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+--- Thread: Teach me how to sell a car. (/showthread.php?tid=11154)
Teach me how to sell a car. - Senor_Taylor - 03-15-2016
Hey everyone. I'm just curious how everyone goes about selling a car. The whole process, car prep, what documents to have ready, what you do when people come to look, how you handle the paper work afterwards, etc. Both times I've bought a car myself, I felt pretty overwhelmed a nervous, so I'm not sure if I've got the process down, especially from the other side.
Enlighten me, oh grumpy ones.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - HAULN-SS - 03-15-2016
Clean the shit out of it. It's free money in your pocket.
Price it with room to drop so the other guy feels like they get a win, but not so high they arent interested
Fix all existing obvious problems that are affordable. I hate the "the check engine light is on, but the sensor is only $20" line
Don't sell it to a friend
Ensure all safety features are working, or disclosed that they aren't
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Sully - 03-15-2016
Well the last couple I sold, I did a pretty detailed bill of sale pretty much saying you're buying this thing where and how it sits at the moment you sign this and it's not my problem and I've disclosed all relevant information I can think of so have a nice day and if the cooling system explodes on the way home, I wish you the best of luck.
But idk. List it. Put as much detail as possible. The m3, I had a word document of every part i replaced and copied it into the ad and gave them all the printed out receipts since I did the work myself. Blacked out my info as much as possible on them first though.
Depending on the car, ignore all the well I know this, this, and this and I've bought 3 of this car before so I'll pay you this much. Doesn't apply to you this time but with cars like the m, I was getting those bmw fanbois saying no one will pay what I'm asking. Yea well the ad has been up 30 minutes and I've already talked to two of you and 3 other dipshits who said they'd go a lot higher than you say it's worth but anyways....
I prefer to meet in a public place away from my house. I'll bring a friend usually too, but have flown solo when it sounded like a quick sale. But use your head. Don't go meet in the middle of some sketchy area.
Honestly, and it's not always a bad thing, but from my experience, you're too nice and will try to be their buddy or at least be as nice as you can to them and that could get you in trouble. It's a business transaction. Be polite and nice to an extent but remember after cash changes hands, you should never hear from this person again.
But I'll save you all the trouble, or give you a first hand learning experience.
I see what you think your car is worth. I think it's worth $1500. I'll bring cash. Where would you like to meet?!
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Senor_Taylor - 03-15-2016
Sully Wrote:I see what you think your car is worth. I think it's worth $1500. I'll bring cash. Where would you like to meet?!
DEAL. I'll drive it to you. 10 minutes.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - ispoonwithmugen - 03-15-2016
From my experiences (I've revolved plenty)...
1) Know the car inside and out. You can make a buyer feel a lot more confident when they spit questions and you exhibit that you are mechanically inclined and understand the system.
2) Disclose issues that are wrong.. you don't want them to get in the car and find out the A/C isn't working
3) Price it high... like Matt said let it feel like they are getting a deal rather than the 3,500 firm.
4) I have a binder/folder that I usually chronologically order the documents in (a little OCD but buyers love it)
5) I always provide a Carfax so people know that it's a good buy
6) I never give my address... if I have to have them meet me near my house (I usually give a lot of extra parts with the sale) then I give them the address to the clubhouse and tell them I'll meet them over there.
7) Get the car detailed... it'll go a long, long way
8) Get someone to take good pics of the car (I'll shamelessly input and say I'll take some good photos fo cheap for you)
9) Call don't text when it starts getting serious. It's annoying reading/writing 1000 word texts explaining that the dif is slightly leaking if you remove it and look around the seal etc
Just some of my .02, take it or leave it!
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Senor_Taylor - 03-15-2016
I appreciate the input so far, guys.
What does the bill of sale y'all write up look like? I don't want to get screwed over here.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - ispoonwithmugen - 03-15-2016
I do something simple. Either write something along the lines of I ___ agree to sell a 1995 BMW M3 VIN #______ to _______ for the sale price of ______. This sale is final and as-is. Signed ______ date ______ date.
DMV offers a free one too:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dmv.org/images/bill-of-sale.pdf">http://www.dmv.org/images/bill-of-sale.pdf</a><!-- m -->
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - ScottyB - 03-15-2016
how do you guys handle test drives? wait until there's money in hand? i've actually never sold a car to another person so i'm genuinely curious.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - ispoonwithmugen - 03-16-2016
If they are serious and meet me then I let them drive my car... if you want to drive around my sub 10k car for a joyride and waste your time be my guest... It's not like I'm selling a Ferrari. I do however explicitly state and make them aware that if you break it you buy it.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Scott - 03-16-2016
Be completely upfront and honest about it's issues when you list it for sale. There is nothing worse than surprises when you go look at a car and the seller knows about them and brings them up at that time, or doesn't mention them at all (like a certain ZHP at Mid Atlantic right now) and your craigslist ad for example. You know it's been hit, you know it burns a quart of oil every 1000 miles etc, tell people that upfront.
-Scott who discloses everything known about a car I sell, good and bad, and describes it probably worse than it actually is and my cars usually sell within a week
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Jake - 03-16-2016
Yeah, disclose stuff. You're not trying to sell a $1k beater (like I did a few times) where random shit is expected to be found after the fact. If I bought your E46 and discovered the oil slick coating the underside and/or that it burns a quart every XXX miles, I'd be piiiiissed. That said, you can't be expected to know every last bit about the car, i.e. how the seller of my M3 didn't know about the rotted shock tower.
If the buyer wants to have a PPI (pre purchase inspection) done, let them, but they are paying for it. Ask if they have a preferred shop and if not, recommend one.
And take that stupid smelly thing out of your dash vent, retake the photo and destink the interior with Ozium or some other "funk bomb" you get at Autozone. Those scent pods are almost worse than stale cigarette smoke sucked into the headliner.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - davej - 03-16-2016
All good advice so far. I'd add taking your car to carmax or something similar and getting a quote for wholesale on it, then you'll know your worst-case-scenario for the sale. It's free, no commitment, and takes about 1/2 hour of your time.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - WRXtranceformed - 03-16-2016
Agreed on all of the above. You can find bill of sale templates for your state online, that's what I did for the XFR. You may also want to get it notarized and keep a copy for yourself for after the fact. A lot of areas require a bill of sale that is notarized in order for the title to change hands but YMMV. Also, make sure you keep your plates and cancel your insurance as soon as the car becomes the new buyer's for liability reasons. The buyer is responsible for obtaining a temporary trip permit or figuring out a way to legally get it back to their home until they can get it titled / registered themselves.
^^ Ask Rexy for his story on this one :lol:
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Scott - 03-16-2016
Jake Wrote:If I bought your E46 and discovered the oil slick coating the underside and/or that it burns a quart every XXX miles, I'd be piiiiissed.
If I found Channings for sale post after purchasing the car from you based on your current Craigslist ad, I would be really pissed since you knew all this before hand and didn't advertise it the same way. Learn from your elders.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Scott - 03-16-2016
This is the bill of sale I use:
I, (name) _______________________________ of (address) ________________________, hereby certify that I am the lawful owner of this vehicle:
Year ________
Make ______________________
Model _______________________
VIN#________________________
Mileage __________________
and have the authority to sell it. I hereby acknowledge the receipt of $___________ in the form of _____________, from (Buyer’s name) _______________________, as full payment for the purchase of the said vehicle, this vehicle is being sold as is, where is with no warranty, expressed written or implied. I do hereby grant, sell and transfer full ownership of this vehicle to the buyer. Buyer accepts full liability for the vehicle, damages, and any third party liability incurred from the vehicle use from the date of sale.
____________________________
Seller’s Signature
________________
Date
____________________________
Buyer’s Signature
_________________
Date
Make two copies, you keep one, the seller keeps one.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Senor_Taylor - 03-16-2016
I posted the oil leak, but I honestly do not believe it is burning oil. I've never seen smoke anywhere. It seems like a CCV leak.
Also, if they found Chan's CL ad, it did not mention the oil either. If someone contacts me about the ad, I plan to tell them about the tires, RTABS, oil consumption, etc. Everything. I just don't want to scare someone away from the ad before contacting me. Everyone that has contacted me before now I have disclosed everything fully.
All of this seems like great advice. I'll definitely look into a lot of this.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Scott - 03-16-2016
Senor_Taylor Wrote:. If someone contacts me about the ad, I plan to tell them about the tires, RTABS, oil consumption, etc. Everything. I just don't want to scare someone away from the ad before contacting me. Everyone that has contacted me before now I have disclosed everything fully.
Don't be that guy. Post it upfront and be done with it. Honesty and intergrity.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Senor_Taylor - 03-16-2016
Scott Wrote:Senor_Taylor Wrote:. If someone contacts me about the ad, I plan to tell them about the tires, RTABS, oil consumption, etc. Everything. I just don't want to scare someone away from the ad before contacting me. Everyone that has contacted me before now I have disclosed everything fully.
Don't be that guy. Post it upfront and be done with it. Honesty and intergrity.
I added them back. I had all of it in the ads originally then people told me to remove it, so I did. Now it's all back.
When y'all do test drives, do you make them leave something with you like the cash or their keys or something? I don't plan on riding along with someone I don't know.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - ispoonwithmugen - 03-16-2016
Scott Wrote:Senor_Taylor Wrote:. If someone contacts me about the ad, I plan to tell them about the tires, RTABS, oil consumption, etc. Everything. I just don't want to scare someone away from the ad before contacting me. Everyone that has contacted me before now I have disclosed everything fully.
Don't be that guy. Post it upfront and be done with it. Honesty and intergrity.
x2. You want someone who is going to buy the car for what is.... false expectations are no bueno.
Re: Teach me how to sell a car. - Senor_Taylor - 03-16-2016
Here is my ad right now: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5492725250.html">http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/cto/5492725250.html</a><!-- m -->
I expect to come down with the price, trust me.