Get your car ready to sell
There are many reasons to privately sell your car. One of the overriding reasons though is that you can definitely make more of a profit when selling your vehicle privately as opposed to trading it in through a dealership.
Nowadays most people will opt to make extra money if they can and when selling your car privately you’re bound to get closer to your asking price and the vehicle’s retail value.
Trading your car in is the easiest option by far but privately selling your vehicle is worth it. You need to work with a car book value calculator to ascertain a realistic asking price. However, you’re likely to gain thousands in your back pocket by comparison to what a dealership will give you. If you’re willing to give it a go then there are some considerations to account for before you place your advert online.
Be prepared to spend your time
You’re going to have to set aside time in your schedule for meeting with potential buyers, setting up test drives, contacting the bank and figuring out finance options. You’ll be doing all of this alone. This means you need to know what you’re talking about so as to avoid a scam and to settle on a price. You also need to fine tune your negotiating skills. If you’re not having any luck consider lowering your price slightly and be prepared to talk money with potential buyers. If you’re set on a certain price then make sure you can substantiate why you expect that figure – you wanting a certain amount of profit is not a good enough reason.
Have you vehicle checked out
No matter how car-savvy you think you are, call in a professional before putting your car on the market. You need to get your car to a trusted mechanic for a full check and inspection. Every part of the vehicle must be tested, all issues must be fixed and the car must be deemed safe. You cannot sell a vehicle that has serious issues, or if you do you have to be upfront with the buyer. If the car has serious issues that are going to cost you a ton of money then you might reconsider the private sale and look to a dealership. Or, offer the vehicle with a voetstoots clause.
Be willing to hand over documents
You must be willing to show your potential buyer your logbook of travelling (if you have one), your service records to show a yearly service was performed and the vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The VIN is most important as this is the only way a buyer can check that the car hasn’t been in an accident. This information must be available to the buyer immediately regardless of whether they seem serious or not.
Get your car detailed
This is more than just a wash. Having your car detailed means it receives a full scrub down both inside and out. This means that no part of your car is left untreated. A full detailing will include paint care and the cleaning of your car’s undercarriage, chassis and wheels. This means the grime that collects in these areas is removed and you may even find that your car performs better. Your lights and plastic trim on the outside of the car will be cleaned and treated too, with protectant products to prevent future damage. And, then the detailing service should include the interior too. This means a full valet: carpet shampooing, steam clean, wax and polish and if you have a leather interior. Then it should be conditioned properly. Not every detailing service offers an engine clean but this is vitally important. So if you need to ask for it separately then do so. Your buyer will be well-impressed by a glistening, clean engine when they look under the bonnet.