Placing Ads:
You can place ads in your local newspaper or even on the web at a number of classified car sites but, you should know that most private party vehicles are sold through local classifieds or used-car publications. If the car doesn't sell right away, make sure you can afford to run ads for an extended period of time if necessary. Once you have placed the ads you should set aside some time to answer phone calls and meet interested parties to take them around for z test drive. You should be prepared for possible scheduling hassles like multiple buyers wanting to see the car at the same time, and for negotiating in general cause some of them might want to bargain so you should decide beforehand as to how much can you come down. If you want to place ads on the net you can use online classifieds such as Autobytel.com, CarJunky.com, Cars.com or Edmunds.com where you can reach a geographically large area of buyers. You can also place Bulletin boards at supermarkets, libraries and college campuses. Put your cars specifications and finish up your ad by listing an asking price.
Make the car presentable:
Like the saying goes the first impression is the last impression so make your car very presentable. A shiny car gives the impression that you care about the car and have maintained it in good condition. Give the car a proper wash or you can even take the car to a full-service car wash as an alternative to a full detail. Have the car wash perform some of the extra services available, such as vacuuming, wiping the interior and dressing the trim, and your car should come out looking good. You should also get a mechanic to check out the engine of the car, and take notes of any major repairs that might be needed in the future. Also put together a maintenance record from the mechanic and have it ready to show to the buyers. You should also consider getting all the dents, dings and scrapes repaired if there are any. And if the cars possible retail value makes it worth while. So in other words if you are selling a junky car, it probably has rust or some other problems then don’t bother getting it painted. Get the windshield replaced if there are any cracks, for chips and dings consider calling your car insurance company. Sometimes they will pay for a chip to be fixed to avoid having to spend more money in replacing the whole windshield.
You should not leave anything untouched because if your car is in the best possible resale condition, then only you will have a better chance of enticing potential buyers to offer asking price.
Knowing about Car Scams and how to avoid them:
Used-car buying is a business full with scams. The following are some of the most common ones:
•
Certified Check Scams – This is usually common on sellers over the internet. The buyer indicates that he wants to buy the car and pays with a cashier's cheque. Then at the last moment he would give a reason why he needs to write a cheque for more money for shipping and have the seller wire him the money he had already sent i.e. the difference. Later the seller finds out that the check issued was fake. To avoid this, you should call the issuing bank before you accept the cheque and wait for the check to clear before you transfer the car into the buyer's name. But for the most part, think when was the last time you gave someone a few hundred extra dollars to buy something.
•
Bogus Escrow Services – Most of the online car sellers use escrow services. This way they collect and verify payment from a buyer and the money is held by them until all parties are satisfied with the sale. But it has been reported that there are some phony escrow services operating on the Internet. So, make sure you check out an escrow service with SOS4Auction.com where you can find out the good and bad services.
•
False Auctions – Even in popular sites like EBay, buyers and sellers are swindled. It is reported that most Internet fraud occurs on auction sites. Make sure you carefully research the buyer and his buying history. Never ship the vehicle before the money has been received. And read the details of the auction sites… Sometimes they will only offer $1 on every $1000 lost.
The best way to avoid most scams is to make sure you never transfer ownership of your car until you have the cash in your hand. That means, you either get cash from the buyer or wait for the cashier's check to clear. Avoid taking personal checks and allowing buyers to pay the car off over time. If you follow these few precautions, your car-selling experience should go smoothly. Most transactions go smoothly, but it helps to know what may go wrong or what to look for. If something doesn’t feel right or sound right, chances are its not…
Making the Sale
Once the money has been handed over to you, you will have to record the mileage reading and sign the car’s title to the buyer. After that the state will issue a title for the new car owner. You should check up with the Dept of Motor Vehicles for the laws in your state on what is required from you the seller as well as the buyer. It never hurts to know what to tell the buyer they need to do.
Next, you would have to make out a bill of sale one copy for each the buyer and seller. The bill of sale should include:
• Names, addresses and phone numbers of the buyer and seller
• The vehicle's make, model, year, mileage and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• The full sale price and how it was paid
• A statement that the car was sold "as is," meaning there is no guarantee or warranty (unless you arrange otherwise)
• Both buyer and seller signatures with date of sale
After both you and the buyer fill out the form you would need to cancel your insurance, remove the plates and registration tags and turn over the keys to the new owner.
Following these simple steps will help ensure that both you and the buyer are satisfied with the sale.
