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Is selling a used car online always such a nervous experience? My fellow sellers and I certainly think so. The issue is mainly people who try to make phoney claims once they see the car. There’s also those who break off a meeting without any warning that they’ve changed their mind; days that will haunt you and annoy you forever.
In order to decrease the risks when selling your used vehicle online, you are recommended to make good use of some best practices for selling that starts with having all the documents at hand and proceeds to the safety measures.
Post it on CarGurus
For a nominal fee CarGurus will post your car for sale in their marketplace, provide a professional copy of your photos, and an accurate free private party value tool to help price it right. Service removes barriers for buyers wanting to meet in person, but with no hassle of shipping a used car out of state or figuring out the paperwork associated with an escrow account: this service clears the opportunity for both parties to conduct a private transaction with the reassurance of an escrow account backing them up. Hemmings is an online marketplace for exotic and collectible vehicles similar to younger clients. It also has other sites, like sites for truck and RV aficionados, along with a magazine. For traditional sales, accept only cash or certified checks as payment.
Post it on Facebook Marketplace
Sellers can reach a larger audience from the comfort of home without having to pay any listing fees, and sellers can do three things to make their listing look good: use quality photos, include a detailed description, and price it in a way that’s competitive. Further, be honest about the item’s condition.For buyers, it is helpful to have realistic expectations of who is selling what Online marketplaces can seem like a neverending series of winning bids and those things you know should be expensive despite being used – but the thing that actually prevents many people from jumping into shopping online is that they have unrealistic ideas of what to expect. In other words, some things that should be expensive are cheap, and some things that are expensive aren’t.So, how can you tell the difference? First, you want to scrub your car clean and clear away any personal mementos, because you want to sell it quickly. Second, just list it without supplying any details – photograph it nicely, leave out any mechanical information and put it out there with a simple description. Leave it at that. Take as many photos as you want of everything – even post pictures of the engine if you know what you are doing – and let the car go, because buyers will find you and will be interested.
Post it on Craigslist
Most of us are familiar with Craigslist, but there are other online classifieds where you can place your car for sale. If your car is more on the rare and collectible side, Hemmings might be more suited to you. No matter where you connect with potential customers, be sure to take safety precautions. Do not reveal personal information, and always arrange meetings in public places such as parking lots. It’s best to know what competing market vehicles are going for before putting an asking price on your car to prevent the impression of price gouging. These things will help your potential buyer feel good about their purchase.
Post it on AutoTrader
For example, Autotrader supplies different templates for ad copy for each type of car, some of which include phrases such as ‘great mileage’ so that thrifty buyers at the pumps will see the ad. Personalise the ad in just the right way, using certain words that your potential customer will respond to. Sell your SUV by emphasising what your family has been able to do in it: bring your skis to the mountains, accommodate your in-laws when they come to visit, and road trip to San Diego to see the zoo. In the end, you need to show up to negotiations with the buyer prepared: have the repair estimates (and other documentation) available, so you can negotiate in good faith, and be sure you can meet your prospective buyer in a safe public venue so the item can get transferred.
Post it on eBay
If you’re trying to move a ‘bigger ticket item’, such as a six-figure car, eBay can be the best way of reaching a broad national market. If you’re using eBay, take a whole host of photos, including ones in close ups when applicable; be sure to point out both the pros and cons, like an SR20DET engine swap, and any cons like a dent in the front passenger door panel. Rather than auctioning it (and having to deal with time-wasters who might not really be interested in buying it), you could put your motor on sale with a Buy It Now option to anyone who offers an acceptable amount of money. In this way, you can circumvent the normal auction process whereby someone who might only want to ‘interfere with your auction fun’ by bidding up its price could simply misbehave. Don’t divulge too many specific details about yourself in your ad; scammers could hack your home phone number or address with the information they get. Buyers would also appreciate touchless online payment solutions such as Venmo or Zelle.
