Adieu Used Car
Thursday, August 26th, 2010Once upon a time, your car was hell on wheels. Remember that new car smell? Remember that new car pride? Remember your first drive home? But that is a long time gone.
Let’s face it; your car has seen better days.
But how does one say good bye to such a trusted companion? Easy – in three simple steps. Here is a framework that people can use to sell their old cars online or offline, north or south, spring or fall. This assumes, of course, a private sale rather than a trade-in.
Step 1: SET A PRICE
You won’t sell your car if you charge more than everybody else, and you’ll lose money if you sell it for less. Find out what others are asking for before setting your own price. Check for similar mileage vehicles of the same make, model and year. You want to make sure the asking price stands out from the rest, while still leaving room for negotiation.
Step 2: KEEP IT SPOTLESS
This is probably the most crucial step – and the most boring – step. Make sure the outside sparkles. Make sure the inside is immaculate. Get rid of any unfavourable smells. Phew! Give your beloved car a classy farewell. Take the publicity photos only once the shine and the sheen are in place. Then all you have to do is keep it clean — because a potential buyer might want to see it at any time.
Step 3: DECIDE WHERE TO LIST YOUR USED CAR FOR SALE
You’ve set a price. You have photos in hand. Now, what will you do with them. Where will you post them. Here are five great places.
1) Online classified websites – every country has its own, so that people can reach local buyers. For instance, in Canada there are MonsterAuto.ca and AutoTrader.ca .
2) Free general online classifieds such as Kijiji or CraigsList.
3) Social network classifieds, such as Facebook’s Marketplace .
4) Your local newspaper has classified ads that run both online and offline.
5) Place a “For Sale” sign right in your car window (and place your car by the street so people can see the sign as they pass by.)
Step 4: WRITE YOUR AD
Once you have decided where your ads are going to be placed the next step is to design an ad that will be an attention grabber. Start with the basics; people want to know the make, model, year, colour, etc. But to really grab a buyer’s attention, you need to include a list of the best attributes of your used car. This was a special friend, so don’t be shy about bragging just a little. Low mileage, highway driven, new parts such as tires, etc. – these are the types of attributes that will make a buyer sit up and take notice. Make sure to mention if you are flexible on price.
Step 5: PUT HER BEST FACE FORWARD
Your ads are live and people start calling. They want to see the car.
1) If you have all the repair and maintenance records, make sure to have them handy, make sure they are available for the buyer to see. Nothing reassures a buyer of a used car kept in good condition more than an owner with maintenance records.
2) Pre-plan a route for the test drive. Choose a road that shows the better features of your car’s handling. You should of course ask for proof of a license and accompany the buyer on the test-drive. Not only will this give you an opportunity to answer any questions but you will also get a feel for how motivated they are to buy.
3) Make an appointment with each interested party, so you don’t clear your entire day for someone who might just be a tire-kicker.
4) As mentioned earlier make sure your car or truck is kept spotless .
Step 6: SELL YOUR CAR
This is the important part, where you sell your vehicle. Most people are not very skilled when it comes to negotiating. Many people actually feel really uncomfortable asking a seller to come down on their price. Remember that everyone wants to pay less than the asking price, whatever the price might be, but some people don’t know how to ask. If you’ve built in room for negotiation you should have no problem handling any potential buyers negotiating skills rather than let them walk away. If their offer is too low you can always let them walk away…but only if they really are not prepared to pay what you feel you need.
That’s it. These tips are based on Monster Auto’s car selling tips. They are not meant to be all-inclusive; there are other things you can do to sell fast and sell for the best price. But this is meant to cover the essentials and provide an action plan that really should do the trick for most used car sellers.
Good luck saying goodbye to your faithful companion. Yes, it’s hard to part with someone so special, but at least now you have a plan to do it with grace and style.