My brother-in-law in, also living here in Texas, wants me to sell his old Toyota 4runner for him, so I can make money off it. He was explicit enough to tell me not to take it to a lot. What are the ins and outs in selling a used vehicle privately, anyway?

Jeff

Houston, TX

Hey there, Jeff. By the sound of it, you seem pretty lost, lost in Texas! Kidding aside, selling that used Toyota 4runner should not be much of a problem. Just kind of reverses the point of view that you’re used to. If you’re used to being the buyer, then just switch roles. Remember that car buyers do have some specifics that they want to check out. It doesn’t matter whether the vehicle is on a dealer’s lot or if the car’s just in a friendly neighbor’s garage. It’s up to you to switch and give what the buyer wants.

Okay, Jeff. First off, do you have all the papers in order? Make sure you do before you go about selling that car.

Now, for the other basics, there’s the car’s condition, how you’ll price it and the freebies you want to throw in. Let’s start with the price, I won’t dictate to you how you should price the car but I’ll offer advice. Agree with your brother-in-law first on what the floor price will be. One thing with private selling is you have to be prepared because buyers that’ll take a look at that car will expect a steal of a deal. The last thing you’d want to happen is to end up not making profit on your end. Now, do a thorough check on the car. Buyers normally want a price-off for something they might see as defective. So if there are minor (and low-cost) repairs needed to be made, have them done. Loose cables, an oil or fluid leak might cost you that good deal, so practice due diligence. As for freebies, they’re all entirely up to you. A nice accessory could prove valuable to sweeten a deal.

Tags: cheap cars, Houston Dealer, Toyota Dealer, used car