by Leslie Anderson

Created on: September 23, 2008   Last Updated: October 07, 2008

Back in the good old days, preparing a car for sale entailed the purchase of a pre-printed 'For Sale By Owner' sign, and a drive down the street to a retail store parking lot. It was easier in the mid-1900's to connect locally with buyers and sellers in person. It was a slower paced lifestyle that lent itself to people making connections with other people, one on one.

In 2008, there is a whole new set of unwritten rules for successfully selling a car. The complications of consumer loans, multiple state guidelines for title of vehicles, and the pitfalls of cars for sale that were once stolen or damaged, and selling a car becomes a tricky minefield to walk. It can be done though! I am a testament to this fact, as I have learned from the man in my life how to be successful in selling an automobile. It is intimidating to step into a field generally seen as a male-dominated job. But with a little homework, anyone, male or female can prepare a car for a quick and seamless sale.

Above all, remember that selling a car requires the mindset of a marketer. I'm not kidding. Market your car as if it is on the biggest car lot in town. This is so very important. Presentation is everything. If you set your car out for sale without so much as washing and detailing the inside, your sales price drops dramatically. Take the time to shine up the tires, and please, oh please! take the fast food bags out of the car. Make sure the interior smells nice. A nice aroma is a great way to attract buyers. The key is to show that you have cared for your vehicle.

Make sure all service records are in the glovebox in order. This includes the owner's manual, oil change receipts, and any other work you have had done to the vehicle. Put the documents into a folder for maximum organization. This way prospective buyers can flip through easily without messing up your system of order.

Next, you need to make sure you know where the title is. If you have the title at home, do some research at your local DMV office to make sure of the requirements when you sell a vehicle. Each state has different rules as to where to sign and what paperwork is required. You will save yourself and your buyer much time and frustration by finding out ahead of time what you need to do once you sell it. Now, if you have a loan on the car, you must call the lender to find out what the exact amount of the payoff is, and to get instruction on how to pay off the loan and get the title. Once again, this research will pay off in spades. You'll be able to answer all your buyers questions and to lead them through the process seamlessly.

Another important factor is pricing. Do some market research. Look on Ebay to see what cars like yours are selling for. You can also check local newspapers, online classifieds, like Craigslist, and blue book values. You need to see several sources though. Values can fluctuate, so in order to sell your vehicle, you need to be competitively priced.

For extra insurance for your prospective buyers, get a CarFax report. This tells the history of the vehicle and can assure buyers that you are not selling them a lemon. Giving peace of mind and presenting the car honestly are of utmost importance. If the car has had a problem, be up front. It doesn't turn buyers off if you've rectified the problem, but if you lie, mislead, or omit to tell them about important factors in the history, you'll create a big mess of trouble for yourself down the road.

Preparing a car for sale takes some time, effort, and research. But it can be done, and done successfully with the right work done ahead of time. Go on, become a marketer of your car and go sell it today. Proper preparation is the key to success.

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