An expert tells Yahoo Lifestyle what the major drawcard is for The Block properties this year.

Fans of The Block didn’t love the Clubhouse, but according to an expert, it could be the biggest drawcard of the houses. Photo: Nine

This week, The Block teams (minus Kylie and Brad) worked with several All-Stars to create a Clubhouse that buyers of the homes they spent the last few months building will be able to use as a shared communal space. While the space looks stunning, viewers weren’t sure if it was really necessary.

The Clubhouse features a spa room, communal pool, a cinema room, a games room, a large kitchen and dining space, a tennis court and more. But fans said the Clubhouse was “overkill”, with some going so far as to say it’s the “dumbest idea”.

An expert has revealed to Yahoo Lifestyle, however, that this is not the case, and the Clubhouse will undoubtedly be a drawcard for prospective buyers.

The Block viewers left questioning major flaw in the Clubhouse

Many viewers shared their confusion over why there wasn’t a gym included in the space, with one Reddit user writing, “Apart from the glaringly obvious faults that many other posts have already mentioned, I have one question: Where’s the gym?

“Every house has a pool – and now there’s an additional common area pool. Every house has a large lounge room with large screen TV and sound bar – but now there’s a common area cinema. Every house has an expensive kitchen, and now there’s a common area kitchen that will never be stocked, cleaned or utilised.”

Viewers were confused as to why the Clubhouse would have extra dining areas, rather than include something like a gym. Photo: Nine
They added, “Clearly they weren’t sponsored by a gym equipment company, so they didn’t include it. But that would definitely be something I would use more than a day spa or clubhouse kitchen!”

Many others agreed, with another saying, “You would think the very first thing would be a gym. I’m perplexed by how many dining areas it has.”

A third added, “My thoughts were: And what exactly would the maintenance costs be on this Taj Mahal? Seriously, who in their right mind would buy these houses knowing there’s only five owners who are going to have to wear the extra costs of something they might not use or use regularly?”

Property expert believes Clubhouse will be a ‘drawcard’ for The Block buyers

National Property Editor for Domain, Alice Stolz, who has spent a lot of time on the set of the show this year has revealed to Yahoo Lifestyle that the Clubhouse is an absolute ‘drawcard’ for buyers.

When asked about the Clubhouse, Alice says, “Absolutely [it’s a drawcard], and I wish there was more time for the public and buyers to be able to explore these Clubhouses, given they were only revealed this week.

National Property Editor for Domain, Alice Stolz, says the Clubhouse is absolutely a drawcard for buyers. Photo: Nine

Alice, pictured with Scott Cam and Shelley Craft, on The Block in 2022. Photo: Nine
“You know, there’s not that much time to really appreciate just how incredible they are. But I think what it does is extend the way you live in a house. So, if your owner/occupier is there, and you work from home, you would work from the Clubhouse. So you would have this lavish office, you’ll be able to entertain clients. You would be able to have offsite events and really host in a really beautiful way.

“And then on your weekend, you’d have friends and family over, watch a movie, hang out in the sauna, do an ice bath, and have like a day spa. I find them quite overwhelming in the lavishness and the extravagance of them.”

She adds, “To be honest, you could actually not even live in your house and almost spend every waking moment except when you sleep in that Clubhouse. And I think you’d pretty much be living a pretty special life.”

Is the lack of a gym a problem for The Block?

Alice adds that while those of us who are watching on TV might be questioning the lack of a gym, she doesn’t see this as a negative at all.

“Look, it’s a really interesting question, to be honest,” she says. “When you’re on Phillip Island, something changes about the way you view leisure time and sport. And I’ve got to say, I spent obviously a lot of time down here during filming, and you kind of just walk, run, swim, and surf when you’re here. So I think I like the idea that the contestants and I, to be honest, I don’t know if this is why they didn’t put a gym in, but there’s something that just changes when you cross that bridge onto the island that makes you live a bit differently.”

She continues, “And I actually don’t think it’s missing from the complex, and it genuinely doesn’t feel like it should have that, I guess, because it’s such an idyllic outdoor location. I guess also maybe we are seeing people more these days also make their own little fitness area in their home environments or in the garages. And, having said that, one could argue that the contestants could have done that, should have done that.”

Alice also believes that the communal pool is an important addition to the Clubhouse. Photo: Nine
Alice explains to us that she hasn’t heard any real estate agents saying they believe a gym is necessary for the property, adding, “And after over a decade in property, I didn’t even think of that as something that was being missed from the properties.

“I kind of really like that idea that when you’re down here, that you might go and play golf rather than going on the treadmill for half an hour or something, you know, you might just take that time out,” Alice says. “So I think I’d love to think that ideally promoting a different way of life. But I’m not sure it was that intentional. But I do think something happens to you when you are in a different environment that makes you think outside the box.”

Is the communal pool a good addition to The Block?

Alice also answered the fans’ question about whether or not a communal pool was necessary, saying she believes it is absolutely worth having.

“That communal pool is lovely for lying by the pool, reading a book, having a chat to your neighbours or your friends, and using that for the sense of community,” she tells us. “Kids love a communal pool, don’t they? I’ve never met a child who doesn’t, so I do think that, equally, as a parent, as an adult, also being able to go into your own pool alone, by yourself – is just another luxury.

“So I acknowledge that I think it’s a really valid question, a bit like the gym one, but you kind of would like it if you can have it.”

The Clubhouse will cost buyers around $15,000 a year for upkeep. Photo: Getty
“It didn’t feel like overkill to me, and that resort pool, there’s something lovely and nostalgic about having that original pool, and that kind of crazy shape that it is. I think I can just imagine children having a lot of social memories being made in a place like that.”

How much will the Clubhouse cost The Block buyers?

Alice reveals to us that the body corporate costs have come in at $15,000 per annum, and she believes this is in line with the features offered.

“I actually think it’s in line with what people would expect [to pay],” Alice tells us. “And these facilities are just incredible… they really have to be seen to be believed, you know, how experiential they are, and what a game-changer they actually are to the whole property.”

Alice adds that she understands that the cost may be viewed differently by an owner/occupier than by an investor, but adds she feels it’s a “manageable” amount.

“It would only be more challenging for people who have got a holiday house and potentially also have a body corporate to pay in the city or on another additional property, that’s usually when body corporate start to become challenging,” she shares.