When it comes time to sell your car, creating a captivating but detailed avert is crucial for a number of reasons. It gives you the opportunity to get as close to your asking price as possible, it helps speed up the sale and it dissuades tyre kickers from contacting you and wasting your time with a thousand and one different questions. If you want to sell your car through AutoTrader, check out the options that we offer.
Here's what you can do to make sure that you create the best used car advert possible.
1. Take good quality photos.
This is something that we've addressed in other articles found here and is worth repeating. Good, clear photos of your car, from a variety of angles and in detail go a long way to describe what you have for sale. It gives an idea of the condition, colour and trim level.
Take photos in good light, make sure your car is clean and include all the areas that a potential buyer may want to see, under the hood, in the boot, the rear seats, dashboard, front and rear, etc.
2. Write a captivating description
Feel free to let the creative juices flow and go into detail about the car you are selling. If you enjoyed it, say as much and describe why. Tell the reader that the handling is sublime or that the icy cold air conditioning is perfect for hot South African summers. Don't exaggerate or embellish the truth, but try and craft a story that captures the personality of the vehicle. It could be a rough and tumble, go-anywhere 4x4 or it could be a cute, cheerful city run about – let your imagination run wild.
Including information as to how long you've had the car, how frequently it was serviced, what sort of fuel consumption you were getting and why you are selling is a good idea as it will give the potential buyer an idea of how the car was used and cared for.
3. List your asking price
Make sure that your price is clear and legible. Include the currency if need be and try to stick to round numbers.
Pricing your car accurately is also important. If you're stuck with this, check out our advice on pricing your car here:5 ways to get the highest price for your used car
Want to find out what your car is worth? Check out our handy car valuation tool.
4. Highlight optional extras
If you have fitted any extras after the fact (or even specified them when buying new) it's worth listing them. These can include things like smash and grab, security systems, audio upgrades, wheel and tyre upgrades and things like hands-free kits or snorkels.
This helps the buyer justify the price you are asking for the vehicle and they will be able to decide whether your car has added value compared to the others on sale.
5. Include warranty information
If the vehicle still has part of the manufacturer warranty you should include this information in the description of the car. It will give the buyer additional peace of mind knowing that the car is still covered for a few years or months.
6. Be honest about the car's condition
It's crucial to be honest when writing the description and you are required to disclose any known faults with the car. This can be from small things like stone chips to more serious issues like leaks or worn items such as shock absorbers.
Disclosing this has multiple benefits, even if it may not seem so initially. The CPA requires that you disclose any known issues and that these are listed in the sales agreement. Failure to do so can mean that the buyer may return the car and you have to refund them. Avoid this with full disclosure.
It also sets the buyer's mind at ease, knowing what they are getting into and how much to expect to pay in order to get the car back into a condition they are happy with. Your honesty here will show honesty and integrity and provide some peace of mind for the buyer. Not disclosing this does the opposite and may chase buyers away.
7. Will you negotiate?
If you are willing to negotiate on the asking price, it's worth noting in the advert. This may attract buyers who are interested in your vehicle but feel the price could be better. There is no need to disclose how much you are prepared to take as a final offer, but mentioning that the price is negotiable will alert buyers.
Alternatively, if you are set on your price, it's a good idea to state that the price is non-negotiable. This may not help sell the car but will help with the final transaction and avoid wasting anyone's time.
8. Define acceptable forms of payment
Stating whether the deal is a cash-only deal or not will also save time. If you are only prepared to take a cash payment (this includes EFT and doesn't necessarily mean physical notes) let the buyers know. Some will approach with pre-approved finance and this may mean additional paperwork – although, for the seller, this is as good as a cash payment as payment is made in one lump sum.
See more about this here: Payment terms
