Best Practices For Writing A Used Car Ad

When it comes to time to upgrade or change your vehicle, one of the most stressful parts of the process is selling your current vehicle. Depending on the make or model, this process can be complicated, and it doesn't help when the for sale ad is poorly written. Here we will look at a number of ways to write a used car ad that will actually result in a sale.

1. Be Honest

Used car salesmen don't have the best reputation, and the source of the ill-repute is often their lack of honesty. In many instances, people selling a used vehicle, either as a dealership or personal sale, are known to lie about the true real state of a vehicle.

Some lies may not be discovered right away, whereas other lies may be apparent upon the first inspection. Being upfront about any deficiencies or damages in the ad can go a long way and ensure that both parties don't end up wasting their time. After all, the more time spent dealing with misled customers means less time spent with those who would actually have an interest in buying the vehicle.

2. Be Responsive

People on the lookout for a used car are likely viewing many different vehicles and contacting several sellers. A potential sale can be lost if the seller is slow to respond or is unresponsive.

3. Include Images

They say images say a thousand words, and when it comes to purchasing a vehicle, this couldn't be closer to reality. "The truth is, people are very unlikely to inquire about a vehicle posted in a for sale ad if there is no photo included," writes Bill Lane, an auto expert at Lia Help and Custom Writing. An area where many people fail when it comes to taking photos is they don't snap a shot of the interior of the vehicle from different angles.

When including photos, the more, the better, and the more angles and vantage points a seller can include, the more likely they will be to reach the right buyer.

If the vehicle is dirty, it may be worth taking some time to detail it before showing. For a good guide on how to detail a vehicle visit here.

4. Price Wisely

One of the main reasons people have a hard time selling their used vehicle is they pick an unrealistic price point. The simple truth is that most people overvalue their vehicle's price or continue to hold out for an unrealistic amount. The best way to pick a price is by looking at what other people have sold similar vehicles for in the past and pick a number somewhere in that range. It's also highly advisable to indicate in the ad that you're open to some price negotiation.

5. Be Descriptive

Unsuccessful ads are not very successful and don't tell the reader very much about the vehicle in question. "Using highly descriptive language, instead of tired, meaningless phrases such as 'runs like a dream' is a much better approach to selling a car," writes Jeffrey Hughes, a writer at Studydemic and Essay writing service reviews.

Aside from being more informative, being highly descriptive will save the seller lots of time from people asking the same old questions such as "how many miles does the vehicle have" and "has the vehicle had any major work done to it."

6. Follow The Required Format

Most advertising platforms have a specific format they want posters to follow, and not following the guidelines can result in having the ad taken down or not approved at all. It goes without saying that this can cause major delays and result in wasted time, so it's best to do it right the first time.

7. Clearly List Available Viewing Hours

Many sellers don't include what hours they are available to have people come and look at their vehicle. Posting availability right on the ad saves a lot of time for both parties.

8. Highlight Modifications

Any type of work done to the vehicle, whether it be major repairs or cosmetic changes, should be listed in simple, easy-to-understand language within the body of the ad. Not only is this the ethical and professional way to go about listing a vehicle, but it also saves lots of time. Instead of giving out the info to each person who inquires, the majority of whom are not even genuinely interested in making a purchase; all interested parties can easily view the information without having to contact the seller.