See all Motoring Advice1. Get it serviced
You really don’t want major mechanical, or even aesthetic, items going wrong when people start to come and look at your car, so make sure it’s been in for a service before you put the ad up. It might cost you a few quid, but you’ll make it back easily enough. You can, of course, do some of it yourself to save some money, but prospective buyers are going to be rather more impressed with an invoice from a garage than a stack of receipts from a motor factors. Speaking of which, if you’re due an NCT soon, get that done too.
2. Get it cleaned
And we mean really, really cleaned. Professionally valeted, preferably. There’s nothing a prospective buyer likes better than seeing a perfectly shiny, beautifully clean car inside and out. You should also take all unnecessary clutter out of the car prior to anyone coming to test drive it – take out child car seats, take jackets and bags out of the boot and empty the door pockets of sweet wrappers.
3. Take some decent photos
You can take some surprisingly good photos on your smartphone these days, but the trick is to make sure that they are clear, clean, focused and unobstructed. Don’t take photos in the tight confines of your driveway – go to an open space such as a car park and take photos there. Remember to take shots of the interior and the boot and include images of any extra equipment the car may have. It sounds like a small point, but if you can put a professional looking foot forward, then you may find it easier to snag a buyer.
4. Do your research
Carefully browse Carzone.ie for cars similar to your own, and see what kind of prices they are going for from both private vendors and franchised dealers. Make sure you advertise your car at a realistic valuation, but that doesn’t mean offering an out and out bargain. Too high a price and people will just move on. Too low and they’ll be suspicious that something is wrong with the car.
5. Get your paperwork in order
Make sure you assemble every single sheet of paper and receipt that goes with the car. Pay particular attention to the service history (assuming your car has one, and it really should if you want a quick sale) and any previous NCTs. Don’t just leave them in a pile with a rubber band around them – sort them properly and put them in a neat folder, which any prospective buyer can easily look through when viewing the car. Make sure you have your registration document handy too – it’s one of the first things any buyer will ask to see. It may also be worth having a vehicle history check carried out with Cartell.ie as you can then show that to prospective buyers.
6. Don’t tell fibs, and be realistic about your car
There’s no point in lying in the advert about how brilliant or how heavily equipped your car is – any eagle-eyed buyer will have you sussed in seconds. Just be honest. If there are some imperfections in your car, either be upfront about them or get them fixed before you advertise. Don’t expect to command a huge price tag just because your car has an upgraded stereo or leather seats, either. With very few exceptions, extra equipment isn’t worth extra resale value; second hand buyers are more interested in value than toys. Also, when wording your advert, avoid any flowery language. No-one cares beyond what the car is, what its history is and what equipment it comes with. Phrases such as ‘one lady owner’ or ‘one careful owner’ are these days redundant and just make you sound like a dodgy car dealer from the 1980s.
7. Finally, be prepared to answer questions
Don’t be offended if someone asks you some searching questions about your car, as they’re only doing what you would do in the same circumstances. Be polite, be honest and be patient. Never let someone take your car off for a test drive without you in it and be prepared for a few bogus phone calls. Good luck with your sale!