This service has come about through demand. In the past Bellingen Online has steered people toward any one of a number of local real estate agents (see links on the homepage) or sold-by-vendor web sites. However, demand continues as property owners seek to avoid agent fees and go it alone. This section of the Bellingen Online web site attempts to meet those requests. Advertising costs are outlined below.

How to Proceed
We need two inputs from you: text and photos. Ideally both of these can be emailed to the webmaster. You need to sit down and think about what you want to say about your property. There is no word limit. You should try to write at least 3 paragraphs. Keep your sentences short and to the point. Be honest and check all your facts e.g. are there really hardwood floors under the carpet?

If you have hardcopy photographs you can scan and email them to the webmaster, OR mail us your photos and we will scan them for you. If you scan hardcopy photos yourself, please save them at 72 dpi and at about 600 pixels across. We can also visit your property and take pictures. Photography costs $90.

Photography
If you decide to do you own photography here are some suggestions:

• Try to take your pictures in the "golden hour"... the last 1 hour of the day. This will give your photography a warm, golden cast.
• Put the sun behind you whatever the time of day. It is hard to shoot into the sun... you need special knowledge to do this well.
• Glass and mirrors will reflect your flash. Turn it off and try to get the same shot without a flash. You may need a tripod or to brace yourself against a door frame to do this.
• Taking pictures inside generally requires wide angle lens of around 28mm. Even still, you may end up with a lot of ceiling in your shots. Use both portrait and landscape orientations inside.
• Don't take pictures of things you like; take pictures that document your property. Remember complete strangers will be looking at your internet property listing besides many, many others. i.e. they are window shopping and working quickly, and therefore may only glance at your property page.
• Don't picture things that are not on your property. e.g. streams and dams.
• Tidy up. It is far easier to put sundry items to one side than to remove them digitally later.

More Real Estate Photography Tips

From the Department of Fair Trading - The Contract of Sale
A residential property cannot be advertised for sale until a Contract of Sale has been prepared. The contract must contain a copy of the title documents, drainage diagram and the Zoning Certificate (s 149) issued by the local council. Property exclusions must also be included and a statement of the buyer’s cooling off rights must be attached. The draft contract must be available for inspection at the agent’s office. It is important that you consult your solicitor or conveyancer about preparing the contract to make sure that everything is in order. More >>

Tips
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when organising your own sale is you’re not selling a building - you’re selling a home and a lifestyle. Here are 10 "tricks of the trade" to get you started…

1. Jot down your favourite spots in the house and what you like to do in them.
2. List your favourite local restaurants, cafes, and beaches – especially those in walking distance.
3. Note any pleasant fragrances – plants like jasmine and gardenia, or evening sea breezes.
4. Mention your favourite spot for a morning coffee, an afternoon snooze, or an evening wine.
5. Write about 300 words.
6. Don’t include cars, garbage bins, or the road in your photos.
7. Tidy your house and remove any clutter before taking inside shots.
8. Capture colour both inside and out, but keep it simple.
9. Take digital photos and save to CD so you won’t need a bureau for scanning and production.
10. Invest in a prominent newspaper ad and make use of the Internet

More tips
FSBO Home Selling Tips | Selling Your House | Home Price Guide | Dwelling.com.au |

Dynamic Web Solutions Pty Ltd
P O Box 350, Bellingen NSW  2454
Phone: +61 2 6658 5286
Fax: +61 2 6658 5286
© 2006 Peter Mitchell
Last updated April 19, 2007