Tips for timing the sale of your car – right!

When the time comes to get rid of that beloved – or sometimes loathed – vehicle, do you consider when to put it for sale? You should. There has been a 1990’s model Nissan 300ZX convertible for sale on the corner of my street for months. It’s housed at a local gas station, and while it may have once garnered some closer looks by passers by (including me), it now sits facing a major thoroughfare looking slightly ridiculous. Now, every time I walk by I think to myself, “Who’s going to buy a convertible in November?!” This car sparked in me the thought that most people probably don’t think about when they should sell their vehicles…just that it needs to go, and now! Fear not friends, here are a few tips to help you time the sale of your car RIGHT!

• Does the season match your vehicle type? Is it 90 degrees outside and all you can think about is dipping your toes in the ocean? If so, then it’s probably not the best time to put a for-sale sign in the window of your 4×4 fully equipped with tow package, winch, and snow tires.

• Introduce your car to the market toward the end of the season just before the one that a buyer would want to drive it. Got a convertible or a fun-to-drive ride? Try timing it at the end of Spring when buyers are hungry for sunshine and that wind-blown look.

• Better early (than late) to the game. If you can afford to hold onto your car for another season in order to hit the market at just the right time, then do it. Your hill-climber isn’t going to attract too many buyers in the middle of winter.

• Sedans, compacts and minivans are (kind of) the exception to the rule. These vehicles are in high demand all year long. Even still, you should do a quick Internet search to learn how many versions of your vehicle are on the market in your area before selling.