A New Brunswick realtor opted to think on his feet in a bid to sell a four-bedroom home near Moncton, dancing around the house to the 1980s classic “Take On Me” in a sales video that’s gaining traction on Facebook
“I’ve always had creative ideas when it comes to marketing houses,” said Dylan Mahaney, 27. “I don’t think anyone in my office is surprised that I’m the one to do this.”
Wearing a deadpan expression, Mahaney moves through the rooms of the house performing a dance colloquially known as “The Floss” — fists clenched, his arms swing from side to side, one in front of his body and one behind, as he sways his hips in the opposite direction.
Though he has no formal training, Mahaney said he learned the dance relatively quickly, though some who are less co-ordinated may have difficulty picking it up.
“It’s all in the hips,” he laughed as he described the technique. “People tend to start with the hands, but you have to start with the hips and add in the hands afterwards.”
Mahaney said he got the idea from another realtor in San Diego who had made a similar video, though the dance move has been an internet meme for quite some time.
“Flossing” exploded onto social media within the past year after a dancing, backpack-clad boy upstaged pop star Katy Perry during a Saturday Night Live performance of “Swish Swish” in May 2017.
Mahaney said he was surprised by the attention the video garnered, after it received tens of thousands of views in a matter of days.
“There are some less-than-nice comments out there, but that’s not what I’m focused on,” he said. “I’m focused on the people that are understanding it, and who are saying that not only is this a great house, but that I’ve made them feel good as well.”
The success of Mahaney’s video has inspired him to continue making videos in the future, and he said that he already has two shoots planned for next week.
While he already has the songs and the dance moves picked out for the planned shoots, he said he intends to up the ante for subsequent videos.
“At some point, I’ll probably need to hire a choreographer,” he said.
Mahaney said he has not yet received any offers for the Upper Coverdale, N.B., house — which is on the market for a cool $319,900 — though he hopes the video will get the attention of prospective house hunters.
“Ultimately, my goal is to sell the house,” he said. “As silly as it is, my client will never be able to say that I didn’t try.”
