LISTING TIPS

Thank you for choosing Park Avenue Automobiles to sell your high-end luxury automobile. These tips will help you attract more attention to your ad and interest from serious buyers.

Unlike a traditional classified listing, which is designed to merely present inventory to shoppers, an online listing is transactional.

This means much more detail will go into the listing since buyers are expected to go much further down the purchase process before ever contacting the owner or dealership. Online buyers may make their entire decision to buy a vehicle just on the pictures and details of the listing.

Because online sellers have the potential of reaching a larger market than local classifieds and the posting an ad can be cost up to $90, it pays for sellers to develop a different skill set.

Here are proven tips for selling your vehicle online:

1. Research
   
   Unless your vehicle is ultra rare, it will be listed against scores of similar vehicles on multiple online sites and must be priced competitively. That means not only what others are asking for similar vehicles, but the average transaction price of those recently sold. Be realistic about the vehicle's condition and mileage in setting an asking price. Your photos should tell a story about your vehicle. Put the car in a setting that not only shows it off, but that encourages potential buyers to imagine themselves enjoying the vehicle.
   
   
2. The more photos, the better.
   
   With Park Avenue, you can upload 20 photos. We recommend you do that. It's critical to capture every aspect of the vehicle from every angle. More than likely, the transaction will be completed without the buyer laying eyes on the vehicle, so the photos function as the potential buyer's walk-around. We also give you the opportunity to upload a video for the 360 experience. Listings with fewer photos or poor photos can mean no, or at best low, offers. The photos need to be accurate and truthful: Don't try to hide blemishes or damage as this will only create problems once the transaction is complete and delivery is made. A car doesn't have to be perfect, but the interested buyer needs to see everything about it.
   
   
3. Pack the headline with keywords.
   
   The best way ensure potential buyers find your listing is to load the title or headline with several keywords that your buyers use in their Internet search. Think of every attribute to put in the title, so the listing comes up on several keywords. Don't stick to just the year, make and model. When appropriate use "low mileage," "Bose audio system," "great fuel economy" or "leather seating."
   
   
4. Write a compelling description.
   
   Developing an excellent description takes about 45 minutes to an hour listing a car. If you're spending less time, revisit your description. An example of an effective description:
   This 2006 Hummer H2 has just 31,000 miles on it and is beautiful. It is in near perfect condition. The exterior paint looks great and while there are the typical little scratches here and there, you can tell from the pictures that it has been well cared for. The interior is just as beautiful and smells like leather with no hint of cigarette smoke. I have personally driven this vehicle and can tell you it is a real pleasure to drive. The options include all the bells and whistles, including power seats, upgraded stereo system and a back up camera. This Hummer was originally over $50,000. Our listing price on this vehicle is thousands below average retail. This is a great chance to own a luxury SUV at a very fair price. My name is John Public and I really believe this is a great vehicle and I have it priced to move fast. Please call me with any questions you have. (555) 555-5555 (place e-mail address here).
   Keep in mind that nearly every vehicle today has power windows and air conditioning, and such mundane features shouldn't be at the top of your description. Consider what attracted you to the vehicle when you bought it. If it's a convertible, talk about what great summer fun the car is.
   
   
5. Reach out to the buyer.
   
   An online vehicle purchase can cause anxiety and stress for the buyer. He is, after all, paying for something that is often sight unseen. Creating a bridge of communication with the buyer can ease his anxiety and minimize the likelihood he will be unhappy with the vehicle once it arrives. We suggest calling the buyer once the transaction is finalized and thanking them for the sale. Build rapport before and after the sale and make sure it's a great experience for him.
   
   
6. Update your ad.
   
   In general, buyers are more likely to make inquiries on weekends. So if one weekend passes without any calls, it might be time to tweak your ad; after two quiet weekends, major changes might be in order. Consider updating your price, photos, video, headline or description. Once you've followed tips one through five, feel free to contact us for additional assistance.