Selling my car. Tried everything

greeno

I am selling my 04 Corolla saloon with 72,000 miles. I have advertised it on all the usual places donedeal, adverts.ie, cbg and carsireland. It is to be in the local paper next week.

It has been advertised now for a week at what I think is a fair enough price although I am open to offers and not one call or even a timewaster.

I am suprised at the amount of Corolla's for sale there are loads of them but they are such a reliable car I thought I would be able to sell easy enough by undercutting the price of the others.

Any advice?

Not sure if I'm allowed to put a link here.

kirving

Think you're allowed put up a link alright.

Make sure it's properly cleaned inside and out, you've taken lots of good quality photo's and you've given lots of information. It's surprising the amount of ads posted up here where the person hasn't even bothered to clean the thing.

Atlantic Dawn

greeno wrote: »

what I think is a fair enough price

That's most likely your problem or else your photos are rubbish, post a link and we can give you some feedback.

greeno

It most likely is the price alright but most other Corolla's are in at the 4,800 to 5,000 mark and have higher miles.


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2139929

Cheers lads.

greeno

greeno wrote: »

It has been advertised now for a week

Could take weeks if not a month +, there is a reason dealers have the same stuff on their forecourts for weeks

Patience or else drop your price significantly.

Alanstrainor

The exterior photos really are poor. Take them when
1. The car is clean
2. In daylight
3. Take all angles ie front, front left, left...etc
4. Take the photos in an empty car park or similar, so you have enough space to get around it.
5. Use a proper camera, not a camera phone.

bazz26

Yep, photos are poor to be honest, taken in poor light, too many of the interior and not enough of the exterior.

Also if you are in a hurry to sell it then you will need to keep dropping the price.

greeno

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The exterior photos really are poor. Take them when
1. The car is clean
2. In daylight
3. Take all angles ie front, front left, left...etc
4. Take the photos in an empty car park or similar, so you have enough space to get around it.
5. Use a proper camera, not a camera phone.

Thanks. I will take some more photos today and add them to the ad.

Think it is priced ok?

greeno

bazz26 wrote: »

Yep, photos are poor to be honest, taken in poor light, too many of the interior and not enough of the exterior.

Also if you are in a hurry to sell it then you will need to keep dropping the price.

Cheers Bazz going take some more later. Na I'm in no real rush to sell so price will remain what it is for the time being.

I was just curious as to why I didn't get any calls or emails not even one.

Atlantic Dawn

greeno wrote: »

Thanks. I will take some more photos today and add them to the ad.

Think it is priced ok?

I think price is fine it should easily go for 4000-4500 depending on demand. You mention full service history, take photos of the service book. You need as was mentioned better photos, here's some examples
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2112088
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2107784

Harcrid

greeno wrote: »

I was just curious as to why I didn't get any calls or emails not even one.

It's because your car is just one in a sea of other corollas. If you want it to sell it needs to stand out from the rest so that your number is the one the buyer decides to dial.

That can be because the price is good, or you have taken excellent pictures of the car and it looks good etc...

The last time I sold my car, the buyer told me he rang me because it looked like I was the only one who even attempted to wash their car before taking pictures of it. Small things count.

shawnee

Yes it is important to take the best quality pictures and to give at much information in an easily read format. Car sales are particularly slow at present and I would also consider bumping up the ad towards the weekend as that is when most cars are sold. Price seems okay to me but then again you could put ono and that may get buyers interested.

Top Dog

Mention the valid tax too I know there's a photo of it, but anyone skimming over the advert might miss that.

end a eknny

for that price i would expect to get a better car than a 7 year old corolla plus sorry but the saloons are ugly

Merch

Nor a full year even on the NCT,
while Im sure there is nothing wrong with the car, someone buying might like to think they have up to (although not for long) 2 years before they are forced to make good the car for a test? as it stands they have till the end of Feb '12
If it was me and that info wasn't even displayed/offered I'd probably move on to the next car, I may be picky but if the pics are sideways that kinda bugs me, if they cant be bothered to rotate the image what else are they not bothered about?

Pinklady11

Have u advertised it on gumtree? I put my car on it last saturday and it sold 4 days later. Would also mention any extras that are on the car e.g sunroof, electric windows etc.

kermitpwee

The add is very poor with very bad pictures. Get pictures off the back, front and both sides and one of the interior. Get rid of the asteriks before the price and the electric windows nonsense, it makes you look like a car dealer. Put a new add on donedeal with the following information.

72000 miles

Full service history

I am the 2nd owner or third etc.

Nct feb 2012

Tax 7/11

If the car has been service recently then say so.

Any questions please call.

Now this is the point that people will disagree with me on. For the email put in your full name and you will sell that car, also take out the fact that its located in dundrum,

Good luck

P/s dont list all the things this car has such as power steering and electric windows, people expect these on a modern car. Unless it has some extra that other cars dont have.

Merch

kermitpwee wrote: »

The add is very poor with very bad pictures. Get pictures off the back, front and both sides and one of the interior. Get rid of the asteriks before the price and the electric windows nonsense, it makes you look like a car dealer. Put a new add on donedeal with the following information.

72000 miles

Full service history

I am the 2nd owner or third etc.

Nct feb 2012

Tax 7/11

If the car has been service recently then say so.

Any questions please call.

Now this is the point that people will disagree with me on. For the email put in your full name and you will sell that car, also take out the fact that its located in dundrum,

Good luck

P/s dont list all the things this car has such as power steering and electric windows, people expect these on a modern car. Unless it has some extra that other cars dont have.

I wouldnt put my named email in the add or my name, whichever you are trying to say, details can be exchanged when documents are being confirmed. Not sure the harm of saying its in Dundrum? I'd like to know which part of Dublin a car is located in if buying, could be Skerries or almost Bray, so better to pinpoint roughly where (at least southside/northside). While people expect extras, some cars probably do have hand winder windows, better to say as concisely as the OP has which features their car has, as not all cars have central locking/electric mirrors. It's probably rare to see a car without power steering but I still think better to put that info in then have a potential customer wondering. I would improve the pics and get rid of the asterixs though.

greeno

.

dharn

of its type im sure its a very good one and i think well presented but sadly it it is a boring car in a boring colour and one of hundreds out there people who aspire towards a car like that will alwas be conservative by nature and will go to a local garage with a trade in

Wats_in_a_name

Are you a private seller?

First thing I noticed was in the second photo theres a motor place in the background. Kinda gives the impression your a garage trying to shift a car 'privately'

For Forks Sake

dharn wrote: »

of its type im sure its a very good one and i think well presented but sadly it it is a boring car in a boring colour and one of hundreds out there people who aspire towards a car like that will alwas be conservative by nature and will go to a local garage with a trade in

That's the point really isn't it. It's a 7 year old poverty (read. Irish) spec, petrol Corrolla. It's a grand car, but you're not going to have people knocking down the door to buy it. If you need shot of it quick, you'll need to do a drastic price drop.

end a eknny

Merch wrote: »

Nor a full year even on the NCT,
while Im sure there is nothing wrong with the car, someone buying might like to think they have up to (although not for long) 2 years before they are forced to make good the car for a test? as it stands they have till the end of Feb '12
If it was me and that info wasn't even displayed/offered I'd probably move on to the next car, I may be picky but if the pics are sideways that kinda bugs me, if they cant be bothered to rotate the image what else are they not bothered about?

so theres nearly a years test whats the problem its the age of the car otherwise you would have to buy a 2005 or 2003 car plus having a new test doesnt mean that 2 weeks after an engine could go and you could have to spend a couple of grand on it

kermitpwee

Merch wrote: »

I wouldnt put my named email in the add or my name, whichever you are trying to say, details can be exchanged when documents are being confirmed. Not sure the harm of saying its in Dundrum? I'd like to know which part of Dublin a car is located in if buying, could be Skerries or almost Bray, so better to pinpoint roughly where (at least southside/northside). While people expect extras, some cars probably do have hand winder windows, better to say as concisely as the OP has which features their car has, as not all cars have central locking/electric mirrors. It's probably rare to see a car without power steering but I still think better to put that info in then have a potential customer wondering. I would improve the pics and get rid of the asterixs though.

The reason I said to take out the power steering, electric windows is because its just like something a dealer would have in. If he puts in his name the car will sell, its an indicator that you are not a dealer and why would you be afraid to put your name in? The reason I said to take out dundrum is so that you won't know where the car is and you will have to ring to find out where. Genuine callers will ring and people who don't want to go as far as Dundrum may be tempted to see it after talking on the phone.

coylemj

greeno wrote: »

I'm private alright. Thats the nearest big car park to me here and I went to the quietest corner of it ah well.

You made the classic mistake of leaving the car in the same place and taking photos from different angles by simply walking around the car. If there is a distraction (especially a motor dealer premises) in the locality, turn the car around in the same spot and take the required photos with nothing noticeable in the background of any of them.

Those service stamps look suspiciously uniform, like as if they were all impressed on the book within a few minutes of each other.

Merch

Wats_in_a_name wrote: »

Are you a private seller?

First thing I noticed was in the second photo theres a motor place in the background. Kinda gives the impression your a garage trying to shift a car 'privately'

Thats what i thought. Is it possible to find out how long a person is on the logbook? in case someone just put their name on it to

end a eknny wrote: »

so theres nearly a years test whats the problem its the age of the car otherwise you would have to buy a 2005 or 2003 car plus having a new test doesnt mean that 2 weeks after an engine could go and you could have to spend a couple of grand on it

No there is only 8months left on the NCT.I never said that it wouldnt clap after 2 weeks, or 2 days, just that a buyer might want more than 7 months NCT left, I would want as much as I can get, so maybe its putting people off.

kermitpwee wrote: »

The reason I said to take out the power steering, electric windows is because its just like something a dealer would have in. If he puts in his name the car will sell, its an indicator that you are not a dealer and why would you be afraid to put your name in? The reason I said to take out dundrum is so that you won't know where the car is and you will have to ring to find out where. Genuine callers will ring and people who don't want to go as far as Dundrum may be tempted to see it after talking on the phone.

Private sellers put details in too, I'd be looking for that info, not sure that would make me think someone is a dealer. They can find out your name if they decide to look at it/when checking the details prior to deciding to purchase, I wouldnt put it in the add, no need for every tom dick and harry to have it, havent seen anyone put in a full name but maybe it happens, I wouldnt and I have nothing to hide. Putting a name in doesnt mean the person isnt a dealer either?

coylemj wrote: »

You made the classic mistake of leaving the car in the same place and taking photos from different angles by simply walking around the car. If there is a distraction (especially a motor dealer premises) in the locality, turn the car around in the same spot and take the required photos with nothing noticeable in the background of any of them.

Those service stamps look suspiciously uniform, like as if they were all impressed on the book within a few minutes of each other.

Thats what I was thinking too, They're v uniform, but maybe shouldnt say that :eek: Also all exactly by the same crowd? makes me wonder if I see that, I'd ask for receipts if spending over a certain value on a private car, Id go for that than a stamped book.

greeno

FFS I wish I'd never bothered coming on here. Allegations galore.

I'm a private seller looking for a bit of advice not to get massacred the service history wasn't even on the original add until someone here suggested it. Was same garage it was serviced at each time and any potential buyer could ring them to verify.

There isn't a hope in hell anyone would keep receipts for every oil change, new tyre etc its a cheap second hand car for christ sake. Maybe if it was a top of the range Mercedes.

My original add had pics taken in my apartment complex and I went to a car park where there is more space as per the advise on here. One of the pics has a sign in the background and now I'm a dealer!

Anyway some dealer I would be looking for advise on a public forum.

Wats_in_a_name

You asked for advice on how to sell your car. We give you tips. Then you complain?

I saw the add as a potential buyer would, and spotted that motor sign. I was not accusing you of being a dealer but saying it would be a warning sign for buyers thats it.

Raskolnikov

greeno wrote: »

FFS I wish I'd never bothered coming on here. Allegations galore.

What do you expect? You faked the service history :rolleyes:

greeno

Raskolnikov wrote: »

What do you expect? You faked the service history :rolleyes:

I didn't fake anything. That service history is Genuine.

Henry Ford III

You've somehow got to make your car outstanding OP. Cleaner, better photographed, perhaps better value than any other Corolla of the same year.

It's a low spec. Corolla - a dull enough car.

Yawns

We're not being bad but tbh I'd take down the pic of the service book. It screams dodgy as in you just went had it stamped a few times then took the pic. It may be genuine but it doesn't look it. It looks bad. I'd drop it.

The car doesn't stand out amongst other corollas. Shine it up. Take pics in sunlight at a park or something. It's a dull colour, in a dull carpark with a dull fence behind it. Get it to a nice big green grassy park on a sunny day and have it washed and cleaned inside n out. It will make a huge difference alone just doing that simple thing.

Wats_in_a_name

Also, Have the car bang on in centre of the photos. In one of the side views at the moment you cut off the rear end. Just looks like a sloppy seller who doesn't really care. I agree with bringing it to somewhere with grass/greenery. Just makes the whole car look better. Whenever I sell a car I always take it to a hill over looking the sea. Looks nicer imo and makes the ad stand out in listings.

Merch

greeno wrote: »

FFS I wish I'd never bothered coming on here. Allegations galore.

You are looking at this the wrong way, I viewed that ad as i would any if I was looking to purchase, you got some good advice then you come back and complain that people are criticising you, I am not if thats what you think. From what I can see, whether I agree withother peoples points or not, its constructive criticism.
If you cant see that taking a pic infront of xyz motors doesnt look great then I'm afraid to say you need the advice, thats coming from someone that isnt claiming to be any kind of expert, your ad does not stand out, the pics still look not great really.

kermitpwee

Merch wrote: »

Private sellers put details in too, I'd be looking for that info, not sure that would make me think someone is a dealer. They can find out your name if they decide to look at it/when checking the details prior to deciding to purchase, I wouldnt put it in the add, no need for every tom dick and harry to have it, havent seen anyone put in a full name but maybe it happens, I wouldnt and I have nothing to hide. Putting a name in doesnt mean the person isnt a dealer either .

I am just going on my experiences of buying and selling cars, a dealer will never give his name in an add if he is selling privately without a warranty. I never look at an add for extras such as power steering etc as these are standard on modern cars. The first thing I look for is evidence that the seller is a genuine private seller then I will call for more info. I realise that the average person would not have bought and sold as many cars as I have. I can only advise, each to their own.

marzic

I'd agree with most of the above but i think comments about the service history are a bit harsh. Looking closely, they are not all stamped identically. Granted it is a sloppy looking stamp and would look better if it was smaller but that shouldnt make anyone think its fake, if i was buying a car with service history, I'd ring the number and make my own inquiry (often they wont tell you much - but you can have them verify the dates you are looking at).

Big Nasty

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The exterior photos really are poor. Take them when
1. The car is clean
2. In daylight
3. Take all angles ie front, front left, left...etc
4. Take the photos in an empty car park or similar, so you have enough space to get around it.
5. Use a proper camera, not a camera phone.

OP - ^^^ this is the best advice you got on this thread.

Ever since it has decended in to waffle.

Follow the above advice and you can't go wrong. Don't hold your breath though because it's not going to happen overnight.

If you feel your questions have been answered sufficently and don't want any more criticism, constructive or otherwise, you can PM a Mod and have the thread closed.

Best of luck with the sale.

Vertakill

Yawns wrote: »

The car doesn't stand out amongst other corollas. Shine it up. Take pics in sunlight at a park or something. It's a dull colour, in a dull carpark with a dull fence behind it. Get it to a nice big green grassy park on a sunny day and have it washed and cleaned inside n out. It will make a huge difference alone just doing that simple thing.

Couldn't agree more.

OP, you literally couldn't have found a more grey vibe if you tried.
Grey car, grey sky, grey carpark, grey backdrop (motor centre and apartments), grey fence...

The angles of the pictures could be improved a little.
The whole colour and picture point of view just screams of boring/dull.
Don't just take front/back/side.
Get some angled shots in there and be a bit more imaginative.
Also, change location and maybe give the car a decent shine if you can.
Bring it to a park on a sunny day after you've washed it and Bobs your uncle.

As it stands, it's like the scene in Father Ted with Tommy Tiernan in the back of the bus listening to Radiohead..


I also think it's listed about €650 too high but maybe that's just me...?

Best of luck!

Merch

kermitpwee wrote: »

I am just going on my experiences of buying and selling cars, a dealer will never give his name in an add if he is selling privately without a warranty. I never look at an add for extras such as power steering etc as these are standard on modern cars. The first thing I look for is evidence that the seller is a genuine private seller then I will call for more info. I realise that the average person would not have bought and sold as many cars as I have. I can only advise, each to their own.

I dont buy and sell cars as such, I have been asked on occasion to assist people buying and selling, if they were of a certain value, I would always recommended if they are interested in the car to seek further professional advice, so i cant and am not claiming to be an expert. It seems you have bought and sold more, so if you think/know better then I'm all for learning from peoples experience. I just wouldnt be too inclined to put my name in full on the interweb , by all means if a person has narrowed down the process to wanting a car, I'd give it to them then and obviously I'd have to give it to them so they could confirm I was the owner etc.
Personally I look for a car that has the features/roughly the price range I am/someone is looking at then eliminate what doesnt suit, I dislike having to contact a seller at an early stage to find out does a car really have a certain feature as if its a dealer it makes me think they just want to get a way for you to start contacting them, private I think they dont realise people might walk if there isnt enough info. Thats just me, Id rather have as much info as possible, eliminate to certain choices, see/drive them/negotiate/weigh up/choose.
If I see POA I just walk, just put the sodding price on it

Idbatterim

I cant believe you can actually buy e39 5 series msport for this money, 02/03 and from dealers! It beggars belief!

astrofool

You can crop the photo's to just the car to remove the car place in the background. You should have got the full profile of the car (you cut off the rear twice).

Take a picture of the speedo showing the miles as well, interior shots could be a bit clearer, probably get a bit closer, same with the outside shots, most of the photo is taken over by a grubby empty car park that looks a bit dodge.

Straighten out the tax/NCT/insurance (remove the old ones).

FWIW, I recently privately sold an 06 car, had the full receipt history along with NCT result sheet and the original SIMI receipt for the car.

I wouldn't be afraid to mention some of the extra, e.g. electric windows will be a luxury for anyone coming from a VW or Audi

Does the car have an alarm, remote central locking?

professore

OP, it's not that bad overall.

Definitely get rid of the one with the dealer in the background. That's a no-brainer. Better to find a street with other cars on it and take the pics there. Pick a nice posh suburb. Then it looks much more like a private sale. Use a better camera and zoom in to have the car fill the screen.

On the photos, as a buyer who has been trawling through them, generally if they are poor / blurry I tend to think "aha there are big dents/scratches/peeling paintwork etc that they are trying to hide with the blurry photos."

The main photo looks as if there is paint damage above the rear wheel showing the white undercoat. I think it's actually your flash but that's what it looks like. That or birdsh1t.

Also I actually think it helps if there ARE a few small imperfections (as there surely must be at that age) to show a photo close up, or small issues e.g. cracked taillight or whatever - it gives the impression you are not hiding anything.

I wouldn't agree about the service history, surely all you have to do is ring the dealer and confirm they are genuine? Ok he could be in on it but unlikely.

The tax disk is impossible to read.

Also the search thing annoys me. Just say the words in the ad. Having Search doesn't add anything.

professore

greeno wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your ideas they have been great. Best bit of advertising I could have hoped for over 1,000 views in 2 days and 3 potential buyers coming this evening.

Cheers.

Good luck mate.