1. Clean Your Car Thoroughly

First impressions count more than any other. Remember if your car is an absolute mess it gives an indication to the potential buyers that you didn’t pay much attention to maintaining your car in other more important ways in the past. The outside is more vital than the inside so do your best to pay attention to details. Consider having the car cleaned up professionally if you must.

2. Research the Right Price

Knowing how much money you should be aiming for is much easier when you research the Blue Book value of your car and sensibly judge its condition. Otherwise you are flying blind and someone who did their homework could fast talk money out of your pocket!

3. Make Minor Repairs

Do you have a window that leaks or other minor repair that is both quick and inexpensive to take care of? Handle it and you greatly boost your chances to get more for your used car. The benefit of your doing this is mainly a psychological one, but it works well. Trust me. Not being lazy about minor repairs is a tip not to ignore. You could earn extra hundreds by paying attention to these types of details.

4. The Smell Counts, Too

You might be surprised at how your call smelling a bit “off” compared to having a new car smell can affect your final selling price. People will be in the car, checking it out and feel that something is not quite right. They might notice a smell or maybe not but smell is one of our senses and it’s connected with emotion, so you want to make sure you have this one covered.

Even if a two dollar air freshener resulted in a extra twenty in your hand it’s nothing, but a great investment isn’t it? An air freshener is the least you can do. To go the extra step, have the car’s upholstery and carpets steam cleaned – either by yourself or at a local car wash.

All these things add up in the end!

5. Use the Web to Your Advantage

Craig’s List is a obvious great choice to put the good word out about your used car being for sale. It’s free after all. Another free resource is social media. Facebook and twitter can let your friends and family know you have a car for sale. A few shares later and your ca may be sold minus any hardcore negotiations at all. Don’t forget to include lots of quality photos!

6. Write Good Ad Copy (or Have Someone Write it for You)

Yes, selling your used car makes you, at least for the moment, a sales person. Sales go much easier when following up good marketing, which is exactly what your ads are – marketing your used car. The better wrote your ad ultimately the more you will get for your car. And quicker too.

7. Gather Your Maintenance Records

If you have well documented maintenance records they could earn you a good deal more on your car’s final sale price. These papers offer hard credible evidence you have taken good care of your car over the years. Some experts estimate this could mean even as much as an extra ten percent tacked on to your selling price! Keep good records, they pay off in more ways than one.

8. Negotiate Like a Boss

Negotiating prices can be both an art and science. Now it may not pay for you to read one of the many books on the subject or listen to an audio course, but why not hit Google and get some tips on how to best haggle about your final sale price? I bet even reading a good page or two will pay off in the end.

Conclusion

All in all if you pay attention to these little (and not so little) details you are nearly guaranteed to walk away better off from your used car sale than if you rushed in blind and unprepared. After all you’d like every extra dollar you can get to go towards your new car wouldn’t you? I certainly value every penny in that situation.

Best of luck selling your used car. Did I miss one of your favorite tips? Let me know I would love to hear them! Leave them in the comments area below. Please also share this article.

Selling a car might seem easy but if you want to get the most money for it, make sure the car is at its best. Think about what used car dealers do to sell their cars. You’re competing with them and since you’re playing the same game, you need to be in their league.

Putting in just a bit of time and a little money, you’ll get that amount back and more. It’s really smart to prepare your car well. People are trying to imagine themselves in the car when they come to see it, so do your best to make that car look like something they want to buy.

When it comes to selling, you want to provide good service. Be available and look presentable when people come. Respect their time and thank them for coming out to look at your vehicle.

Ok, on with the list…

Bookmark this page and share it with others!

Selling Your Car Checklist

Not in any particular order:

1. Wash and detail clean your car – inside and out.
2. Get all of your personal belonging out of the car.
3. Do an oil change.
4. Replace the air filter.
5. Check the fluid levels.
6. Inflate the tires properly.
7. Fix minor problems to the interior.
8. Buy new floor mats.
9. Steam clean the upholstery and carpets.
10. Buy an air freshener.
11. Touch up paint.
12. Clean your headlights so they’re not foggy anymore.
13. Clean the trunk.
14. Wipe down parts under the hood.
15. Clean the windows – inside and out.
16. Remove all bumper stickers and window stickers.
17. Wax and shine your car.
18. Have a complete inspection done by a mechanic.
19. Make sure the car is safe – tires and brakes should be good.
20. Make sure the title is clean and in your name.
21. Advertise it in as many places as possible – online and offline.
22. Consider donating the car to charity.
23. Shine the tires and wheels.
24. Don’t let people test drive the car alone – go with them.
25. Get a copy (or take a picture with your phone) of the driver’s license of anyone who comes and wants a test drive.
26. Order a vehicle history report (CARFAX, etc.)
27. Print up a sell sheet for your car to hand out.
28. Make a one-page website for your car to help with online advertising.
29. Promote your car on Facebook and Twitter.
30. If you were the only owner, mention that when people come to see it.
31. When people come, casually mention that you’ve been getting lots of calls (if you have been).
32. Set an attractive sell price.
33. Get any annoying things fixed.
34. Post a “For Sale” sign on the car with a phone number and price.
35. Screen people by phone first before they come over.
36. Look presentable when people come to see the vehicle.
37. Don’t give an answer to the question, “What is the lowest amount you will take?”
38. Remember to cancel your insurance after you sell the car.
39. Get all your car’s maintenance records together and show that folder to people.
40. Post nice ads with great pictures of the vehicle.
41. Do research and know the value of your car. See what similar cars in your area are going for.
42. Don’t rush people who come to see it.
43. Don’t back out of a deal on just $50 if you have no other interested buyers.
44. Under promise and over deliver.
45. Get to know your buyers a little – ask where they are from, what they do, etc. Try to connect with them a little if you can.
46. Don’t show the car at night when it’s dark or in the rain or snow.
47. Mention all the features of the car in your ads.
48. Mention recent repairs in your ad.
49. Smile!
50. List your car on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Be available those times.
51. Only take cash for payment.
52. Make sure a deposit holds the car for 24-48 hours or less – no more than that.
53. Make sure the stereo if off so that it doesn’t turn on when people get in to test drive it.
54. Watch out for Craig’s List scams.
55. Respond to all calls you get – return phone calls promptly.

Print this list and then cross off items as you complete them. Doing this will help ensure you have a car sale that goes smoothly and one that gets you the most money for your vehicle.

Some Video Help and Advice

Here’s a good video on how to sell your car privately yourself:

If we missed anything, please mention it below… and again, please share this article.

Below are helpful tips on how to sell your car yourself for the most cash.

Selling Your Vehicle

You shouldn’t make your car look like something you’ve gotten tired of, something you are just too eager to let go. Even if that is the case, the impression you should give when selling your car is that of someone who is so much attached to it, and who values it very much. This kind of attitude will make potential buyers think that you’ve always taken great care of your car, even if it has suffered some few accidents, poor maintenance and numerous dents.

1. Make Your Car Look Great

Think about your car like a bride being led away to her bridal home. She must be well coiffed, embroidered with pearls, and made to reveal the best of her beauty. You should not bring your car to the market in bad shape, looking dirty and with noticeable scratches and dents. This should not surprise you; people will want to buy clean and attractive cars. You’ll not get much for your car if it looks like something picked from the junkyard.

Always remember how you felt the very moment you made up your mind to buy the car you are about to sell and work hard to create that feeling in your prospective buyers by cleaning your car, replacing old parts, and improving the paint. In short, make it shiny.

2. Think like a Car Dealer: Detail and Service Your Car

Car dealers can make the most of old cars that look useless and completely worn out. The secret to their success is common knowledge today: they have cars detailed. Spending $100 bucks to service your car will bring great rewards when you finally sell it.

Car detailers improve the paint, remove scratches, shampoo carpets, remove grease from the engine and replace floor mats. With the proper detailing, you can make your car look brand new and attractive.

Some repairs you’ll need to do to improve the overall rating of your car will include changing tires, fixing the locks that do not work well and fixing dents.

3. Prepare the Necessary Paperwork for Your Car

This may not seem very necessary, but it can be one of the major elements to think about when selling a car. By presenting maintenance papers, you’ll put the buyer’s mind at ease.

After polishing up your car, and getting it ready for the market, you should, like a valiant soldier showing off his brass buttons on an army uniform, prepare to present good papers.

Buyers will also trust you more when they see your CARFAX Vehicle History Report and service records.

4. Be Smart About the Entire Transaction

Where you sell your car can determine how much you get for it. Before deciding where to sell the car, it is important to work out its real value.

You may have done a lot of research on car sales and have greatly improved the condition of your car, but buyers will have done their research,too. Buyers have an idea of the market price of cars like yours. By being realistic, you’ll come off more convincing, whether you’re selling to a dealer or to an individual. Make sure you give a reasonable price for your car.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of selling your car in a dealer trade-in and decide accordingly; the price will certainly be lower than what you can get if you sell the car to an individual.

5. Advertise Your Car

After improving the condition and general appearance of your car, you should get the best advertising for it. The Internet offers free avenues for advertising and you can reach out to a good number of interested buyers. Get the best photos of your car and create free ads on sites like Craig’s List. Post photos on your Facebook profile and announce on social media platforms that you’re selling your car. This way, you’ll reach out to many potential buyers.

If you use a good advertising strategy, you’ll definitely receive many calls, which gives you the opportunity to take the highest bid for the car.

Conclusion

Some people may feel rushed to sell their car and lose out on hundreds of dollars that they could have received if they would have taken some time to get the car ready to sell. Spending a couple weeknights improving your car will fetch you more for it when you post it on Craig’s List Saturday morning.

We hope this article provided you with some good tips to get you the most cash for your car. If we missed something, please leave a comment for us. Please also share this article and pass it on to others.