Selling a car on Donedeal-any tips appreciated.

Bleating Lamb

Hi all,apologies if thread in wrong section,there is an excellent guide to 'buying a car' on Boards but cannot see a similar one for 'selling a car'.Am hoping to sell a 2004 VW Golf privately.Intend advertising it on Donedeal and want to ask a few questions first on the best procedure etc for selling a car.


Sorry if the answers should be obvious:)....Have taken pics of car from all angles and the interior and clock etc which I will load up on Donedeal.It is in very good condition overall,but it has several spots where paint was scratched off.....by others hitting it in carparks over the years:(


Should I mention that it has a few scratches in the ad or just let the pictures do the talking?
I would reckon looking at similar spec and mileage done cars on Donedeal that it is worth around 2700 euro.Don't want to overvalue it in ad and get no interest.Should I price it at say 2800 euro in hope of getting it sold for 2700?
If someone who seems genuinely interested rings to say they will call to inspect car and go for test drive etc...should I say to them that I want it to be a cash sale and what kind of proof of insurance would they need to bring so the car would be covered for Test drive...(its currently off the road).
Finally is it better to let the prospective buyer come to your house to view the car...or meet them at the likes of a petrol Station..
Sorry if the questions seem obvious but have not sold a car privately before,
appreciate any feedback,
thanks.

bazz26

A guide to selling a car in Ireland, located in the Motoring FAQ sticky:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056392340

It's a few years old but most of it is still relevant.

Sam Kade

It's off the road so I presume the nct has expired, if it has get it nct'd as very few will be interested in buying it itherwise. Usually sellers over price their cars on donedeal so don't expect to get the same price as what sellers advertise for.

Atlantic Dawn

Price it for 15-20% more than the lowest you will take for it. Instead of just saying "some scratches" you should also add 1 or 2 photos of the worst of them. Nobody will or should expect a mint condition car from one that is 16 years old. Don't accept bids over the phone, don't hold the car for anyone over the phone, leave the car for sale until someone either puts a deposit of say €200 on it or buys it there and then. Meet them at your home, they will be seeing the logbook anyway with your address details.

For the test drive you should ask them to bring their certificate of insurance so you can see they are covered to drive other cars.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER GIVE THE BUYER THE LOGBOOK, YOU GET THEM TO SIGN THIS AND YOU SEND IT AWAY.

Henry Ford III

Present it well and price it reasonably. Write a good ad. Take plenty of pics.

pcardin

Just make sure your wording is good, honest and avoid any of the usual crap lies at any cost, like - she's a minter, first to see will buy, misser, flying red flags and any other knacker style bs. Don't write in CAPITALS.

Bleating Lamb

pcardin wrote: »

Just make sure your wording is good, honest and avoid any of the usual crap lies at any cost, like - she's a minter, first to see will buy, misser, flying red flags and any other knacker style bs. Don't write in CAPITALS.

Would hope you could see from my original post that I have a reasonable command of the English Language:)....what's a 'misser'??

Bleating Lamb

Have read over the link to 'selling a car'....thanks...couple of queries from it....1- say if you sell the car and person pays you there and then,surely they can't drive away with car if their insurance isn't sorted?...just say if they bought it at wkd when companies are closed.Do they wait till the next working day to sort insurance and collect car after that? 2- if talking to a prospective buyer on phone isn't it ok to suss out if they would be able to pay cash for car if they viewed it and liked it...and their background....(bearing in mind these people are landing to your house)...3- if you allow people to text you on Donedeal ad is that better to suss out timewasters or should you only choose option for them to ring you?
Thanks for replies from everyone

pcardin

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Would hope you could see from my original post that I have a reasonable command of the English Language:)

I havent read your original post properly. My bad.

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

....what's a 'misser'??

I've no idea. But have seen that a lot in a sentence like "a misser on dysul" I can only guess what "daysul" could be. :pac:

Bleating Lamb

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Have read over the link to 'selling a car'....thanks...couple of queries from it....1- say if you sell the car and person pays you there and then,surely they can't drive away with car if their insurance isn't sorted?...just say if they bought it at wkd when companies are closed.Do they wait till the next working day to sort insurance and collect car after that? 2- if talking to a prospective buyer on phone isn't it ok to suss out if they would be able to pay cash for car if they viewed it and liked it...and their background....(bearing in mind these people are landing to your house)...3- if you allow people to text you on Donedeal ad is that better to suss out timewasters or should you only choose option for them to ring you?
Thanks for replies from everyone

Would really appreciate if anyone replied to these few questions of mine this evening,thanks.

The Sidewards Man

€2k is value of your car, less if it's a petrol. Price it right and it will sell.

Bleating Lamb

They may seem like obvious questions but have not sold a car privately before so would be great if anyone gave an answer to my questions re Insurance etc in my last big post,
cheers.

Straight Edge Punk

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

They may seem like obvious questions but have not sold a car privately before so would be great if anyone gave an answer to my questions re Insurance etc in my last big post,
cheers.

Once you sell the car it's of no concern to you whether or not the buyer is insured. Just make sure they sign the log book and then YOU keep it and post it off.

There is no need to have them come to your house, any local car park or petrol station is fine.

ironclaw

Straight Edge Punk wrote: »

There is no need to have them come to your house, any local car park or petrol station is fine.

Personally wouldn't buy a car off someone who wouldn't present it outside their house. Plenty of cars in the market, I want to be sure you actually own it. If it was something exceptionally rare or desirable for a thief, I'd probably ask them to meet at a half way point out of courtesy, but for payment I'd be looking to do it with the satisfaction of knowing the car is legitimately yours.

Your name and address is on the log book anyway, so if I want to steal it, I'll go to sign the log book, fluff a reason for not signing and come round to nick it later anyway. Or I'll stick a tracker on it and follow it home. Zero point in thinking your any safer to not meet at your house, it just raises more red flags than it lowers.

Straight Edge Punk

ironclaw wrote: »

Personally wouldn't buy a car off someone who wouldn't present it outside their house. Plenty of cars in the market, I want to be sure you actually own it. If it was something exceptionally rare or desirable for a thief, I'd probably ask them to meet at a half way point out of courtesy, but for payment I'd be looking to do it with the satisfaction of knowing the car is legitimately yours.

Your name and address is on the log book anyway, so if I want to steal it, I'll go to sign the log book, fluff a reason for not signing and come round to nick it later anyway. Or I'll stick a tracker on it and follow it home. Zero point in thinking your any safer to not meet at your house, it just raises more red flags than it lowers.

I've sold a few cars through donedeal but I've never had someone come to my house to view it, it has always just been easier to meet in a car park or outside a local petrol station. It saves me giving exact directions to my house.

Bleating Lamb

Thanks for replies,regarding option of letting people text you,is that a good idea or does it lead to bluffers wasting your time?....also isn't it ok to ask for cash in payment?

mgbgt1978

Personally I prefer to say "no Texts". If they're that interested they will ring you and ask some relevant questions.
The Texters will usually just ask for your Best Price....and as they are probably doing this 10 times an hour you will never hear from them again.

Apart from that I think you are aiming a bit high with your asking price. It's worth the same as any other 2004 1.4 Golf or Focus, and there are loads out there. Your best selling point with this car is a reasonable asking price.
I don't see any answer to the question concerning a current NCT. Without one it's worth half what you would get for it if it was NCT'ed.

For the money you are talking about it will almost certainly be a cash deal.

Sam Kade

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Personally I prefer to say "no Texts". If they're that interested they will ring you and ask some relevant questions.
The Texters will usually just ask for your Best Price....and as they are probably doing this 10 times an hour you will never hear from them again.

Apart from that I think you are aiming a bit high with your asking price. It's worth the same as any other 2004 1.4 Golf or Focus, and there are loads out there. Your best selling point with this car is a reasonable asking price.
I don't see any answer to the question concerning a current NCT. Without one it's worth half what you would get for it if it was NCT'ed.

For the money you are talking about it will almost certainly be a cash deal.

I saw a car on donedeal with expired nct, when I asked would he nct it he wanted to more than double the price he had it advertised for. That tells me there must be something bad wrong with the car, I asked him for a failed nct cert but he never replied :rolleyes:

Bleating Lamb

Car has a current NCT...when I said it was off the road I meant I have bought a car to replace it so am not driving it at the moment.

Jesus.

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

They may seem like obvious questions but have not sold a car privately before so would be great.

Don't look for nearly 3 grand for a 12 year old Golf. Price it at a grand.

SEPT 23 1989

Use lots of 9's in your price

The Sidewards Man

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Thanks for replies,regarding option of letting people text you,is that a good idea or does it lead to bluffers wasting your time?....also isn't it ok to ask for cash in payment?

People who text are the same clowns who lounge out on adverts, ignore them. Cash is the only method of payment I would accept but make sure it's real.

Bleating Lamb

Short of escorting them to a bank link as they take out the money from it....how can you make sure the money is real?

Agricola

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Short of escorting them to a bank link as they take out the money from it....how can you make sure the money is real?

You can get a marker which shows up clear on legit bank notes and makes a dark mark on counterfeit ones.
I've sold a fair few cars at my house for cash and always run this over the money just out of sight of the buyer, before completing the deal.

Atlantic Dawn

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Thanks for replies,regarding option of letting people text you,is that a good idea or does it lead to bluffers wasting your time?....also isn't it ok to ask for cash in payment?

My last 2 cars I sold were from initial contact by text, I'd go with it but don't negotiate the price of the car over text and if anyone asks a question about the car that's already answered in the ad like how much the tax is or when NCT expires I'd ignore those clowns.

SNNUS

Jesus. wrote: »

Don't look for nearly 3 grand for a 12 year old Golf. Price it at a grand.

Sold my 04 Golf a few weeks back for €2500, had it prices at €2750. If it is in good condition you should get roughly the same.. Hope it is the new shape golf as they changed in 04

Jesus.

SNNUS wrote: »

Sold my 04 Golf a few weeks back for €2500, had it prices at €2750.

That's insane. Fair dues

bazz26

Jesus. wrote: »

That's insane. Fair dues

People happily pay stupid money for Golf's all day long.

Jesus.

Indeed. Never got the Golf thing myself.

Bleating Lamb

Agricola wrote: »

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Short of escorting them to a bank link as they take out the money from it....how can you make sure the money is real?

You can get a marker which shows up clear on legit bank notes and makes a dark mark on counterfeit ones.
I've sold a fair few cars at my house for cash and always run this over the money just out of sight of the buyer, before completing the deal.

Thanks....where would you buy a marker like that?

SNNUS

Jesus. wrote: »

That's insane. Fair dues

Most 04 Golfs were priced €3000+ and they sell.. In fairness probably only one of a few car that holds value well. Good car though, 8 years driving and never let me down.