cant believe the prices taht they went for
as a home renovator ( ha ha ) i would really like to see what some of theese house do overs are like in 10 yrs time
and something that bugs me with them all is that they only ever do hses that are on the urban coast where if they are lucky and spend there 10000 they might get 50000 added to the price of the building , my hse only cost me 35000 so to spend 15000 or so on it is ridiculous and wouldnt give me any return in the small town i am in

and anyway who would want to live in sydney !!

Gentlemen,
I have never heard such a pack of whining girls . I started by trade life as a diesel plant mechanic, but gave that up to stay clean by going back to school for mechanical engineering.

As an ex-motor mech, every man, dog, cat and budgie thinks they knows how to fix their own car truck etc. In truth they can pull the jigsaw apart and put it back together again but they don't know how to resolve the problem, but we don't complain. We happliy take their money when they've really stuffed it. Problem is we don't get the chance with the ones wrapped around a pole. Our loss.

The block should have done more to make you the $$$$$ than anything else.

Of course many of you seem to take this elitist view that your God's gift to the world of renovation. Trust me no one is. Most people aren't puttng first floor additions on, they're only doing the equivalent of changing spark plugs - who cares.

Well put Mark. I must say I agree with your sentiment, If not quite your phrasiology (is that a real word??). Every weekend, hundreds if not thousands of renovators are out there doing their thing. Who cares if they do a crap job?? You don't have to buy/live in the crappily renovated abode. If they really stuff it up who do they call? The professionals who surely must be getting more work than ever before with the recent boom (some might say fad) in DIY reno's. And what do we have to thank for this boom....... I'd say its the TV reno shows!!
Another great spin off is the decrease in price and increase in availability of power tools. Yes some of these are crap too, but who cares when you can but a workable GMC biscuit joiner, or Router or cordless drill for cheap bucks with a 2 year warranty to boot. Is it the massive increase in people doing fine woodworking at home that has led to the broadening of the power tool market? I think not.
There ceratinly seems to be an elitist attitude from many tradespeople when it comes to DIY. I understand that they have to make a buck out of their work, but I ask, has the recent housing/renovation/real estate boom put a single tradesperson out of work? I've seen some work from so called pro's in reno's that my brother (once a physiotherapist, who's now a full time property renovator and investor) and I have done, and I can ceratinly say that the attention to detail that we pay to the job and the care taken with the work is a great deal more than the tradies.
I'm not critising all trades people, we couldn't have done the job without those who helped us, and they certainly weren't upset to get our repeat business, however this attitude that the average Joe is a blithering idiot who wouldn't know one end of a screw driver from another is as insulting as it is obviously widespread.
On a final point, If many of those critising the show had actually watched it (or are you just too proud to admit that you did!) they would realise that a majority of the work was done by trades people (I'd say in the vicinity of $50k to $60k was spent on trades people between the four apartments, thats not a bad injection of cash into the local trades). Even further, week after week it was stated by the judge, real estate experct John McGrath, that the winning rooms had won because of the superior finish obtained by getting trades people to do the job!!!!
I'll admit i watched the show and I enjoyed it. Why would anyone who likes working with wood or tools in general complain about more DIY shows on TV? I'd love to get foxtel only to watch Mr Norm Abrams in his workshop. I might not like all the stuff he produces or agree with his preferred methods but I would certainly learn something by keeping an open mind.
And for those still lauhging at the "hapless" block renovators, just remember that they are the ones walking away with the $100k profits in their pockets, just as so many other "amateur" investors/renovators are doing all over Australia while the trades people who did work on their properties grumble about hourly rates and renovator hicks. So to those, CATCH UP!! Its a free country, go out and get yourself a run down property, fix it up (who else is in as good a position to do a reno as the tradespeople themselves) and enjoy the rewards.

Fully vented

Tim

PS. How did a thread that criticised a TV show for being voyeuristic become a thread about one women's "hooters" while being laced with sexual innuendo??

Hi,

if you watched the show you would know why hooters were bought up ! what a fine pair )

I do however agree with you with regards to the reno v's tradies... some of the posts on this board seem to be elitist dont they ?

and now they're in trouble for ripping the idea off "Dream House"
*remember 2 houses reno'd - best gets to keep it