Thanks to the Internet it is much easier today for one to sell their used car online quickly and affordably. Setting up an online ad for your car is much more cost effective and efficient than placing a sign in your window or using print advertising. Online classifieds run much longer than typical print ads and depending where you place your ad on the Internet you can even benefit from free advertising. Not only will you be targeting people in your neighbourhood but your ad will be seen by people all over the country making it that much more likely that you will sell your car fast.
The following 6 steps will help you sell your used car quickly and efficiently:
Step 1 - Asking Price
In order to sell your used car in a competitive market you need to know who your competition is. Namely what are other cars of the same make, model and year going for? You want to make sure the asking price stands out from the rest, while still leaving room for negotiation.
Step 2 - Keep Your Car Clean
This is probably the most crucial step. You want to a make sure both the inside and the outside are immaculate before you take the pictures and show it to potential buyers. It is definitely worth the added cost to get your car detailed just before the pictures are taken. Just make sure you keep the car in the same condition before potential buyers come by to view the car.
Step 3 - Where To Advertise Your Used Car
A mentioned at the beginning of this article one of the easiest and most cost effective places to advertise is on the Internet, however if you have a little money to spend it isn't a bad idea to use other sources as well. Here are a few options:
1) Online used car classifieds
2) Free online classifieds such as CraigsList and Kijiji
3) Social Bookmarking classifieds such as Facebook's Marketplace
4) Local newspaper classified ads
5) And even though I mocked it in the beginning a "For Sale" sign in the car's window with your phone number can't hurt
Step 4 - Creating Your Ad
Once you have decided where your ads are going to be placed the next step is to design an ad that will be an attention grabber. It is best to start with the basics - make, model, year, colour, etc. But to really grab a potential buyer's attention you need to include a list of the best attributes of your used car. Such as low mileage, highway driven, new parts such as tires, etc. making sure every statement is true of course. If you are going to price you car with room to negotiate, as suggested earlier, then make sure you also mention that.
Step 5 - Showing Your Used Car
Once your ads have been placed your next step will be to show your used car to potential buyers. Here are a couple of tips to help this process go smoothly:
1) Make an appointment with each potential buyer - this way if they are late you don't have to feel bad for not waiting for them
2) As mentioned earlier make sure your car is always clean
3) If you have all the service records make sure you have them available for the buyer along with any reports you have on your car
4) Pre-plan a test-drive route that you can take potential buyers on. The route should be one that shows your car in a good light. You should of course ask for proof of a license and accompany the buyer on the test-drive. Not only will this give you an opportunity to answer any questions but you will also get a feel for how motivated they are to buy.
Step 6 - Handling Negotiations
The majority of people are not very skilled when it comes to negotiating, many people actually feel really uncomfortable asking a seller to come down on their price. Just understand that everyone wants to pay less than the asking price, but some people don't know how to do it. If you've built in room for negotiation you should have no problem handling any potential buyers negotiating skills. If their offer is too low you can always move on to the next potential buyer.
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer in Ottawa.
This article about selling used cars was written for MonsterAuto.ca, a great Canadian site where you can easily sell your used Chevrolets.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Corey_A_Rozon
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