Making Your Used Car Stand Out from the Crowd

So you've decided to sell your car. You jot down all of the particulars: color, mileage, trim package, 0etc. You determine a price, put a 'For Sale' sign in the window and list it in the paper or online. Then it becomes apparent... you aren't the only one selling a Jeep Wrangler.

Bill is selling his for $1800 less than yours. It's got factory rims and hasn't ever seen a coat of wax. There is one a model year newer that is going for the same price as yours, but is also straight factory. You easily have $2,000 in aftermarket goodies on your jeep, not to mention you wash it religiously every month. Unfortunately most newspapers or online websites aren't designed to show users the best value, just what's available. It's up to you to make your listing stand out.

So when writing a listing for your vehicle, consider what differentiates it from others.

Here are some examples...

Bad:      Aftermarket Tires

Good:   RUGGED RIDGE XHD WHEEL 17X9, BLACK SATIN
             AND MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES (Retail Value $2,150)

Bad:       New Bumper

Good:     FRONT DELUXE BULL BAR WINCH BUMPER
               w/ HEADLIGHT PACKAGE (Retail Value $900)

Bad:       Regular Maintenance

Good:    Meticulously maintained by a certified mechanic

Also, most online websites allow for a "short description". Consider making it compelling:
- Loads of aftermarket goodies!
- Meticulously maintained by professional.
- Mainly highway miles.

If you have spent the time and money taking care of your vehicle, don't short change yourself when it comes time to sell.

Happy Selling,

Once Driven

We just hit 140,000 followers on Facebook!

The Once Driven Facebook page reached 140k likes this week. Wow!
This is great news for buyers and sellers of used cars. Our audience is growing.

Visit the Once Driven Facebook page.

FREE Price Analysis

Every Once Driven customer receive a FREE price analysis of their used vehicle. Our team will give you an unbiased estimate of your vehicle's "Market Value" before we begin marketing it. Not knowing whether you are overpriced or under priced before selling it is one of the biggest mistakes sellers make.

There are many free services where you can perform this research yourself:

Kelley Blue Book
www.kbb.com

NADA - National Auto Dealer Association
http://www.nadaguides.com/

Need help selling your vehicle?
We can get started on your price analysis today.
Call:   (888) 941-6515

More on our services:
Sell My Used Vehicle

Once Driven
www.oncedriven.com

Interior Photos of Your Car Recommended

One simple and overlooked step in listing a vehicle for sale online is including photos of the interior of your vehicle. Some people like to snap a photo of the dashboard, specifically the odometer. While a quality view of the dashboard console is nice, zoom out a bit and get the whole console. Also snap a pic of the driver's seat, back seats and trunk. The more photos you add, the better online experience you create for a potential buyer.

GOOD PHOTOS SELL A CAR!

Once Driven's Photo Recommendations:

• Front Corner
• Back Corner
• Front Seats from Passenger Side
• Back Seats from Passenger Side
• Engine
• Trunk
• Interior Detail Shot (Optional)

Here are a few good examples from one of our customers.

This vehicle can be viewed here if you are interested:
http://www.oncedriven.com/used-car/Ford-Focus/6353709966.aspx

Should I Hide My License Plate in Photos?

The short answer:  No

The practice of blocking, hiding or obscuring the license plate of a car in pictures isn't entirely new; however, it does seem to have grown in popularity in recent years. And to be honest, we aren't entirely certain why. It's clearly being done to protect personal identity, but there is little evidence to suggest your personal information is at risk simply by displaying your license plate. In fact, don't we drive around every day with our plates exposed to the general public?

Here's our lighthearted roundup of a few methods used to achieve this level of stealth.

Daylight Savings Equals A Time To Sell.

For many, daylight savings, or 'Springing Forward' is an unwelcome loss of sleep. For others, it marks another hour of much wanted daylight. Many see this as a time to begin spending more time outside working in the yard or exercising. Others see it as the mark of the warmer season soon to come.

Much like the real estate industry, car buying and selling trends change with the onset of warmer weather. Your certain to see more real estate 'For Sale' signs popping up AND there will also be an uptick in individuals looking to buy and sell vehicles. Family vacations, spring breaks, sunny skies, and increased desire for outdoor activities are all triggers for individuals and families to contemplate purchasing a new (or new/used) vehicle.

Our suggestion is to not drag your feet. If you are looking to get into a new vehicle or simply thinking of selling an old one, now is the time. Get it on the market before the market is saturated. Give the vehicle a good cleaning, throw a sign in the window and get it listed online. As always, give us a call if youre having difficulty getting it sold.

Happy Selling!
Mike
Once Driven
888-941-6515
www.oncedriven.com

Consider Having Your Car Detailed Before Selling.

If you are selling a used car, you might want to think about having it detailed prior to selling it. Many auto spas, car washes and car dealerships will offer a "Detailing Package". Depending on where you live, this may only cost around $100-$200 for a very thorough cleaning.

Why spend money like that on a car you are selling? If you're car is older it most likely has some stains and or smells that are difficult to remove. Some of the pros will steam clean stains making your upholstery look better than it has in years. They will clean all of the dust out of the tiny nooks and crannies and make the dash and console look like new.

Think about it this way. If you are selling a vehicle for $6,000, you could get $6,500 if the interior is showroom fresh. That $100 investment could yield a $400 return. Even if it doesn't drive up the sale price, it could mean the difference in a quick sale or a sale that takes months.

Another quick tip:  Have the car detailed BEFORE you take the pictures and put it online for the world to see.

Is your used vehicle priced competitively?

Ok, it's time to sell that vehicle that's been sitting in your driveway for the past few years. You've got it clean and shiny, with no toys or trash in the cup holder. Wow, it's almost making you second guess selling it, except for the fact that you have a new car sitting in the drive beside it. Now you ask yourself  "How much do I want to ask for it?" This is where many people get into trouble.

There are right ways and wrong ways to price a vehicle. Some of the wrong ways are:

- I want what I owe on the loan.  (WRONG)
- I want what that dealership is asking for one on their Used Car lot (WRONG)
- I want $10,000 because that's what it's worth to me. (WRONG)

In order to sell a vehicle (especially online), you need to price it so that it's competitive in your marketplace.  The best place to start is to price it with some of the nationally recognized services such as Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) or NADA (nadaguides.com). They have pricing tools that allow you to enter mileage, condition, location and a myriad of other options your vehicle may have.

Secondly, you should search for vehicles similar to yours that are for sale in your area. If there are 5 other Honda Accords for sale in your town, you need to be priced competitively with those. Determine why your vehicle may be a better choice for a buyer. Is it clean, well-kept, low mileage, regularly serviced or is it a specialty package with leather, premium wheels, etc.  All of these little factors will stand out when shoppers look at your vehicle. If your price is higher than average, you have to be the one to help justify this in buyers minds.

Lastly, don't bank on pricing it high and negotiating down to the number you really want. It's easier to have someone call and justify what you are asking than having no one call at all.  THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES USED CAR SELLERS MAKE.

If you need any assistance selling or pricing, give Once Driven a call 888-941-6515. Our friendly representative will not only give you some great options for helping get it sold, but we perform a pricing analysis on all of our customer's vehicles.

Good luck and happy selling!

Legit buyer or not? Once Driven.

Once Driven - How do I know if a buyer is legit?

There are many people on the Internet trying to scam individuals out of their vehicle and/or money. So how can you tell if a buyer is legit? After years of selling vehicles online, we've heard of many schemes and scams. Since the late 1990's, most of them have been transacted via email due to the ease and anonymity of setting up email accounts.

The simplest way to determine if someone is legit is to have them call you. If you are selling a vehicle on Once Driven and someone suspicious emails you, ask them to call you to discuss the vehicle. Considering most scams originate from overseas or foreign countries, the vast majority of scammers will move on to their next target. Phone numbers are traceable and it's difficult to hide their true intentions via phone.

If someone does try to perpetuate a scam via phone, it is typically done by pretending to call from a company.  Over the years, our staff has been alerted to individuals calling on customers on behalf of Once Driven.  If you ever receive a call from Once Driven, please listen for a name and phone number. No representative from our company will call a buyer or seller without leaving proper credentials.

If you would like to learn more about common Internet car buying scams, visit this page:

http://www.oncedriven.blogspot.com/2013/07/beware-of-common-used-car-buying-scams.html

If you feel a Once Driven representative contacted you errantly OR if you simply wish not to have a representative contact you, please visit this page:

http://oncedriven.com/quality-assurance/

If you have additional questions, feel free to chat live with representative on our website or call our Customer Support Team at 888-941-6515.

Taking good photos of your used car is important to selling.

It is said "A picture is worth a thousand words.", or in the case of selling a vehicle, it could be worth thousands of dollars. When selling a used car, sellers should understand the importance good photos play in the process. Studies have shown that online listings with photos are viewed nearly twice as much as those without. Once Driven recommends having four photos (or more) that give buyers a good overall look at the vehicle.

Here are a few recommendations:

Wash the vehicle.

Clean cars photo well and suggest to buyers they have been maintained.

Take photos in a well-lit area.

Avoid distracting shadows from trees, etc. Choose a nice, sunny day.

Include an interior picture.
The driver's seat and dash area are good. Remove trash and personal belongings.

Omit people from the photo.
Including people in the photo may distract buyers and/or send the wrong message.

Include photos of what you want buyers to see.

If you have custom wheels, engine or an immaculately maintained interior, include a photo.

Here are a few examples of photos that need improvement:

Clean, decent lighting, the signs and shadows are a bit distracting.

Car has decent lighting, but it's filthy.

Trash in the floorboard is a no-no. Looks like a fresh spill.

Nice, clean interior. Should have captured more of the console.

Used Car Buyers - How do you plan to pay?

When looking to purchase a used car from a private individual, you need to know how you plan to pay. Unlike shopping at a dealership where financing options are available, you will need to either pay cash or check to a private seller.

Here are a few options:

Cash – Don’t roll up with $20k in a briefcase, but don’t be hesitant to offer cash if you have it. It’s a very powerful negotiating tool. When seller knows they can have cash in hand they may be tempted to lower the price.

Check – For larger purchases, you can always write a check (most common method). Know that some sellers will want to allow the appropriate time for checks to clear, etc. Keep this in mind if you have to travel a good distance to purchase the vehicle.

Financing – Some buyers will finance, but this isn't common. Consider looking into a home equity loan or line of credit. The great thing about this method is that the interest is tax deductible. You could also go to the bank and get a personal loan. In any case, know what you plan to spend and get pre-approved.

Highlights:

- Cash talks
- Checks need to clear
- Get pre-approved for loans

Be Smart and Safe When Showing Your Vehicle to Buyers

It is important to be cautious, smart and safe when showing your vehicle to potential buyers that contact you. Taking a few simple precautions can ensure you do not fall victim to theft or unsavory characters.

When selling a used car, sellers must keep in mind that some individuals troll online listings to find potential victims. This can mean car theft or in some cases bodily harm to the seller. Here are a few tips to prevent things like this from occurring.

Avoid Meeting Unknown Individuals Alone
Always try to meet prospective buyers with a spouse, friend, neighbor or significant other. If you can’t get someone to join you, meet in a public area where there are other individuals around.

Test Drives
Never give an individual you don’t know the keys to your car without some type of collateral. Have them give you their keys, a wallet or something they would have to come back for. If they don’t have collateral, write down all of their info on their driver’s license. Also make them show you proof of insurance. If you wish to ride along with them, do not do so alone and proceed with caution. You never know what type of driver they are.

Don’t Meet at Home
It’s always best to meet unknown individuals in public areas away from your home. A mall or grocery store parking lot is great; tons of people around and typically security/ cameras to deter criminals.

Conversely, all of the previous precautions apply to those buying used cars. Beware of deals that seem too good to be true. They could be trying to lure individuals to remote locations. It’s always best for buyers and sellers to meet in public areas with other individuals present.

Don't Fall Victim to Used Car Buying Scams

Selling a used car online is the most effective way to get it in front of tons of prospective buyers. Unfortunately it’s also a great way to get it in front of scammers. With a little knowledge and caution, sellers can have a safe and successful experience.

The most common used car buying scam is…
the counterfeit cashier’s check scam. This one has unfortunately been around since the 1990’s. It remains effective because:

1) Most individuals perceive cashier’s checks to be as good as cash.
2) Banks do not have the ability to validate the authenticity of a cashier’s check instantly.

Here is how it works:
Scammers will contact a used car seller via email. Typically they are overseas or in a foreign country. They want to purchase a vehicle with a cashier’s check and have the seller ship it to them. The ‘Buyer’ will typically make the check out for the amount of the car plus the shipping costs and sometimes a little extra for the seller’s efforts.

Most sellers are cautious and wait for cashier’s check to arrive. They then take it to the bank and get cash. Once they have the cash in hand, they will call the shipping company to come pick up the car. Up to this point, things seem to be going well.

In a matter of days, the bank will determine that the cashier’s check was counterfeit. Unfortunately, it is up to the seller to give these funds back to the bank. In some cases, the car has already been shipped, the shipper has been paid and the seller is left to deal with paying back the bank.

What to watch out for:
- Messages from individuals in foreign countries
- Messages are typically via email or text
- Individuals who want to pay with cashier’s checks (foreign)
- Buyers that want to purchase the vehicle sight unseen and have it shipped

Welcome to OnceDriven's blog.

Welcome to the OnceDriven.com blog. The purpose of this blog is to provide helpful insight, tips and advice for those in the market to buy or sell used cars (or any vehicle for that matter). If you have questions or topics you would like us to cover, let us know. We've helped many people buy and sell used vehicles online and hope to pass on some of this knowledge to you.  If you haven't checked out Once Driven please do so.