WEBTRON IT guru Alex Hill is applying his internet skills to Melbourne's auction market.
The online auctions guinea pig is a house in Frederick St, Brunswick, belonging to his mother, Carol Hill,
who is in Germany.
She told him: ``I'm looking to sell. I'm going to be in Germany and don't want to come back.''
Hill's technology will allow her to watch the auction live.
``I'm applying the networking technology I've installed in corporates around Melbourne.
``I'm just building on what the agents do -- adding something to their toolkit. Other people are interested
in it, too, but they are looking at more of an eBay model.
``That might work in Sydney, where they sit in one room and auction off a whole lot of properties, but it
won't in Melbourne, which is the auction capital of Australia.''
Agents Harrington Earl are working with Hill on the event.
The December 1 auction will happen live on the street as normal. A professional

cameraman and a host
of fixed cameras will capture the action from several points.
The auction can be watched on a computer or mobile device using a logon obtained on registration.
Auctioneer Steve Earl will be fitted with a wireless microphone.
All documents about the house will be available online, but the auction will not incorporate online
bidding. That is on the agenda for next year's rollout of the technology.
The auction is scheduled for noon, with the house expected to fetch more than $500,000.

To learn more www.WebtronOnlineAuction.com

NICOLE LINDSAY and BEN BUTLER

B - RealEstate