Settle On A Safe And Convenient Home Base For The Sale
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A person-to-person car sale is informal in nature, but that doesn’t mean the best place to conduct the transaction is the seller’s home, garage or apartment parking lot. It’s safer to use the usual Craigslist “safe spot” meeting point as the seller’s address. That way the buyer won’t learn where the seller lives.
As an added benefit, the potential purchaser can get directions online, saving time and eliminating constant phone calls or texts. Also, the appearance of the seller’s home and probable lifestyle will not become a bargaining chip on the price if the sales happen at a neutral location.
When Temperatures Drop, So Do Used Car Prices
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Of course, those who need to sell a car don’t always have leeway on the timing of the sale. But the sellers who can avoid concluding the transaction in the period after Oct. 1 and before New Year’s will face less competition from auto dealerships.
Typically, dealers reduce prices on existing inventory as new models start flooding the dealership in the fall. Someone selling their own car tends to make more money when the potential buyer doesn’t have other offers from the dealership to use as a negotiating point.
To further improve the asking price, try the following tactic the next sunny day.
Make Pics While The Sun Shines
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It’s all too easy to forget proven sales tactics when selling a used car. But ignoring presentation can reduce the asking price and turn away potential customers.
Photos of the car for sale are a case in point. Many sellers simply take a snap or two wherever and never mind the vacant lot or cluttered shed in the background. A car for sale looks much more appealing in natural sunlight and in front of an appealing background. Snap photos for your ad with the car parked next to a nice lawn or a curb in front of the local park.
Go Under The Hood With The Photos
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The seller knows every inch of the car and the photos for the ad should help give the buyer the same perspective. Along with the obligatory full-view glamor shot, get photos of the engine, tires and inside the trunk (if it’s clean.)
Photos from different angles and in different types of light also give the buyer much-needed information that may hasten the sale along.
While it’s tempting, don’t succumb to photo-shopping any of the candids. The buyer will eventually see the car and discover the discrepancy — and an indication that the seller is dishonest could sour the sale.
Have The Paperwork Ready To Roll At The Test Drive
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No one wants to pressure a buyer, but a seller should still be ready to clinch the sale quickly. One good tactic: prepare the needed paperwork and bring it to the test drive. Include the Kelley printout or photocopy demonstrating the price basis and two copies of a sales contract, complete with both names.
This helps make the sale real to the potential buyer and also lets them see how easily you could sell the car to the very next person who takes a test drive. If the sale is on, make sure to do this one last thing so you leave with sure money.
Only Accept A Check At The Buyer’s Bank
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The whole process of selling a car can be draining. The original owner’s sheer relief that the car sale is complete can result in disaster if they’re not cautious to the very end.
Scammers have been known to buy a used car using a phony check. The way to avoid being taken: only take a personal or cashier’s check when both buyer and seller can complete the transaction at the buyer’s bank. That way, the bank can verify that the funds are available before you hand over the keys and the happy new owner drives off.