Getting your Car Ready to Sell
Amusing your Car

Assessing Your Evaluation
Look at your evaluation sheet. As you do, remember that as "seller" you are now a "marketer." As with anyone selling a product, you want to promote the product's assets and minimize its drawbacks or weak points.

The assets, then, should be considered for mention in your ad (more on that later). These are the points that you'll want to be sure a potential buyer sees and is made aware of. When it comes to the liabilities, you have a decision to make: Is it worth the time and money investment to have them repaired? Obviously, only you can make that decision. But to help you in making that decision we offer the following for your consideration:

General Appearance
Your car's general appearance may be the single most important factor in selling your car. If it needs repairs, pulls to the left, idles roughly, or has a hundred other problems, you very well may never get a chance to explain the problems or offer a price adjustment if the car is dirty or looks like a teenager's bedroom. Even if you decide to sell it as is, "as is" has to mean clean.

Every visible defect will weaken your negotiating position. You'll have to decide whether the repairs are worth the investment. Also, keep in mind that while some items may seem to be only cosmetic, they may cause the car to fail state inspection. For example, in some states a chipped windshield or a seriously cracked glass in any of the windows will fail inspection. Many windshield "stars," or chips, as they are called, can be repaired inexpensively by a new special process. (Visit an auto-parts store or look in your yellow pages under Auto Repair-Glass.) Otherwise, a new windshield may be required, and you should make note of the probable cost.