South Of Metro| How to Sell a Car and Get a Good Price |Many people opt for trading their car in, because they want to avoid the hassle of selling it privately. However, in doing so, they are wasting an opportunity to make the most of the situation, i.e. to get more money. If you take a look at the following tips for selling a car, you’ll realise that the task is not that daunting at all and definitely worth your time and effort. So, here is what you should do…
Establish the facts
First of all, you need to make sure you know the car’s make and mode, as well as its model year. If you’re not sure, find your vehicle identification number (VIN), usually located where the dashboard meets the windshield on the driver’s side or in the area where the driver’s door latches when closed. Use one of free VIN decoders on the Internet to establish what your VIN corresponds to.
Set a price
You need to set a realistic price for your car. The best way to find out how much money you could get is to look up your car’s market value using one of many available online guides. Compare your car’s condition and mileage to those of similar cars on offer and you’ll be able to get a pretty correct ballpark amount. Make sure you look for vehicles similar to yours listed in your area. Compare the asking price to the book value and you’ll get a good idea of how much your car is worth.
Collect the documents
Another thing you need to do is gather all documents a prospective buyer can use to piece together the car’s history. Try to find maintenance records, invoices for parts you’ve installed, as well as the original window sticker if you still have it.
Pictures are vital
They say a picture is worth a thousand words and when you take great pics of your car, you significantly increase your chances of getting a decent price for it. Some time ago, I tried to quickly sell my car in Sydney, but the pics I took were really below par. Needless to say, the offers I got were much lower than expected. However, as soon as I used a better camera and paid more attention to presenting my car in the best possible light, the offers started flooding in and I ended up getting a great price for my old Renault Megane. So, the better the photos, the more likely you are to sell your car.
Writing your ad
Don’t write too much, but try to be as concise as possible. Of course, you should list the year, make, model, mileage, overall condition, as well as some noteworthy option. Be honest about significant mechanical and cosmetic issues. It may seem an obvious tip, but it should be said: don’t write the entire ad in capital letters, as some sellers do. It’s off-putting and many people won’t even bother to read your ad.
Haggling
Some people hate to haggle and that’s quite understandable, but selling a used car always involves some kind of negotiating regarding the price. How much room you’re going to leave for haggling depends on many factors. In case you need cash urgently, you should accept that taking a more substantial hit is a likely option. Also, if you see that there are many people inquiring, you need to know that your chances of getting a price closer to the asking one are solid. However, you should never feel pressured into accepting a ridiculous low-ball offer. The car is yours until you sign over the title and how much you sell it for is your decision.
These are just some of the most important tips you should follow when selling your car. They are based on many years of experience and those who follow them are in a much better position to get a realistic price for their car.
