Ray White director Gavin Staindl’s video of Pakenham house’s laundry, full of toilet paper and paper towels, has gone gangbusters. Picture: Instagram/gavin.staindl.
A Melbourne house has gone viral thanks to an unusual toilet-related reason that’s sending online viewers potty.
After Ray White director Gavin Staindl posted a video of himself commenting on the Pakenham home – not his own listing – on social media last week, it gained tens of thousands of views within just five days.
The reason behind the flush of success was a marketing photo at realestate.com.au showcasing its laundry, chock full of toilet paper and paper towels.
RELATED: Strathmore mansion with gold toilet set to smash suburb record
‘Harry Potter loo’: Home’s doorless toilet baffles buyers
Viral ‘kitchen toilet’ apartment seized in messy debt dispute
While Mr Staindl has seen other homes with large reserves of toilet paper, he told the Herald Sun that the Pakenham house takes the crown.
“I haven’t seen this level,” Mr Staindl said.
In the clip, Mr Staindl mused that the stockpile could have been left over from when many Australians bought large amounts of toilet paper and related items during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic lockdowns.
He explained that REA.com’s image optimisation system positions whatever photo internet viewers linger on longest from a property’s listing as its main marketing shot, although this can be switched off if agents choose.
The house at 104 Sandalwood Drive, Pakenham, features four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage …
… and a very well-stocked laundry. Picture: Instagram/gavin.staindl.
Mr Staindl also posted his commentary video on TikTok yesterday, in which he described the photo as “downright genius” marketing as it had ensured plenty of people looked at the 104 Sandalwood Drive abode online.
However, he tagged Sultani Real Estate in his initial social media post which resulted in the laundry picture quickly being removed from the listing.
Mr Staindl said he had not initially planned to post about the home at all, as he did not want to make the Sultani agents feel embarrassed or feel like they had done something wrong.
But after speaking to a mutual acquaintance who knows the agency’s staff, who suggested they would likely see it as tongue-in-cheek, he decided to go ahead.
Blue bench tops and a dishwasher in the kitchen, that’s next to the dining area.
Sultani Real Estate’s Ali Sultani has the Sandalwood Drive listing which is on the market with a $700,000-$770,000 range.
Mr Sultani said a colleague took down the laundry photo, thinking it would be for the best.
However, Mr Sultani confirmed they did not intend to put the image online in the first place even though it helped the house gain 22,000 views.
“It did get a lot of views because of the toilet rolls in the laundry,” he said.
Mr Sultani said families, first-home buyers and investors were among buyers who had inspected the house featuring a living area, separate dining space, two-car garage and location close to schools and public transport.
The residence is close to John Henry Primary School, Pakenham Secondary College, St Patrick’s Primary School, Cardinia Lakes shopping centre and Pakenham train station.
He jokingly agreed the house would “probably” have attracted a slightly higher price during the Covid pandemic’s heights due to all the toilet paper and paper towels – although these will not actually be included with the home’s sale.
Mr Sultani even suggested that he could potentially stock the laundries of future listings with toilet paper if it resulted in plenty of buyer engagement.
“If it means the house would sell quicker, I might do it again,” he laughed.
The house will be auctioned at 11.30am on May 16.
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
MORE: Vic rental laws slammed after landlord loses $65,000
Melbourne woman who built a property portfolio before age 40
McDonald’s plan for new Phillip Island store sparks fierce backlash from locals
Help us improve your reading experience
Got a minute? Your feedback will help us build a better experience for you.
Help us improve this page
English (US) · 