WHAT'S YOUR CAR WORTH?
Getting the price right is usually the main difference between no calls and a flood of calls. It's also important to separate emotion from this phase, because we often place a value on our car that is higher than people will pay. We've lived with it for years, we're a little sentimental because of all the fun we've had in it, and we reckon it's worth, say, $5000, but the market is only willing to pay $4000.
The market can be sensitive to the last $500 in some cases, so getting the right dollar on your ad in crucial. Carsales provides two easy ways to get a fix on your car's market value.
CAR VALUE GUIDE
Carsales offers a no-fuss Car value calculator that allows you to plug in your make and model, and the year of manufacture, and get an instant value on vehicles matching your type. This database is built by the Red Book, Australia's leading used car pricing authority.
The Red Book has its fingers on the used car market's pulse, scaning thousands of classifieds and dealerships weekly, getting market prices on thousands of used vehicles. From this, the Red Book can accurately determine what the median market value is of just about any vehicle.
Check out the Carsales Network free valuation tool here.
DO IT YOURSELF
Alternately, you can check Carsales' classifieds for vehicles more closely matching your own, right down to colour and kilometres covered. Remember to take into account any differences in condition, registration and also location. Buyers are more likely to pay more for a vehicle closer to them, so if you're in a country location a discount may be needed -- or an offer to pick up transport costs.
Take a look through Carsales' Used Car Classifieds here.
PRICE INFLUENCING FACTORS
Several critical factors affect the value of your car:
- Age
- Mileage
- Popularity of model
- New car discounting, price cuts and new models
- Engine and transmission combination
- The right options
- Air-cond and power steering
- Colour and condition
- Service history and registration
- Who's buying on the day
- The number of similar examples on the market
- How quickly you want to sell
Remember too, that as a private seller you cannot expect to get the same price a dealer will. A dealer offers trade-in and finance facilities, reduced risk and preparation to new car condition so don't pitch your car at forecourt prices if you are in a hurry to sell.
Article by Joe Kenwright and the Carsales Network
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