Go To Part 1 - Sell My Car :: Go To Part 3 - Sell My Car
Sell My Car: Secret #4 - Nip & Tuck (Cont'd)
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"Make sure you get a Carfax Report - more than 70% of your prospective buyers are going to want to see one"
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See The Best & Worst Lists for 2005 - 2006 Cars, Trucks, Vans & SUV's listed on the middle of this page
........get them fixed. Professional Repairs start at $50. If you want to do it yourself, try Mothers. I've used it twice - it's pretty simple and it works wonders. I found Mother's Touch-Up Paint Kit at Auto Barn for $14.95 - that's a good deal (it's $2.40 cheaper than I paid for it).
For a more detailed look at how to repair minor scratches and scuffs, see how to make your own minor repairs before you sell a car
If you need tires, DO NOT buy the best money can buy - settle for a Mid-Grade Tire that is safe and reliable. How do you know if you need new tires? If they are 3 years old, or older - Get New Ones. Buyers, even lil' ol' Grandma will check the tires. If the tires are bad, or getting bad, you will not be able to sell the car.
You can try your local Tire Retailers, or try the Tire Rack - I've bought two sets from them in the past 11 months and saved more than $60 each time. When you're at the Tire Rack
, make sure you get the name of a Shop near you that will install them - that's one of the services they offer.
If the vehicle runs well, DO NOT do any major repairs - you will not recoup any of that money from the sale.
If it needs repairs, say so in your advertising and discussions you have with prospective buyers....and discount the vehicle for the amount of the repair.
And make sure you get a Carfax Report - more than 70% of your prospective buyers are going to want to see it. It's almost expected these days. First though, check with CarFax to make sure they have a complete history on your vehicle. The Check is free...and it let's you know what's on the full report - click here to check the
FREE Carfax Report. If the vehicle records show, go ahead and get the
Carfax Report The last time I looked, I think they cost about $8.
Just remember to save the Carfax Report and make about twenty copies to have for your potential buyers.
One more thing - if the vehicle you are trying to sell was involved in an accident and a Police Report was filed, it's very likely to show on the Carfax Report - they don't miss much. Don't try to hide it - be upfront about it and describe the accident to any potential buyer. Expect to get at least $300 less for your vehicle - and if the accident was severe - perhaps a $1000 or more.
Total Time To Complete - 8 minutes
Sell My Car: Secret #5 - Advertising Magic
The Advertising Magic is a simple, 4 step process -
1. Online Classifieds/Newspaper Classifieds
2. Online Auctions
3. Cars.com
4. Edmunds
5. CarsDirect
If you have some time, and don't have to sell it "right now", I want you to try Craigs List first - it's a Huge, Nationwide Classified Ad Site - & IT'S FREE! Just find your City or Area closest to you and give it a shot. If you're not in a hurry, give it two weeks and see what happens. (See Secret #6 -the next one down- for What To Say and Why You Say It.)
I also suggest using Live Deal's Classifieds to help sell your car. It's totally free to list your car or truck and you pay nothing unless it sells. Registration is free and takes about 30 seconds.
Your next source to use are the Auction Sites - If you have a Rare Vehicle, or one that is in Very High Demand, and you're not in a hurry, then give eBay Motors your business. Their Auction Process can really increase your profits. A quick registration
is all it takes, so start there first. If you'd like a little more info on how you can sell a car faster and for more money on eBay, click here. It can really help.
The Next Stop is your local Newspaper & it's Classified Ads Section. You'll spend anywhere from $10 to $40 on a Classified Ad in the Used Car Section. So make sure you spend your money wisely and advertise the right way. (See Secret #6 for What To Say....& Why).
Now it's time to get ready for the Big Three Online Sites - Edmunds, Cars.com
and CarsDirect
. All that's required right now is....pictures (you'll need them for eBay & LiveDeal as well). You must take at least five digital pictures of your vehicle and save them to the hard drive on your computer. Take a nice shot of both sides, the front, the rear, and a close-up of the Odometer.
If you don't have a digital camera, beg, borrow or steal one. Why? Because Pictures Sell!
A Used Car Ad, with no pictures, is 87% less likely to sell - that's all the reason you need.
Aren't good with a PC? -- then get someone to help load the pictures on your computer.
Total Time To Complete - 1 hour
Sell My Car: Secret #6 - Part 1 - Make Your Buyers Dance....
The most hated part of selling a car yourself are the incredibly stupid phone calls you get....and having to show the vehicle toprospective buyersClick this link to get a printer friendly page of The Prospective Buyers Information Page" - Phone Numbers & Contact Info - You're going to need it! over-and-over again.
So let's Eliminate That Problem Before You Even Start - Here's How.
Show your car, van, truck or SUV to all interested parties - on the same day.
Yep, you're going to have your very own "Special Sale" - this works so well it will blow your mind.
Here's how you do it.
In your Ad, state the year, color, make, model, trim, transmission type and miles - & remember to abbreviate everything you can.
Then add the keywords "private owner", "financing arranged and financing available", "must sell", "clean", "good/fair condition", CarFax available" and if the vehicle has a warranty or not.
If there is no warranty, consider adding one - it'll make your vehicle Irresistible! And you can raise the selling price to offset the cost of the warranty. A highly regarded Company that I've dealt with in the past, and will put a very good warranty on a used car, is Warranty Direct. Give them a try - it's one of the best things you can do to help sell your car, truck, van or SUV.
Next, you add the "asking price" - that will eliminate almost all of the "Window Shoppers" and "Dreamers."
Lastly, add this phrase - "Special Sales Event" Available for viewing & test-drives Sat. 5/5/2010 9 - Noon ONLY. Call 555-555-5555 6pm-8pm wkdays/10am-2pm wkends/e-mail jouisuzu@fake.com with ?'s. (Get An Exact Copy Of What The AD Should Say By Clicking Here - It's Free and ready to print).
If you want to use different timeframes, go ahead - I just find that these times work best. Regardless of what times you use, just make sure you limit the times you'll be available for calls. This will keep the incredibly stupid from calling at midnight.
Here's Three suggestions - and they're good ones. One, Do Not use your personal or work e-mail address - You DO NOT want that floating around. Use your "Junk" e-mail address to avoid giving out your personal e-mail accounts. If you don't have an extra e-mail address to use, you can get a free one at Yahoo.
Two, try not to use your Home or Business Number either (Marketing Software patrolling the Internet might grab it) - use your cell phone number if possible.
And Three, when giving the condition of your vehicle, you're going to use "Fair" or "Good" - DO NOT use "Excellent" - click here to find out why!
Now it's time to sell your car - Go ahead and call the Newspaper and schedule the Used Car Ad to start on a Sunday. (Again, if you want an exact copy of what the ad should look like, click here to get a printer friendly page of that Ad)
Are you ready for the Online Sites - Good. Load the Ads for Cars.com, CarsDirect.com & Edmunds the night before your Sunday Newspaper will run.
At Edmunds, go to the "Used" section and where it says "Sell Used Cars" enter your Zip Code & click Go.
Next, you'll click "Create Your Ad." The two options I suggest are the "Upgrade" or the "Fully Loaded" Ad. The Upgrade Ad only lets you add 1 photo - the Fully Loaded Ad lets you add up to 9 photos. If it's my car, I'm paying for the "Fully Loaded" Ad - the more pictures I can show, the better.
Enter the correct data in the appropriate areas - And in the "Description Box, enter the ad you used for the Newspaper. Then, upload your photos (if you not sure how to upload photos to the Edmunds Site, don't be afraid to ask someone for help). That's all there is to it.
Now off to Cars.com - Enter your Zip Code if it's not in the text box yet. Then either choose the "Enhanced" package or the "Premium" package. If it's my car, I'm doing the Premium - you get to add up to 12 pictures - and pictures sell. Next, complete the vehicle info - it's all point & click. Near the bottom of the page is a text box - "Additional Selling Points" - put the Ad you wrote there. Add your Contact info just below that, then on to "Add Your Photos.
And finally, head to CarsDirect. When you get to CarsDirect, look for the "sell" tab located at the top of the page and click it. Then enter you car or trucks year, make, model and zip code.
Then complete the vehicle and contact information and you're on your way.
Now sit back and get ready for the phone to ring and your e-mail box to overflow.
Sell My Car: Secret #6 - Part 2 - To A Song Of Your Choosing
As the AD says, you're making a particular Saturday your "Special Sale Event" - That is the #1 Automotive buying day - however, you can use any day you like. My suggestion is to make it the 2nd Saturday after your AD starts running. Start your Sale at 9am, and no matter what happens, or what a prospective buyer says to you, that is the only day and time your vehicle can be viewed.
When prospective buyers call, or e-mail, tell them that the vehicle will be available for review and test-drives the following Saturday (or the day of your choosing) between 9am - 12pm at your Bank. (Remember to be ready for these Questions when you sell a car)Click this link to get a printer friendly page of The 7 Questions You Must Ask To Eliminate 75% of Your No-Shows"
Remember, you've already spoken with the Bank about a Loan for the new buyer - just make sure you call them and say you'll be over on Saturday and your Bank - or one that you've chosen - will handle the transaction.
After you've given theprospective buyersClick this link to get a printer friendly page of The Prospective Buyers Information Page" - Phone Numbers & Contact Info - You're going to need it! this information, just ask them........
Continued On Next Page - Sell A Used Car - Secret's 6(Cont.), 7, 8, 9, 10 Click Here
I do have an obligation to point out that not all Car Makers, Dealers, Salespeople, Insurance Companies and Banks are greedy or crooked. This site is dedicated to honest Companies and their Professional Employees who've grown weary of the ignorant and classless giving the automotive related industry a black eye......a black eye that I feel is very close to being permanent.
By using these new and used car guides, I hope to be able to help you find the Best Businesses, and the Professionals that represent them, with very little effort on your part and help you....
Save More Money and More Time Than You Ever Have Before.
It is also my hope that these Companies and the Professionals that represent them will have more business than they can handle - a reward they justly deserve.
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I guarantee that you will have an exceptional experience the next time you buy a car, van, truck or SUV - again, thank you for visiting this Web Site!
Tom O'Leary - "A Concerned Dad....and Automotive Analyst"
New Car Purchase - Exceptional New Car Purchase Advice and Automobile Purchase Strategies for your next new car or used automobile purchase.
Feel free to e-mail me at: Tom at my new car purchase (no spaces) dot com - or take a few seconds to send a question or comment by Clicking here
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