Advice on selling a car

jimjames

In terms of test drive then yes check they are insured. I'd never let anyone take the car out on their own but I'd want to actually test drive a car before I bought (only ever done that once but luckily worked out ok)
I've had buyers turn up mob handed. Always useful if that happens to have someone else around with you in case someone tries it on and I definitely wouldn't allow the whole lot to go out in the car for test drive.

B0bbyEwing

Goudy said:

When you advertise the car, just stick to the basics.
Make, Model, Trim, Year, MOT and perhaps service history.

But yes, list it with any obvious faults.
By this I mean dents, scratches, rust, rips in seats, engine management light on, parts obviously not working like A/C and missing or broken trim.

For everything else, take 6 to 8 good quality images. Check out professional car adverts for what is expected photo wise.

When it comes to viewing break it down into sections.

Greet them.
A few polite questions like how far have you come, who is the car for (get their name and use it often), do they know the model of car.
I'm not talking about the Spanish inquisition, but a few well placed and timed questions should give you an indication of their intent.

Have someone else at hand that you can call upon quickly in the back ground.

Show them the car, but don't over egg it.
Give them time to go over the car (without the keys) while you hang back and await any questions.
Let them form an opinion themselves rather than laying on the sales patter.
They'll want to see it start and run, but wait for the test drive for that.

Test drives are always tricky due to insurance.
At best they will be only insured third party, so take one of them out with you while you drive somewhere like a car park or industrial estate.
If you can plan a route with mixed roads, town and a bit of dual carriageway.

They will obviously insist on a drive, so around the car park or industrial estate only.
If they are genuine, they will understand, otherwise it's a firm no on the open roads.
They've seen it drives, all they need to find out if it stops, pulls to one side or the clutch is fried.

Negotiations.
They might not bite, but thank them for coming anyway, you never know they might be back.
If they bite and start to negotiate, keep the atmosphere pleasant but stick to what you will realistically take for it. 
Don't laugh or scoff at a lowish offer, thank them for it but explain it's not enough and where they might need to go to buy it.
You will no doubt need to move on price yourself, so be prepared for that.
If it's a stupidly low offer, just politely refuse it but make it clear you are prepared to negotiate on the listed price.

Everyone is different, but I wouldn't be inclined to quibble over £50 or so. If it's a near offer to what I want for it, I would shake their hand.

Handover.
Now your "someone else" comes into their own.
Get them to count any cash and make sure you have gone through what is required with the paperwork with them before hand. It's easy to overlook things yourself after a negotiation, you tend to experience all sorts of different emotions, so better to have another pair of eyes on it.


There are plenty or do's and don'ts, I guess they don't all need repeating but just keep your wits about you.
Generally if it sounds iffy, it generally is iffy.

Solid as usual Goudy. Thanks. 

I've got the glow plug ordered so I'll get that done. At least it'll remove the error off the display and while I'm waiting on a sale it'll also allow the DPF to regen. 

Was considering listing at the higher end. Reason being if I listed at £5 someone would still offer £2.50 so if I ask high then they've got to drop considerably to come with a silly offer whereas if I price accurately then they won't have too far to drop so they could end up offering just stupid figures. 

Such as offering 1000 on a 2500 listing may be too much for them to try so they may offer 1500-1750. But if I list at 1750 then coming with 1000 isn't as much cheek. 

paul_c123

It makes sense to list a little bit higher than your best price. But if you list it too high, you'll get no calls at all.

Goudy

Price it realistically.

You don't want to put anyone off and to be truthful, I wouldn't want to try and negotiate on an obviously overpriced car. I'd think the seller was being too optimistic to be bothered trying.

It's better to say no to an offer than have no offers at all.

Your most obvious chancers won't come and view before chancing their arm with a stupid offer, they'll almost certainly try their luck from their armchair.
They will phone/email/text you stupid offers before getting off their !!!!!! so they are easy to filter out.

You probably don't want to encourage these people too much either.
If you hint too strongly you might sell cheaper and they come around to view, they tend to get stroppy when you won't give it away for free.

Just tell them the listed price or it's the nearest offer to that and they are welcome to view it and make their mind up what that should be.