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Whether you’ve bought a new car or simply want to get rid of an old one, trying to sell a second-hand vehicle and get as much of your money back as possible can be a tiresome task. The key to a quick and successful sale lies within a good quality advertisement with plenty of detail, and a realistic point of view.
Know the details
When you’re putting together a description of your car for the sale ad, it’s important to include as much detail as possible. List down whether or not you are the first owner, how many kilometers it’s done, when it was serviced, by whom, if all repairs and parts are genuine to the make and model. Has the car been kept under cover or on the street? Does it come from a pet or smoke-free home? Are the tyres new, when were they last replaced? A new set of tyres are expensive, and if yours were are new then this adds value to the listing.
While this amount of detail might seem excessive, it will be a delight to anyone looking to buy a car because they immediately know the history of the car and how it has been cared for. If you’ve added anything extra to the car, such as car seats, a sound system or done extra maintenance, mention that too, it will add value to your car and the listing.
List the good, the bad, and the ugly
While no one wants to highlight all the flaws of the product they are trying to sell, it’s of the utmost importance that you include any large dents, crashes, gear box or engine issues your car might have. While this may dissuade some buyers from considering your car, there’s nothing worse than having someone turn up to inspect a car they thought was good as new, but actually requires significant work. It wastes their time and yours.
List the specs
Now that you’ve divulged every aspect of the car’s history, it’s time to take a deep dive into the specifications of the make and model. In your listing, include a section that lists who the car is made by, what year it is, the size of the engine and whether it’s automatic or manual. Including as much information on the specifications as possible makes your listing look trustworthy and knowledgeable, but will also validate the price you are asking for it.
Take photos, lots of photos
There’s nothing worse than a comprehensive listing with one, sad photo. Photos are what potential buyers will flick through to determine if the car is worth going to inspect, so don’t be shy about posting as many as you need to capture every aspect of the car. Get photos of the car’s exterior, interior, under the hood, in the boot, any damage, and any sound systems or equipment that you’ve added.
Know the market
One of the most important things to remember when trying to sell your car is that it isn’t new, and you aren’t going to get back exactly what you paid for it. Spend some time researching cars of a similar make and model as yours that are in a similar condition online, and find out what most are selling for. Take note of any listings that have been sitting around for a long time. Are they a poor-quality listing, or are they simply asking too much for the car.
Prepare for the inspection
Once your car is listed it’s time to get it ready for inspection by potential buyers. Give it a wash, clean the interior, vacuum and dust and ensure there’s nothing left hiding in the glove box, boot or centre console that you don’t want to lose. Give the windows a clean and let some fresh air flow through it before you lock it up.
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