House sale makes $700k for children's cancer charity

The Children's Cancer Institute is $700,000 better off today, after a volunteer-built house sold at auction for $50,000 over its reserve.

This is the third year that the Institute has run the Build for a Cure project, which involves building a house on land donated by a developer, using materials donated by companies, and labour freely given by volunteers, so that every cent can go to the charity.

Everyone from the real estate agent (Di Jones Real Estate) to the celebrity ambassador for the project, The Block's Scott Cam, donated their time and effort to ensure the build and sale were a success. 

The purchasers of the home in Appin, in Sydney's south-west, are a young family who are first-time buyers.

“It makes you feel good to be associated with such a fantastic cause," successful bidder John Cole, 31, told Domain, "and the chance to support research into cancer. And at the same time, we’re thrilled to buy such a wonderful house that’s been so well built in such a good location.”

Cole works for Austral Bricks, one of the companies that donated materials for the build.