Block winners Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie return to our screens as hosts of Network 10’s new series Location, Location, Location.
Mitch and Mark know a thing or two about property. They’ve flipped more than 20 homes, lit up our screens with winning rooms, and own a buzzing homewares shop on the Northern Beaches. But it’s finding their own perfect location that pushed them to take the plunge and help others secure a piece of paradise on Network 10’s new show, Location, Location, Location.
“We spent a lot of time at our daughter’s home in Elanora Heights and fell in love with the Northern Beaches lifestyle,” Mitch tells Peninsula Living Pittwater. “When we made the call to leave our city lives in Potts Point after twenty years, there was no question where we would move to,” he adds, with Palm Beach topping their list.
Two years of fruitless searching later and the Palmy dream was souring. “A realtor friend said to us, ‘you can’t afford Palm Beach, so open your eyes to other amazing areas,’” laughs Mark. “We walked into this dated, hot mess of a beach house high up on Grandview Drive in Newport, and were just blown away by the ocean views – we were sold!”
Becoming part of the ‘incredibly welcoming’ Newport community has been an unexpected bonus, says the duo, with coffee at their favourite Billy’s on Bilgola beachfront and hanging out in their homewares store, Mitch and Mark HOME, both great ways of meeting the locals. “We love to help others find their style. I’ve never been afraid of colour and I love injecting that joyfulness and playfulness into our home and into customer’s homes too,” smiles Mitch, whose signature fashion range melds with coastal canvases, vases, crockery, and soft furnishings, at their Barrenjoey Road location.
Helping others is undoubtedly the name of the game in Location, Location, Location. “We are so passionate about the process of tracking down that ideal property that works for our clients,” says Mark.
“Property buying is such an emotional journey, so we’ve found it essential to get right to the heart of what our clients want from a home, be that a family haven or a party pad.”
Helping bring expectations in line with reality is another key element, as is encouraging clients to see the bigger picture. “We see ourselves as property therapists,” laugh the couple, who are thrilled to have the chance to show the public that they really know property from the inside out, from the hunting to negotiating and securing that dream home. “It’s about far more than beautiful aesthetics,” says Mitch, “although as Block viewers will know, I do love all that!”
What viewers of Location, Location, Location won’t see is the sheer amount of legwork that goes on behind the scenes. For every three to four properties clients are shown during filming, Mitch and Mark will have viewed ‘between forty and fifty homes,’ before culling them to best suit that client. “We often weed out properties based on ‘apologies,’ says Mark. “We remind clients that they will likely sell at some point and apologies are those things an agent would put a positive spin on, such as a main road location. Apologies can be improved – by clever planting or fencing – but they will always be there.”
Mitch’s biggest ever apology to Mark was when he popped out for a coffee and came back having bought a property. “I was walking past the auction in Potts Point so popped in and was shocked to see the gavel about to fall on an insanely cheap price,” says Mitch. “I couldn’t resist and, although Mark wasn’t pleased at first, it ended up as a successful flip, and we later flipped other units in the same building.”
It’s this rich history and understanding, built up over more than 20 years together, that allows Mitch and Mark to relate so well to clients. “We understand those dynamics,” says Mark. “People get overwhelmed buying a home, so we help them remove the emotion.” As the duo often tell regulars to their shop, it takes time to make a house a home and nail the style that feels right. “Colour and fun are key,” smiles Mitch, adjusting the collar of his trademark ruffled shirt, “but most of all, it’s about confidence.”
Location, Location, Location launches on Friday, 30 June at 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Play, with ten episodes over ten weeks.
By Catherine Lewis