When it comes to selling your car, the majority of people opt for a private sale. Advertising your car for a private sale is often relatively cheap. For example, if you choose to advertise in a publication such as Auto Trader, the average advert will cost you around £30 (sometimes less than this) for an advert in both the paper and online site including images. You can also opt to place an advert in your local paper. Prices vary from publication to publication. If you do not have a budget for selling your car you can put a sign up in the window of your car and park it in a place that has good passing traffic or you could use the social media site facebook and join the local communnity selling page groups in your area. You can then upload images and car details for free and reach potential buyers in your immediate area. Reasearch shows that traditionally the best times for selling your car through a private sale tend to be in March, April and September. If you have a convertible then the best times to sell one of those would be in the warmer months of the year - this would also help to attract a better selling price.
Setting The Price
Do your research - see what other cars of similar age, mileage and specification to yours are being advertised for. A generl rule of thumb has been to see what a dealer is advertising a similar car to your and then go in at 10% lower (they have to put a mark up on their cars to make a profit). If your car is in good condition with a good service history (regular servicing and maintenance at your local independent garage), buyers should not be put off by your price. A car that has FSH will always attract a beter resale price and more interest than one that has not been adequately maintained.
If there are obvious flaws to the car, you need to take these into account when setting a price, and make deductions if necessary. If possible ensure that you use a reputable garage such as ACC UK Ltd, Independent Volvo & Toyota Service, Repair & MOT specialists based in Farnborough, Hampshire to check your car over and attend to any minor repairs before putting it up for sale. The more "issues" you have with your car the more reason the buyer has to knock you down on the price or the more potential for people to become quickly uninterested in your vehicle. If you really need to get £3000 say for your car then you are better off advertising your car for sale at something in the region of £3250 so that you have room for negotiation with the potential buyer.
Ensure that your vehicle is clean and polished to give the best impression of your vehicle to potential buyers and free from personal clutter. A professional valet can be a wise investment, but not if your car is being sold in the lower price range, in this instance you would be better off doing it yourself. If possible take it to your local Independent Garage like ACC UK Ltd Volvo & Toyota Service, Repair and MOT Specialists, based in Farnborough, Hampshire and get those minor repairs undertaken, such as Wiper Blades if they are looking tatty, tyres replaced if low, bulbs replaced etc...all minor things that can be easily rectified but could give the potential buyer a reason to negotiate the price down. Ensure that you have all your paperwork for your car to hand, including any recent bills etc so that the potential buyer can see that you have addressed issues and rectified them. Happy selling!
