Selling a car - AA inspection
Discussion
Scenario: selling a 2007 car for £2995, buyer wants an AA inspection done on it. Do I:
- ask for a fairly normal deposit amount, to "hold" the car
- waive the deposit because he's already paying ~£200 for an AA report that he will never get back
- ask for a higher deposit, due to the time delays/potential for being messed around etc?
Deposit would be non-refundable even if AA finds something major, I interpret a "refundable deposit" as completely meaningless and a waste of time.
- ask for a fairly normal deposit amount, to "hold" the car
- waive the deposit because he's already paying ~£200 for an AA report that he will never get back
- ask for a higher deposit, due to the time delays/potential for being messed around etc?
Deposit would be non-refundable even if AA finds something major, I interpret a "refundable deposit" as completely meaningless and a waste of time.
paul_c123 said:
Scenario: selling a 2007 car for £2995, buyer wants an AA inspection done on it. Do I:
- ask for a fairly normal deposit amount, to "hold" the car
- waive the deposit because he's already paying ~£200 for an AA report that he will never get back
- ask for a higher deposit, due to the time delays/potential for being messed around etc?
Deposit would be non-refundable even if AA finds something major, I interpret a "refundable deposit" as completely meaningless and a waste of time.
If it was me, I wouldn't take a deposit, refundable or not. You're just asking for trouble. And lets face it, someone getting an AA report on a £3,000 car is a worrier / pain the arse.- ask for a fairly normal deposit amount, to "hold" the car
- waive the deposit because he's already paying ~£200 for an AA report that he will never get back
- ask for a higher deposit, due to the time delays/potential for being messed around etc?
Deposit would be non-refundable even if AA finds something major, I interpret a "refundable deposit" as completely meaningless and a waste of time.
Personally, I'd just tell them it stays on the market until the cash is in your bank. No.1 this focusses their mind to get this all sorted quickly, but also reduces their bargaining power should they want to renegotiate the price after the AA report.
Yeah I'd normally just look at a deposit as a hold for telling others "its sold (deposit taken)" and for re-advertising and possibly a token gesture for fuel and the time taken to clean the car again. So I'd normally just ask for £100 on this price car.
But I might bump it up to 10% of the price ie £300.
I can foresee the future where the AA report finds a bunch of things that are part-worn on a 2007 car. It has full Mot, but the tyres are mid way through their life, the brakes were okay but no work done on them so similarly part-worn, etc etc
I think in this case the buyer needs to manage their expectations, based on price and age of car. And either buy it (assuming they like it), or not buy it (if they are worried).
But I might bump it up to 10% of the price ie £300.
I can foresee the future where the AA report finds a bunch of things that are part-worn on a 2007 car. It has full Mot, but the tyres are mid way through their life, the brakes were okay but no work done on them so similarly part-worn, etc etc
I think in this case the buyer needs to manage their expectations, based on price and age of car. And either buy it (assuming they like it), or not buy it (if they are worried).
Just tell buyer it stays on sale until a deal is done. When looked last year RAC(prefer them to AA) wait was nearly three weeks. Dealer selling car would only hld on basis that it was still on sale until Offer been made and agreed. Did me a favur found a two year older car which I liked better, no problem cancelling car with dealer.
Second one was £5k less and on basis of discussion with seller anh car had passed last six years MOT's with no advisories bought it without an inspection.
Second one was £5k less and on basis of discussion with seller anh car had passed last six years MOT's with no advisories bought it without an inspection.
JQ said:
And lets face it, someone getting an AA report on a £3,000 car is a worrier / pain the arse..
This ^ . It's a 2007 car. They are going to find stuff wrong, either mechanical, cosmetic, or both. And they will of course want the cost of the inspection deducting from the price, plus some more. Deposits these days are just 'mess around' tools and nearly always cause a load of grief when they inevitably change their mind a week later because their dog has died and you've turned down another buyer in the interim. Just make it clear that it's first come first served / whoever turns up with £3k first gets the keys. Unless the car is a complete dog then usually the first person to actually come and view it is the one who buys it. Ignore any messages that make arrangements with you to come and view it tomorrow or some point in the future as they won't show up and that'll be the last you hear from them. Only entertain messages where they are wanting to come right now, as that means they are keen and are coming. Anything else is a time-waster / don't cancel whatever plans you had for the day.Pretty much any inspection on a normal 2007 car will tear it apart because firstly its old and secondly they have to find faults to justify the cost of the inspection.
The kind of person who needs an inspection on a cheap old car will be the kind of person you dont want to sell it to.
The kind of person who needs an inspection on a cheap old car will be the kind of person you dont want to sell it to.
Tisy said:
Ignore any messages that make arrangements with you to come and view it tomorrow or some point in the future as they won't show up and that'll be the last you hear from them. Only entertain messages where they are wanting to come right now, as that means they are keen and are coming. Anything else is a time-waster / don't cancel whatever plans you had for the day.
This is a bit over the top, what are the chances that both buyer and seller just happen to be free at the same time on the day of the first call? Perfectly normal to arrange to see a car one or more days in advance.KadettE said:
This is a bit over the top, what are the chances that both buyer and seller just happen to be free at the same time on the day of the first call? Perfectly normal to arrange to see a car one or more days in advance.
If the seller isn't available 'til then, sure. But I'm talking about if the seller IS available now but the interested buyer says they'll come tomorrow or at the weekend, they aren't going to show up and your time is going to be wasted if you cancel plans to accommodate them.
blue_haddock said:
The kind of person who needs an inspection on a cheap old car will be the kind of person you dont want to sell it to.
This all day long & you've already got to take time out of your life to be there to handover the key to the AA to inspect it etc before the buyer decides how much of a kick in the balls they're going to administer for the resultant list as long as your arm of concerns raised by the inspection.paul_c123 said:
Yeah I'd normally just look at a deposit as a hold for telling others "its sold (deposit taken)" and for re-advertising and possibly a token gesture for fuel and the time taken to clean the car again. So I'd normally just ask for £100 on this price car.
But I might bump it up to 10% of the price ie £300.
I can foresee the future where the AA report finds a bunch of things that are part-worn on a 2007 car. It has full Mot, but the tyres are mid way through their life, the brakes were okay but no work done on them so similarly part-worn, etc etc
I think in this case the buyer needs to manage their expectations, based on price and age of car. And either buy it (assuming they like it), or not buy it (if they are worried).
Great idea - do the thing that is most likely to cause you pain and misery.But I might bump it up to 10% of the price ie £300.
I can foresee the future where the AA report finds a bunch of things that are part-worn on a 2007 car. It has full Mot, but the tyres are mid way through their life, the brakes were okay but no work done on them so similarly part-worn, etc etc
I think in this case the buyer needs to manage their expectations, based on price and age of car. And either buy it (assuming they like it), or not buy it (if they are worried).
blue_haddock said:
Pretty much any inspection on a normal 2007 car will tear it apart because firstly its old and secondly they have to find faults to justify the cost of the inspection.
The kind of person who needs an inspection on a cheap old car will be the kind of person you dont want to sell it to.
Agree with this and the previous comments on the fact that tyres and brakes will not be brand new on a used car.The kind of person who needs an inspection on a cheap old car will be the kind of person you dont want to sell it to.
As per many above - the line is - you can do what you want and/or have it inspected by whomever you want, however its still on sale and if someone turns up the with cash they will be buying it.
The only decent thing you need to do is make sure if you do sell it to someone else in the meantime, that you let the first potential buyer know.
(I'd also be letting them know that an AA insepction is a complete waste of time and money but thats there choice).
The only decent thing you need to do is make sure if you do sell it to someone else in the meantime, that you let the first potential buyer know.
(I'd also be letting them know that an AA insepction is a complete waste of time and money but thats there choice).
JQ said:
Great idea - do the thing that is most likely to cause you pain and misery.
Did you mean "most" or "least"? I don't mind taking a deposit, on a non-refundable basis, and a seller pulling out after an AA inspection. So long as that deposit reflects the time/costs incurred to me. I'd be checking the AA inspector has insurance and plates too; and maybe asking him to put a gallon of fuel in it while he's out.I had a buyer ask to do a AA/RAC inspection on the last car I sold privately l, a DS3 for around 5k from memory.
Was a one week wait time, buyer didn't ask me to hold the car and I wouldn't have, no deposit but it would have been a first come basis. Another buyer didn't actually look at the car in-between but didn't like it.
Was relatively painless tbh, my other have works from home so she just gave the guy the keys for a hour while they done the inspection.
Was basically used as a negotiation tool, there was nothing wrong with the DS3 but the inspection noted rear tyres low ( mentioned on MOT anyway) and that the service history wasn't up to date as I service my cars myself.
Buyer asked for a bit off for the above, I had already priced a bit of haggle room in any way so it wasn't a issue.
Basically it caused me no really issues but this was a 5 year old 40k miles car, on a 2007 its potentially painfully.
Was a one week wait time, buyer didn't ask me to hold the car and I wouldn't have, no deposit but it would have been a first come basis. Another buyer didn't actually look at the car in-between but didn't like it.
Was relatively painless tbh, my other have works from home so she just gave the guy the keys for a hour while they done the inspection.
Was basically used as a negotiation tool, there was nothing wrong with the DS3 but the inspection noted rear tyres low ( mentioned on MOT anyway) and that the service history wasn't up to date as I service my cars myself.
Buyer asked for a bit off for the above, I had already priced a bit of haggle room in any way so it wasn't a issue.
Basically it caused me no really issues but this was a 5 year old 40k miles car, on a 2007 its potentially painfully.
I don’t see the point in entertaining the idea. If you take a deposit you will end up with a right pallava if they decide to pull out.
The AA report will basically be a pre written report suggesting what might be wrong with the car without actually committing to any comment on your actual car.
Just say you’re not interested.
The AA report will basically be a pre written report suggesting what might be wrong with the car without actually committing to any comment on your actual car.
Just say you’re not interested.
paul_c123 said:
JQ said:
Great idea - do the thing that is most likely to cause you pain and misery.
Did you mean "most" or "least"? I don't mind taking a deposit, on a non-refundable basis, and a seller pulling out after an AA inspection. So long as that deposit reflects the time/costs incurred to me. I'd be checking the AA inspector has insurance and plates too; and maybe asking him to put a gallon of fuel in it while he's out.I’d point them to the online MOT history, explain any obvious wear or faults and explain that any inspection is going to find things wrong as the inspector will want to cover their back, and is probably obliged to inspect a car to the same standard whether it’s 18 years old or 18 months.
If they insist I’d probably let them get on with it but in light of all the above comments I wouldn’t accept a deposit. I might even say they can have it inspected, but the price is non negotiable. Just avoids misunderstandings later.
If they insist I’d probably let them get on with it but in light of all the above comments I wouldn’t accept a deposit. I might even say they can have it inspected, but the price is non negotiable. Just avoids misunderstandings later.
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