Car Classifieds – How to Make a Great Ad to Sell Your Car Fast

Selling a car yourself is a great way to earn some extra money when compared to selling it directly to a dealership. It might take a little more effort, but the payoff is generally worth it. Selling a car independently means that you will be responsible for advertising your car to the world. The easiest way to get eyes on your ugly car for sale is by writing an effective car classifieds ad. While this may seem daunting at first, with the tips below, you can learn how to make your car classifieds ad the best that it can be.

How to Write a Good Car Ad

Making a good car ad requires being honest and to the point with your description while still highlighting the good aspects of your vehicle. Here are some broad tips that should help anyone create a great car classifieds ad:

• Detailed Description. Aside from seeing pictures, this is one of the most vital aspects to consider when listing a car. It is often the only way a potential buyer will be able to learn about the vehicle. Make sure to touch on all the basic details of the car and answer potential questions within the description. At the very least, make sure to have the year, make, model, and mileage of the car available, then move on to any other highlights of the car.
• List a Price. A large number of people will just skip past any ad that doesn’t have a price listed. Customers will want to at least know a ballpark price before they make the decision to call and inquire further.
• Provide the VIN. Conditions of used cars can vary drastically. As such, buyers will be wary about any previous damages. Having an available history report will have your ad stand out from the rest and give buyers greater peace of mind.
• Avoid Spelling and Grammar Mistakes. It might seem simple, but make sure to proofread your ad multiple times so that it can give buyers the best impression possible.

Tips For a Better Car Classifieds Description

Having a well written description can make or break a car ad. A confusing or uninformative description might result in your car never even selling. Here are some tips specifically on how anyone can improve their car classifieds descriptions:

Stay Relevant

There is a limited amount of space to write out the description and it has to be used carefully. Make sure to convey all the relevant basics about the vehicle and other high-level information. Don’t use the space to just list out specifications either, as most potential buyers have already done that research elsewhere. Instead, hone in on anything that possibly makes it stand out from the rest of the market. Whether it’s low mileage, a rare color, dutifully maintained, or modified, find something that can make it stand out.

Be Honest

Any lies listed will quickly fall apart once a car history is accessed or a potential buyer test drives the car. You don’t have to make note of every single scratch or small ding, but any moderate damage should be noted. It shows that you are a trustworthy seller and it saves everyone the headache of dealing with uncovered lies.

Know Your Buyer

Considering that you at one time were a buyer of the car you’re selling, it should be easy to highlight what’s important. Different cars will attract people with different priorities. If the car being sold is family vehicle, make sure to mention the safety rating and safety features found aboard. If it’s a sports or muscle car, make note of its performance and any possible modifications that were made. Buyers of high-end luxury cars will no doubt want to know about any convenience features and how well taken care of the car has been.

Pro Phrases

Regardless of the type of buyer, there are general phrases that can entice buyers to inquire further about the car. Some of these simple words/phrases include:

• Bargain
• Priced to Sell
• Well Maintained
• Clean – Exterior, Interior, etc.
• Great – Paint, Ride, Curb Appeal, etc.
• Must – See, Drive, etc.
• Only – One Owner, 15k miles, etc.

Include Photos

Even the worlds greatest written descriptions will still have trouble selling a car if there are no pictures attached. Having a good set of pictures does wonders for increasing lead conversions and click-through rates. However, having a set of three pictures taken haphazardly in the middle of the night isn’t going to cut it.

Take as many pictures as you can. Showcase the good angles of the vehicle and offer a good run-through of the interior. Light is your friend, as not only does it brighten up the car, but it offers clearer picture quality so buyers aren’t left guessing as to what they are looking at. As with the description, you don’t have to offer a picture of every incidence of wear and tear, but if there is damage that stands out, a picture should be offered. Additionally, do your best to keep your pictures straight without any obviously crooked angles; it’s the photo equivalent of a spelling error in the description.

Set a Realistic Price

A beautifully crafted description and photo set will not accomplish a sale if you are trying to sell a car way above the market price. Of course, everyone wants to make as much money as they can on a sale, but it’s important to set a realistic price, otherwise, no one will give your car classifieds ad the time of day.

Do some research and see what the average used selling price of your car is. You will typically find the average sale price from both the dealer and third-party sellers. It’s important that you base your price on the average price for a third-party seller considering that you are not a dealership that can provide financing or other options.

After doing the research, you will most likely come with a price range that can be a few thousand dollars wide. If you are okay with your car spending a longer time on the market, you can price your car at the upper end of this range to get the most return possible. If you are in a hurry to get rid of a particular vehicle, however, price it a little bit over the lower end of the range in case you have buyers who want to haggle down the price.