A bizarre video from a property auctioneer in which he instructs real estate agents on the best body language techniques to get higher bids has sent the internet into a spin.
Brent Ilicic, a coach who has conducted more than 5,000 property auctions, shared the how-to clip in which he showed what appears to be series of dance moves to explain how footwork and hand position play a huge role in his job.
The video caused a buzz on social media with many viewers questioning if the clip was ‘for real’. Mr Ilicic this week told Daily Mail Australia he is indeed serious and that his 13 years experience as a successful auctioneer gave him unique insights.
In the educational video, Mr Ilicic ran through a mock auction and how he would establish rapport with those bidding on a property. ‘Body language plays a huge part in this: footwork, legs, chest, arms, eyes, smile,’ he explained.
Of particular import is having ‘palms to the ceiling’ and facing a person who bids while leaning in their direction, which he then demonstrates by fielding multiple bids from different imaginary buyers in quick succession.
‘A couple of rapid fire bids coming from the left and to the right. Boom. Boom. Boom. It’s like a bit of a dance. Flowing left to right and through the middle.’
Mr Ilicic, who runs his own masterclass course, said the video was intended to help prospective auctioneers tackle one of the biggest hurdles they face.
‘I coach beginners and what they struggle with is how to move their body,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
Brent Ilicic is a real estate auctioneer coach who has divided the internet with his latest training video in which he uses dance moves to connect with bidders (pictured)
The clip divided viewers with many finding the unusual promotional video ‘hilarious’ and ‘informative’ while others mocked the technique.
‘Cringey, but don’t hate the player hate the game. I mean salespeople use all sorts of techniques … weird as it looks, it might actually work for him,’ one said.
‘This is a joke right? Right?’ another said.
One viewer declared on Instagram: ‘I just started yelling bids at my phone, this is incredible stuff.’
‘Who needs Raygun when we have talent like that?’ one said, referring to viral Olympic break-dancer Rachael Gunn.
One particularly unimpressed viewer mused that ‘real estate agents must be the least self aware people alive’.
Mr Ilicic said he was ‘surprisingly comfortable’ with the negative responses as he’s also received overwhelming positive feedback from existing and prospective clients.
‘I’ve had a lot of people follow me and inquire about the training from that video,’ he said.
Mr Ilicic (pictured at an auction) has over 13 years experience in the business and began coaching after conducting over 5,000 auctions
The training video shows Mr Ilicic’s clients how best to connect with bidders as an auctioneer
He also broke down why the video might look a little strange to some people.
‘I don’t just coach, I’m doing [auctioneering] every week as well in front of a crowd and in the training video I’ve slowed down and amplified what I do for coaching purposes.’
‘I’ve got a few techniques that I use to help get [my clients’] bodies moving in different ways in the training room so I can see what works for them.
‘I wouldn’t coach unless I knew how to coach and I wouldn’t coach if I hadn’t done it successfully myself.’
‘The proof is in the pudding – I’ve conducted a lot of auctions successfully for many years.’
