Sell Your Car Faster With These 5 Tips!
Summer road trips are often inspiration to upgrade your ride. If it’s time to sell your vehicle and start shopping for a new one, here are some ways to make that sale quicker and easier.
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Make it shine!
Take the time to clean your car thoroughly inside and out. This isn’t just about shining the rims and vacuuming out the crumbs, but it’s also about taking the time to clear out all the extras too. This way potential buyers can imagine what it would be like to make it their own. Receipts, coupon books, kids toys, charms, and other filler can be a big deterrent.
And don’t skip the little things when getting your wheels show ready – clearing the dust out of air vents, wiping down speaker covers, and door seals. Sound too tedious? You might want to consider paying to have it detailed.
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Make small repairs
In addition to having a regular oil change, give the car a once over and take care of the low cost repairs before you sell. Replacing bulbs and broken accessories may not seem to add a lot of value, but it will show that you’ve been diligent about up keep. Small repairs left untouched may leave buyers wondering if other larger items have been left unmaintained as well.
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Pass inspection
Consider a investing in a low cost mechanical inspection from a reputable, local service shop. Not only will this help you determine an appropriate price based on the vehicles condition, but it also takes the guesswork out of pricing for both you and a potential buyer. Having a clear picture of the vehicles condition minimizes the back and forth negotiating and gets you to SOLD, just that much faster.
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Know your market – price it right!
Do your research. Consider how many vehicles like yours are available for sale, factor in the condition of your car, and the extra bells and whistles your vehicle may have that makes it stand out in the market. Everyone wants to get a little extra from a sale, but consider the cost. If pricing it a little higher than you should means it takes a month or two longer to sell, that’s a month or two longer that you are paying to insure that vehicle – Make sure it’s worth it.
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Don’t forget the details.
Have a proper bill of sale ready to go; your buyer will need to show this to the registry office to have the vehicle properly registered. You can download one provided by the Alberta government here, or search online for a basic template to use in your province. And of course, make sure you arrange for payment in the form of cash, certified cheque, or bank draft. Be sure to keep a copy of that bill of sale for yourself, your bank may ask you to declare how you came into a large sum of cash; in fact they are legally obligated to ask about $10,000 or more.
Want to know more? Review these sources and resources.
Ontario Ministry of Transport – Buying or Selling a Used Vehicle
Service Alberta –Buying or Selling a Used Vehicle
Edmunds.com – 10 Steps to Selling Your Car
Have More Questions?
Let me know and I’ll do my best to address it here for you and all of our readers. Better yet, contact an InsureMy advisor; these guys know their stuff. Email Info@InsureMy.ca or give them a call locally at (403) 410-1896 or toll free at 1-844-410-1896.
Everyday Insurance With Allie
Working mom, lover of the great outdoors and self-professed know-it-all. Our resident blogger, Allie isn’t the insurance guru she claims to be – but she’s learning and we are happy to help guide her. All the while keeping you in the loop on the “insurancey” stuff you need to know. #AskAllie
