Refurb the alloys
Dealers often do this to cheer up a used car, especially premium brands. It's amazing what a sparkling set of wheels will do to a buyer's enthusiasm, whether you're trading in or selling privately. You can either call a mobile refurb company to fill in scrapes or send them to someone like BJV (www.wheelrefurbishing.com) in Herts to repaint the whole set for around £200. It's more honest than, say, steam-cleaning the engine. Who doesn't like gleaming wheels?
Take a decent pic
Most online classifieds let you post one or more pics, but few people make an effort. On a bright day (sun isn't good when taking interior shots), park the car in an open space, preferably without a backdrop of urban decay. Snap a front three-quarter view (ie you see the front and the side) both sides, one rear shot, maybe a boot shot and an interior. For the interior, open the front passenger door and shoot across the dash, wedging the camera in the top right-angle of the door frame to prevent low-light shake.
Budge a bit, but not too much
Never write ONO (or near offer) on your ad, but be prepared to come down a little bit on price. Buyers expect to haggle and wounded pride at a rebuff can halt a sale. But don't offer until they ask, and then only drop the price to a level you've already decided on. Figure out that level from a free on-line price guide like Parkers.co.uk and also from real prices you've seen on Autotrader.co.uk.
