Cars are one of the most important and expensive pieces of property you can own. It’s likely second only to a home.
Consequently, selling your car can sometimes be a hassle. There can be lots of paperwork, flaky prospective buyers, and numerous other setbacks, but there are other reasons unrelated to the sale of the car that is making the car selling process that much more difficult.
For example, teenagers aren’t learning to drive as much, with some commentators believing they’re primarily doing this for eco-conscious reasons. There are also fewer drivers on the road now due to rising fuel prices and maintenance costs.
As time goes on, it might feel like the odds of selling your car are increasingly stacked against you, but read on for ways you can help ensure a prompt vehicle sale.
Look After The Car
Your car needs to be in the highest quality condition as you can get it before you sell it. Few interested parties will happily hand over cash for a beaten-up, dirty vehicle.
Ensure you’re looking after the vehicle you hope to sell. Repair simple mechanical faults with a professional service. Remember, potential buyers may wish to test drive the vehicle, and even minor flaws in its handling will convince them to look for a new car elsewhere. Every potential niggle in the experience needs to be worked out.
Give both the interior and exterior a good clean. Spruce up the paintwork. If you don’t have the time, patience, or expertise to do a good job here, a full valet service might help you to complete these preparations. They’ll look after the car and add finesse to the proceedings, dressing the tyres and waxing the paintwork for a high gloss, quality finish.
Used cars are often thought to be inferior in terms of quality. Responsible owners can disprove that theory. If expectations are somewhat lowered due to the vehicle being used, you’re better positioned to exceed them in style.
Secure Professional Help
Many people choose to sell their cars privately. It can be a viable option if someone has already expressed their interest, but many feel a deep sense of unease at having to show a stranger around their car and sell it without being ripped off.
You needn’t go through the process alone. Some services are dedicated to ensuring a quick sale at a fair price. For example, if you use the online appraisal tools from BigBuyAnyCar.com, your money will be in the bank faster than you might expect. Enter your reg number, attach pictures, and you’ll receive an offer that’s guaranteed for 7 days. Accept it, and they’ll go beyond a simple mission statement of ‘we buy cars’ – they will also pick up your car from your home themselves!
There are many glowing testimonials for services like this, so be sure to read them all if you require additional assurances. Many assume they’ll receive the lowest market prices going this route, and while some services might short-change you, Big Buy Any Car offers a fair valuation and removes the hassle of selling your car private.
Be Contactable
Try to be helpful as the seller. Offers may come your way, and you’ll need to manage each individual and potential interest effectively, but all of this can be delayed if you do something as simple as failing to pick up the phone.
Therefore, you must keep your phone on and nearby. Research from late 2018 showed that one-third of Britons only used their phones to contact their parents, which is a pretty startling statistic. If you want to sell your car then it’s essential that people can reach you the first time they text or call.
Check your emails and social media postings regularly. Make sure notifications for both are switched on. Respond as quickly as possible and have your paperwork organised well so that you can answer any enquiries quickly and accurately. Remember, people can soon lose interest if they’re constantly met with delays, so you really can’t afford to keep interested parties waiting.
Be mindful of how people’s attention spans are also shortening; they want fast results just as much as you want a quick purchase, so being contactable is crucial.
Practice Caution
Some people only pose as prospective buyers to conceal their true intentions, which is stealing the vehicle outright. While it’s unlikely this will happen to you, it’s worth being prepared so that you can detect any suspicious activities.
Some safeguards are common sense. For example, be sure to accompany any prospective buyer test-driving your vehicle. If you swap seats with the driver, take the keys out of the ignition when you exit the vehicle and only hand them back once you’re sitting in the passenger seat.
Do not let interested parties take any photos of the documentation related to the car. Also, refrain from giving them the vehicle’s VIN or other inappropriate personal details. If they’re thieves posing as potential buyers, they can use all of this information against you.