By Alex O’Hara
Saturday proved a very busy day for four open homes in Auckland’s Takapuna.
After weeks of renovations real estate agents were finally able to open the doors of the houses made famous by TV3's reality show The Block.
Fifteen thousand people queued to get a glimpse, which contestant Tyson says was a huge surprise.
“I had no idea it was going to be like this at all. I thought it was going to be like a normal open home!” he says.
Four couples had just 10 weeks to turn run-down houses into homes ready for auction.
Contestant Libby says it was a crazy experience.
“It was hideous and difficult and challenging, yet rewarding and fun. Just mental. Such a crazy thing to do,” she says.
But it was not just the finished products people lined up to see. The TV show has turned its eight contestants into mini celebrities and Libby and Ben in particular are on everybody’s lips.
Their home is tipped to win, attracting the most page views on realestate.co.nz, and it seems 31-year-old Ben has also become a bit of a sex symbol.
“I asked Ben to marry me and he said oh I’ll wait till you're a bit older,” says one fan.
Ben himself says the attention is a new experience.
“It's nuts you know. People hyperventilating and almost fainting. I thought it was reserved for One Direction or something but obviously not,” he says.
The four homes will come under the hammer in a live auction on September 6. Each couple will keep any profits made with the winners receiving an extra $80,000.
3 News