Tips When Selling Privately

[Sleeper6T]

Hi all,

just after some tips or hints when selling a car privately. I have my AU on carsales, carpoint and on here and only today had my first possible person come around to have a look etc. I have always traded in cars and so have never had to deal with this process. Any tips would be much appreciated cheers

Brad

[Chich]

make sure its clean and fix anything that might be obvious, like scratches and so on, basically just make it look like its been well looked after

[Rootster]

Hi all . Can`t help myself hope you have a sence of humour Brad.The only hint I can give you make sure you take the cash off who ever purchases the car

[Iconic Bionic]

Ensure they have a vaild licence when they test drive your car to ensure that they are covered if they crash it. Write the details down of the licence and leave them at your home or with someone when you go for a drive with them.

It would be easier to just hold there licence but they may need it if pulled up. You keep there details in case they rob you or car jack you, which is not uncommon with performance cars.

And most of all you set the terms of the sale, that is locaion. Dont go to strange places like car parks that they may suggest.

Also make sure the photo on the licence is the same as the person handing it to you. Someone elses licence is no good to you or the constabulary.

I.B.

Edited 30/10/08 05:28 AM by Iconic Bionic

[Ghosti]

Warm it up fully.

My VS used to make a bit of a light squealing noise (belts probably) when it was first started. It never bothered me but remember they will want to lift the bonnet and the noise will be louder. If I was buying a 2nd hand car I'd be put off by something like that, even if it was something cheap and superficial.

Also spending some time cleaning up the engine bay makes it look sooo much less hacked under there.

I agree with what IB said about meeting places but be aware that if they come to your place and your garage isn't secure or they come inside the actual house, they'll be able to work out fairly quickly, how to easily steal the car.

Especially if you're now driving something else and it's home alone all day with the keys hanging on one of those hook boards screaming "STEAL MEH!".

I've sold quite a few motoX bikes over the years (more of an issue there as it's pretty easy to steal a bike) and was made aware very early on that this is a deliberate ploy that some thieves use.

They come tyre kicking, say they're not interested and leave and whaddya know!? You've just invited them in to case the joint.

Probably never happen but it can't hurt to be safe.

Also, even if you really want to make the sale, don't be afraid to be firm on the price.

Every person who has bought something off me has tried to haggle down the price. Can't blame them, I do it too. But most people come prepared to pay what you've got it listed for, they're just trying for a bonus. Otherwise they wouldn't have wasted their time.

[Sleeper6T]

Awesome thanks guy's some good tips. I've pretty much done all that I just had the RWC done so car running really good, I went for the drive with the guy and actually met him at the top of my drive (live in a set of units) and didnt tell him the unit number of my place, but I keep it in my lock up garage anyway.

I had the touch up guy's come around a couple weeks ago to go over the whole exterior and I went through the Interior doing everything I could. Really a shame I need to sell it to help by the T cos would love to keep it as a day driver but it's that few grand that I really need lol.

Thanks to the excellent melbourne weather too of late with the dirty rain I have been taken it to the local car wash with my bucket and chamois. Sounds like I'm doing all the right things I guess it's more knowing the tire kickers/time wasters from the genuine buyers and like you said being firm on the price. If it wasnt in their price range they wouldnt make the effort to come out.

Cheers !

Brad

[tmac450]

Don't give your address out to anyone. Get their name and number and call them back to give the address (this will weed out most of the opportunistic, car theiving scum.

Also, if you are in a position to meet them as your place of work, rather than your house, even better (they can use the oppotrunity to case your house out, see where you keep the keys to other cars, etc).

And as the others have said, hold their licence during andy test drives, and always go with them. If you can, have someone with you.

Apart from that, clean the car up properly (present it as you would expect it if you were buying).

[MICKAJ]

Never under any condition give out your home address or anything indicating where the car is garaged.

Don't give direct answers about the security measuers that the car has, or if you have spare keys. Be vague

Meet potential buyers somewhere neutral.

Always get their personel details via licence or photo id before letting them drive or even hold the keys

Never allow them to test drive without you supervising (car theft, trash your car etc)

Never get excited by something they offer because its most likely a trick designed to get you off guard. For instance any suggestion of cash in hand if you just let me go for a spin by myself etc..

[Sleeper6T]

Unfortunately carsales.com is pretty specific about what you have to do to have an add posted and that means supplying a phone number and a suburb so any half witt with a brain can track down an address in about 10 seconds by calling telstra assistance 1234.

The reason I know this is cos I work in retail and have had to track customers down with partial information myself, and depending what info I had or needed was able to get their, address, or phone number. So while it's a good point and worth being that careful it makes no difference as you can track down someone with the click of a couple buttons or a phone call.

As far as not going with the person when they want to take it for a test drive I dont know who would do that certainly not me anyway. Not too sure I agree about the not telling them of the security measures of the car. For one it's a feature of the car and, two, even if I werent to list it in the add when they came around to look or test drive they'd find out anyway.

It's really good to get the feedback though cos there is always things you forget yourself or should change etc.

Cheers

[MICKAJ]

You don't have a work number that's not linked to your residential address??

I said be vague about security, don't tell them specific about wiring or how its done with respect to custom stuff until they buy it.

Edited 31/10/08 07:05 AM by MICKAJ