5 secrets to surviving TV's biggest reno show, according to experts on The Block: 'This is a game'

In just nine weeks our Blockheads have gone from rookie renovators to managing five nail-biting room reveals in one go!

But beyond the showstopping designs, what does it really take to survive the toughest and biggest renovation competition in the nation?

We’ve broken down the five key moves every contestant needs to nail, with tips from pro renovator and host Scott Cam:

1. Get great trades and be good to them

The tradies swinging the hammers and laying the tiles are your lifeline on The Block.

And building a strong, respectful relationship with your trades is not just nice, it’s a non-negotiable.

Cue the Cursio brothers, who Sonny and Alicia had to woo with pizza in their hands.

The beloved Block tilers have come to the rescue more than once this season, while respecting House 4’s loyalty and boundaries in return.

On the other hand, we’ve seen Han and Can struggle with their ex-builder Ben, where a breakdown in communication caused a whole lot of unnecessary stress and tension.

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2. Work hard yourself

House 3’s Taz may not know the lingo but he sure has a go on the tools!

The most successful teams are the ones that get their hands dirty, from painting to plastering and much-dreaded installation (just ask Taz).

Doing the jobs yourself, also saves a ton of cash on labourers. With Sonny a tradie himself, it’s no wonder they’ve won the CommBank budget award six times!

“[The Block] is one of those things, you’ve just got to be on full time and you’ve got to give 120 per cent,” said host Scott Cam.

“There’s a lot of mistakes you can make on The Block, not giving it your all is number one.”

3. Be budget savvy

Without challenge and Room Reveal wins, the budget is tight on The Block.

Strategic teams know which rooms need the big-ticket items to wow the judges and which rooms can still have an impact, but remain cost-effective.

“This is a real estate game, it’s a construction game and it’s a budget game,” Scotty explained.

He suggested teams should be aiming to come under budget by about $2000 each week, and divert all that saved cash to landscaping.

“I guarantee you when you get to the bottom, you’re gonna be short.”

Think about where you can save costs on materials and labour.

Be organised so you don’t have trades waiting around. Can you upholster your own bedhead? Can you paint or wallpaper a bathroom instead of tiling?

We all know how expensive and time consuming floor-to-ceiling tiles are – something Han and Can learned the hard way Week 1!

4. Be strategic

There’s a lot of talk about ‘playing the game’ on The Block, after all, it is a competition. But what exactly does that mean?

It means using your time well, being smart with your decisions, and making hard calls when needed.

“We pride ourselves on time management,” said Alicia. “Every time we’ve been asked to be ready for the kitchen install or some type of install…”

“We’re the only house who’s hit those targets every time,” Sonny finished.

The duo have also been very strategic in their decisions lately. By voting no to extended work hours, the organised team are hoping they’ll have a chance to win.

5. Stay positive

Or in Mat’s words: “Positivity’s gonna get us across the line!”

We know it’s hard to do when you’re stressed, tried and covered in dirt (or paint), but The Block is a once in a lifetime experience.

So take a step back, look at the bigger picture and try laugh when you can. Just because you’ve had a bad week, Auction Day is when it really matters.

This article was originally published by nine.com.au. Reproduced with permission.