People are increasingly aware of the importance of presentation. It’s why you dress up in a suit and try to smell nice when you go on a job interview. It’s why you pay extra at a Japanese restaurant, so you can gaze at the little ginger flowers and perfectly-stacked multicolored morsels on your plate before scarfing them down.
The same principles apply when you are selling a car. It should be spotlessly clean and smell good, too, just like a job candidate.
But what about your presentation – that of the seller? Is that important too?
It doesn’t take more than a moment’s reflection to realize you have a much better shot at making a favorable sale with a confident attitude than a wishy-washy one. There are two main aspects to a confident presentation when selling your car.
The first is based on the car’s condition. As my father, used-car hobbyist for many years, tells his potential buyers, “The car is in great shape. I just changed the oil.”
Of course, when he says this, it is absolutely true. That’s why he’s so confident, and that’s why he’s sold dozens of cars – not as a dealer, but as a regular guy with an engineering job who likes to buy and sell used cars for fun.
So, the car you are selling must have no major mechanical problems if it’s older, and no problems at all if it’s higher-end. In other words, a few small body dents on your 2004 Toyota Camry are acceptable, but even slightly worn-out brakes on a 2008 Lexus IS 250 will significantly reduce both your credibility and the sale price you can procure.
Make sure the car is tuned up and ready to go. Then you can beam your message proudly to the world: here’s an opportunity to own a great car!
Now that you’re clear on your car’s condition, have a firm idea of price. Check the blue book value and look at comparable ads on places like BestCarFinder.com. and Craigslist.org Then, before you show the car to a single potential buyer, have in your mind both the price you want and the price you are willing to take. Try for the first, naturally, but don’t go below the second. Anyone trying to low-ball you is after an unfair deal that doesn’t honor the quality of your car.
Here’s another reason for being confident both about your presentation and the car you are trying to sell: it makes you and the customer feel good. You know you got the right price, and your customer feels happy and at ease, relieved to finally own that useful and beautiful car.