Getting the car looking its best
Clean the car inside and outside, and make sure it is always clean while you are in the process of selling it.
If you don’t know how or have time to clean the car, consider a mobile car detailer. They give a thorough cleaning inside and out. Presentation is everything when selling a car, which is the same as selling a house. You can get a better offer by presenting it well.
Pricing it right
You need to be realistic when it comes to pricing your car. You should do a little research so you can gauge the market. Get a car valuation free to ensure to get the right price point. You are going to turn away buyers if you overprice the car. If you price it above market value, make sure you provide an explanation as to why that is the case; does the car come with accessories that weren’t standard? List any extras so that it isn’t overlooked by buyers.
Advertising
This is important. It is cheap and easy to advertise these days because you can do it online. You have to be careful. There are people who have ended up getting prank calls after they put up ads with their phone numbers. There are online services that don’t give out your phone number until you agree to give it out.
When advertising your car, you should be careful about the details you put on the ad, and never include your home address. Make sure the ad has all the important details, and make sure you are honest.
Being honest
You need to ensure the car is recently serviced and any minor issues fixed before you list the car. If you have not done that, make sure you let the buyer know any faults the car might have that you are not ready to fix – this will most likely involve adjusting the price downwards. You can even make sure the car has 12 months of registration before selling it because it makes it more attractive to buyers, but it is not a must. You should always be honest about the amount of registration if the buyer asks.
Getting your documents in order
You should get your documents in order because the buyer is going to inspect them. Make sure you have the logbook, owner’s manual, and service records ready. If you have spent money on new tires and you plan on selling the car with a bullbar (if the car is 4WD) or driving lights, then make sure you include all the receipts.
The meeting
There are some people who give out their home addresses when selling a car, but this is not a good idea. The best thing to do is to choose a location to meet the potential buyer and bring the car along. This seems a little paranoid, but you can never be too careful. You should have a friend or family member with you if you feel nervous about the entire thing.
The test drive
You should always make sure you see the driver’s license of the driver before you let them test drive your car. The buyer should never drive it without you inside the car. It is a good idea to ask your insurance company whether a potential buyer is covered if they have an accident when test driving.
Expect to haggle
Before listing the car for sale, make sure you know the lowest price you can accept. This can easily end up being the hardest bargaining you have ever done in your life, so be ready. There will be a back and forth with the buyer, but just know the amount you won’t go past. Once you reach this amount, simply let the buyer know it is your final price and they can either take it or leave it. You should be strong when it reaches that point. Keep in mind that it is your car, and you are not going to take less than it’s worth.
Receipt
Once you reach an agreement on the pricing and the buyer commits to buying the car, then provide a receipt that states that it is ‘sold as seen’ and have a signed copy so you can have one for yourself too.
The above tips will go a long way in helping you sell your car.
