1. POSTING YOUR AD ONLINE

Applying for a Job

The point of submitting a resume isn’t to a get a job; it’s to get an interview. You just want to get your foot in the door. Accordingly, the point of posting an ad on car sites isn’t to make a sale; it is to get people to check out your car.

Verbiage and Presentation

My old boss told me I got the interview out of hundreds of candidates because I didn’t have spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors on my resume and cover letter. So take the time to put up a quality ad. Don’t simply copy and paste a bunch of uninteresting, boilerplate car facts because you see it from everyone else. Why? Just like an owner of a company assumes you already know Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, a potential buyer already knows the main components of your car. Accordingly, since buyers are reading hundreds of ads already, they don’t have time for fluff. Just like a resume, highlight your unique features that will separate you from the pack. For example, do you have all service records, or are you a non-smoker? Perhaps you only used the car to commute to work and back? Make these things clear. If you want to put in basic components after, go ahead. Just don’t crowd out the good stuff that help people mentally picture your vehicle.

Pictures are a definitely selling point. Never use stock photos. Take high quality photos of your clean looking car from the interior and exterior. People don’t want to assume that the rest of your car is in good shape. In some pictures, showcase the best features of your car. If you are able to include a video of your car, people will love that as well! Bonus points for that.

2. MEETING THE BUYER FACE-TO-FACE

Dress to Impress

Based on our days as cavemen, our brains were programmed to make quick assumptions so we could survive. First impressions are everything. For example, if your potential boss sees an unkempt interviewee upon first arrival, they will assume they are a messy person in general. It doesn’t matter how many times that person dresses nicely, brushes their teeth, or combs their hair after that because that first image will always be in the back of the interviewer’s mind. Therefore, spending the extra $20 to get a thorough wash and vacuum could add thousands to your end price. Also, don’t forget to give your car a nice scent!

It’s the Little Things

Often a person isn’t hired for what is on the resume. It can be because a small comment was dropped about a favorite sports team. I’ve even heard of a person that was hired at a large law firm because he dropped off a thank you note to the secretary that buzzed him in. Apparently, she had some connections. Accordingly, be personable! It never hurts. A lot of private sellers treat potential buyers as if they just escaped out of prison. Instead, make them comfortable. If they’re coming to your house for a test drive, give them clear directions and offer them some water. Have a clear route picked out with less traffic. Tell them that you took it for an inspection or oil change already. Let them know how much you’ve taken care of the car with maintenance records, repair work documentation, and a Carfax (or Autocheck, which is cheaper) if you have one. Even take the time to fill the tank up in case they want to drive it then and there. Yes, that tells them something about yourself and your reputation adds value to your car!

Know How Much You’re Worth

So many people are in the final process of an interview when the question is asked, “how much are you looking for?” Based off their answer, I’ve known some people to receive a salary much more than they’re worth and others, much less. It all depends on how you play it. The worst thing you can do is state a salary less than they were willing to pay, and have them give you a lowball offer on top of that. Perhaps they may even second guess their hire because they are thinking there must be a reason this candidate thinks they are worth so little. It should be stressed the job isn’t about the money. Likewise, you want to sell that your car is not just about a price tag.

First, you can bet the people who are looking at your ad have spent dozens of hours researching for cars. So should you. Find out exactly how much your car is worth and the range it is valued at. Obviously, you want to go on the higher end of the spectrum. Never turn someone down on the phone. If your car is decent, encourage them to take a look. Never state your bottom dollar, but know EXACTLY the lowest you are willing to go. Start high and tell them other people have expressed interest. If you’re not good at negotiating, find a partner who can help you.

Lastly, and most importantly, know in advance what type of payments you’ll accept and how you will handle it. It will make you look much more professional and prevent you from being scammed. When it comes to buying your car, remember that YOU set the conditions. The most effective way is to do it at the bank. Give them two options: either go to their bank and be present while they withdraw a cashier’s check OR go to your bank while you cash their check. Never turn over any completed paperwork until the money is in your account. Now, have fun getting top dollar for your car!

Dan Loney has bought and sold a few cars in his day. He highly recommends the use of an Autotrader promotion code when attempting to sell a car.

Related Posts:

• 8 Tips For Selling Your Car Yourself
• 7 Tips For Buying a Car From a Private Seller
• Best Places To Buy A Used Car

Listen to this article.

1. Get organized. Clean your car, get all your personal stuff out of it, and make it shine as much as possible. Organize all your service records in chronological order. If you have any spare parts or accessories for your car, put them in the vehicle. Have your car ready to go so that when you show it you can sell right it away, then the buyer can drive it home and you never have to deal with it again.

2. Craigslist is KING. Just about everyone who’s looking for a used car is going to visit craigslist, and it’s free to list your car. When you list your car make sure you put up a detailed description and as many pictures as possible. Here’s a big tip: Save yourself time and improve your credibility by taking pictures of any flaws on your car and describing them accurately. This will make you stand out from all the people that claim their car is “perfect”. If craigslist isn’t working, try AutoTrader.

3. Change your craigslist ad often. The way that craigslist works, you move to the top every time you update your listing. By changing your listing once a day (or even once an hour) you’ll get the most out of your ad.

4. The first phone call or email you get is usually the best one. In our experience with craigslist and similar sites, and even newspaper classifieds, the first person to contact you is usually the person that ends up buying, so treat that first caller like royalty. The first caller is usually motivated, so don’t feel like you have to discount for that person (at least not very much).

5. Be safe. Don’t put your address in your ad – all you’re doing is advertising where someone can go to steal your car. You should also list your work phone instead of using your personal number. Finally, and most importantly, meet potential buyers in a public place. Shopping mall parking lots are ideal – they have security, they’re lots of people, and they’re easy to find.

6. Test drives. If your buyer wants to test drive, and you don’t feel comfortable going along with him or her, ask if you can hold the keys to their car before they drives away. If you get a bad vibe before or at any point during the test drive process, tell the buyers to take a hike: there’s absolutely no reason to take any risks.

7. Don’t accept cashier’s checks or bank drafts. Unless you’re inside a bank talking to a bank employee, don’t ever accept a cashier’s check or bank draft as payment. These instruments are extremely easy to counterfeit, so you should only take them from people you know and trust. Insist on cash. If your buyer has to give you a bank draft, meet them at their bank so you can verify it.

8. Wrap up all your loose ends. Before you let somebody drive off in your car, make sure you take your plates off. Have the buyer sign a bill of sale since this proves the vehicle was sold. Don’t forget to ask for ID. If you get any pushback on any of this, don’t sell the car to that person.

If you’re not sure how much money you should try to sell your car for, read our used car valuation guide.