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Aussie teams were thrown into chaos in the My Reno Rules premiere, with budget blowouts, a \u2018manipulator\u2019 admission and a DIY disaster setting the tone. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n
One My Reno Rules contestant has openly admitted she is ready to be a \u201cmanipulator\u201d to get ahead as a $23,000 budget blowout turned a high-end living room dream into a DIY \u201ccrime scene\u201d.<\/p>\n
The moment came in the opening episode of Seven\u2019s new renovation show, which dropped four Aussie teams into two tired 1970s Bulleen houses, with a $100,000 prize on the line.<\/p>\n
It did not take long for the tone to shift. \u2018New player in town\u2019: Portelli\u2019s brutal Block swipe<\/a><\/p>\n Block stars\u2019 $920k gamble after auction disaster<\/a><\/p>\n Nathan and Julia quickly revealed how they planned to play the game, with Julia declaring, \u201csometimes you have to be a manipulator\u201d as early decisions began to shape the competition.<\/p>\n From there, the episode moved straight into its first major challenge, dividing the houses and forcing teams to choose their rooms and budgets.<\/p>\n In House 1, \u201cMaltese terriers\u201d Emma and Michelle pushed for the living room, chasing the biggest \u201cwow factor\u201d space.<\/p>\n Meanwhile Nathan and Julia opted for the main bathroom and the larger share of the labour budget, a move that quietly handed them early control and set the tone for how that house would operate.<\/p>\n House 1 quickly turned strategic as Emma and Michelle clashed with Nathan and Julia, who secured early control of the budget. Picture: Seven\/7plus<\/p>\n House 2 leaned on teamwork early, with Franky and Isaac stepping in to help Mitch and Shaz through multiple setbacks. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n That advantage became clear almost immediately.<\/p>\n Emma and Michelle\u2019s high-end plans, including a micro cement feature wall and custom finishes, ran into trouble when their labour quote came back at $23,000, well beyond what they had available.<\/p>\n They scaled back. Then scaled back again. And still could not make it work.<\/p>\n Tensions flared between Emma and builder Harley as a $23,000 labour quote forced a rethink on their ambitious living room plans. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Tensions rose quickly with builder Harley as the reality of the budget set in, with the pair struggling to reconcile their vision with what was actually achievable.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you say it can happen, please don\u2019t say that if you\u2019re not gonna go through with that,\u201d one of them snapped, as the pressure started to show.<\/p>\n Even after cutting back, they were forced to turn to Nathan and Julia for help, who agreed to contribute, in a move that suggested alliances in this competition may come at a cost.<\/p>\n Mitch and Shaz were hit hard when rain destroyed their living room progress, wiping out a full day\u2019s work. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n While House 1 dealt with strategy and budget blowouts, House 2 was hit with a different kind of problem.<\/p>\n Mitch and Shaz, who revealed they were living week to week and sometimes had just $65 left after bills, took on the living room alongside Franky and Isaac in the bathroom. <\/p>\n Both teams trying to make the most of what they had rather than what they wanted.<\/p>\n Then came the setback no one could plan for.<\/p>\n With just $65 left after bills, Mitch and Shaz faced mounting pressure as setbacks continued to pile up. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Rain entered through an unfinished roof overnight, soaking the living room and destroying freshly installed insulation, wiping out a full day\u2019s work and leaving the team scrambling to recover.<\/p>\n For Mitch and Shaz, it was a brutal hit.<\/p>\n \u201cThis would only happen to us,\u201d Shaz said.<\/p>\n At the same time, Franky and Isaac were dealing with their own build issue after discovering their bathroom ceiling was uneven, forcing them to rip it out and start again with only days to go.<\/p>\n \u201cI may as well jump in the bin now,\u201d Isaac said.<\/p>\n Franky kept spirits high despite mounting pressure, emerging as one of the more resilient contestants early on. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n \u201cI may as well jump in the bin now,\u201d Isaac said after a major bathroom setback forced a rebuild. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n Back in House 1, Emma and Michelle\u2019s pivot to a DIY rust-effect feature wall created another pressure point, with the pair taking a risk on a finish they had never attempted before.<\/p>\n With wet weather slowing progress, heaters and heat guns were brought in to try and force the wall to dry, but the result only added to the stress as time began to slip away.<\/p>\n Emma and Michelle\u2019s DIY feature wall was branded a \u201ccrime scene\u201d as their high-end vision unravelled. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a crime scene,\u201d came the blunt verdict from the contestants themselves.<\/p>\n As the episode built towards the first reveal, all four teams were under pressure, with budget constraints, build issues and early strategy already shaping how the competition is likely to play out.<\/p>\n Budget blowouts, early strategy and mounting setbacks set the tone for a chaotic start to My Reno Rules. Picture: Seven\/7Plus<\/p>\n By the end of Episode 1, the lines were clear.<\/p>\n House 1 was already playing a calculated game, with control of budget and decisions becoming just as important as the build itself.<\/p>\n House 2 was relying on teamwork just to stay afloat, with setbacks forcing them to lean on each other to get through the week.<\/p>\n And if the premiere proved anything, it is that on My Reno Rules, it does not take long for plans to fall apart, or for contestants to show exactly how far they are willing to go to win.<\/p>\n Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here <\/a>to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.<\/p>\n
RELATED: First look at My Reno Rules contestants<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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