How to grab a sweet deal when trading a vehicle with money

No-one wants to sell their vehicle for less than they believe it is worth. And yet, this is a common occurrence. Why is this? Because of the fact that an important part of the whole process is the negotiation stage. It makes some, and it breaks some. But the bottom line is that if you haven’t brushed up on your haggling skills, you shouldn’t be putting your vehicle on the market just yet.

Of course, there is a whole host of other things you have done to ensure that your car is worth a tidy sum. It has been cleaned, it has been waxed, it has had its mechanical issues all sorted out. But if you are bested on the negotiating stretch, all of that will have been for nought. So here are some handy tips for making sure that you come out of any negotiating session with the victor when selling a vehicle.

Keep the Maintenance Records

Your vehicle’s maintenance records show all prospective customers how well the vehicle has been maintained. If you have been following good protocol, and have been looking after your car very well over the years or months that you have owned it, this will be obvious in the documentation.

This means all the receipts that you receive when you take it in for a check-up and oil change have to be kept. It also gives the prospective buyers a glimpse into any mechanical issues it has had, along with a history of mishaps such as accidents and bumps. Use this documentation as leverage at the negotiating table.

Find out What the Buyer Wants and Talk about That

Maybe the buyer is a family man or woman who wants a car that will accommodate a small family. If your car is good for this purpose, and you can find out if they have a family, sell it to them based on how good it is for that purpose. Find out what their job is and if it requires any long distance travelling if your car has elements about it that are favourable to someone driving for long stretches. Those are just examples. I’m sure that you can think of many more.

Make Sure There Are a Few Payment Options

When selling a car on the private market, there are many things that will work in your favour. Of course, there is no question that one of those things is selling to someone that you already know. There is also the fact that being clear on the payment terms is a huge positive. This opens up the possibility of a part payment process. It is highly recommended that you choose the payment method of post-dated checks.

Talk up the Car’s Value for Money

Drive home the message that used cars are better than brand new ones as far as pure value for money is concerned. If they get it in their heads that they are saving decent cash for old cars, they will be more at ease in purchasing your old automobile.

Glen Hunter is an online marketing consultant, PHP programmer, project manager, writer, blogger & social media enthusiasts.