Listing negatives when selling a car

[Belle427]

Is this a good or bad thing?
I always list the negatives, however minor but am I making a mistake?
Most of the cars I’ve purchased have not and although I’ve found some I’ve normally purchased anyway.
Just wondered does it put you off if someone does list them?

[Pebbles167]

When im selling a very cheap car, i think it best to mention any obvious/larger ones. Anything smaller, ie: tatty bushes, interior light not working, bit of curbing to a wheel, I'd keep fairly quiet about, as they can see for themselves when they walk round. If you list every problem on an old budget car, the list will be huge and will put people off.

Something more expensive, again I'd list any big ones in the ad (although I'd probably just sort them beforehand) and be much more thorough in my walk round with any potential buyer that turned up.

[Chrishum]

I list broken things in a factual manner, but never with the ‘easy fix’ caveat that’s often added. But never list opinions because I’m not reviewing the car I’m selling it.

[Al U]

I think if the car was clearly cheaper that other ones listed and some negatives were listed with something along the lines of "needs X hence lower price" I probably wouldn't be out off.

[joropug]

I recently sanity checked a friend's advert for an Octavia.

He started it along the lines of....Skoda Octavia, 1.9, needs 4 x tyres, Electric windows, oil changed last month, priced low as it needs a service.

Turns out the cam belt hadn't been done which is why he didn't want to say FSH but that seemed to be more a discussion on the phone when questioning service history. He chose not to say full service history instead focused on oil changes.

I don't list bodywork damage - it's the one thing anyone can see for themselves on the day and they'll be happy to spot it and 'get a deal' to ensure it covers the repair. Price it with damage in mind and list it up front they'll still want money off.

Listing of minor things needing doing gives the impression of being lazy or there's more to it. I don't tend to bother but I am honest with questioning.

[steveo3002]

air con needs regas ,never needed it = £3000 of repairs

few marks due to age = dents in every panel , needs a repaint

[CrippsCorner]

Sounds like I'm being too honest in my adverts! I pretty much list everything, and will upload pictures of any damage on the advert. I just don't want my time (or anyone else's time) wasted.

[rotaryjam]

I usually wouldn't note negatives, it puts people off straight away.

When I get serious interest I then go through any issues as the buyer is more invested by then and less likely not to take it.

I find that I will often dismiss cars with even minor things noted as wrong that I would have accepted had I actually been with the car and had a chance to review it in totality.

[Pixelpeep 135]

I think negatives are good to manage expectations but they can be phrased more like non positives ..

don't say it's mint if it isn't - good condition for age maybe is better than bodywork needs some attention / TLC

etc.

If someone is coming from a long way away, it's the least you can do as a seller to be open and upfront - otherwise you're going to get an earful when the 'runs like a dream' takes 16 turns to start when they turn up

[Muzzer79]

I never list any negatives. I don't volunteer them during the inspection either.

I don't lie if I'm asked, but why would you list reasons not to buy a car in an advertisement?

If I'm selling my house, I don't tell the agent to include

"Lounge needs a lick of paint and boiler is on the way out"

Focus on the positives.

[Challo]

Muzzer79 said:

I never list any negatives. I don't volunteer them during the inspection either.

I don't lie if I'm asked, but why would you list reasons not to buy a car in an advertisement?

If I'm selling my house, I don't tell the agent to include

"Lounge needs a lick of paint and boiler is on the way out"

Focus on the positives.

But what about if the bumper was cracked, or the door had a dent it in? Better to at least make the potential buyer aware?

[Pica-Pica]

Muzzer79 said:

I never list any negatives. I don't volunteer them during the inspection either.

I don't lie if I'm asked, but why would you list reasons not to buy a car in an advertisement?

If I'm selling my house, I don't tell the agent to include

"Lounge needs a lick of paint and boiler is on the way out"

Focus on the positives.

I don’t list negatives for a house or a car - I simply get them fixed beforehand. I wouldn’t want to sell neither car nor house in a poor (especially hidden) condition.

[ShoooRn]

Anything clearly obvious I've commented on or shown a picture of to ensure the new owner isn't being fleeced but the new owner should do his or her own checks of the vehicle thoroughly and ask the right questions on the day.

Personally I've bought cars with known issues with the sole purpose of buying low and fixing up with new components to save cash and have that piece of mind; I did it with my last Octavia VRS to be honest.

[Dannbodge]

I'm in the process of writing a for sale advert so this is quite helpful.

I generally note that there are issues but won't dwell too much on them.

I don't want to put buyers off, but also don't want to waste mine or their time.

[rotaryjam]

I think it's worth noting that there is a difference between what you put on the listing and what you tell someone before they agree to view/buy

I view the listing as primarily a way to get interest, then the follow up calls and messages are for going in to detail about issues.

I don't agree with those who say they wouldn't disclose anything before the person arrives, very bad form!

[anonymous-user]

I tend to keep my adverts blunt and purely factual. Service history, MOT date, recent work done etc.

I go for cars that are around shed value so I don’t bother listing every negative as I think it would put people off unnecessarily. If there was something majorly wrong with it then yes I’d list that and reduce the price accordingly (or fix it), but minor issues, MOT advisories etc, it’s up to the buyer to ask the right questions and do their research IMO.

[Muzzer79]

Challo said:

Muzzer79 said:

I never list any negatives. I don't volunteer them during the inspection either.

I don't lie if I'm asked, but why would you list reasons not to buy a car in an advertisement?

If I'm selling my house, I don't tell the agent to include

"Lounge needs a lick of paint and boiler is on the way out"

Focus on the positives.

But what about if the bumper was cracked, or the door had a dent it in? Better to at least make the potential buyer aware?

Such detail should be in the photos of the car.

I don't believe in wasting people's time, so obvious things need to be drawn attention to - damage for example.

I sold the OH's car a few years back with a dented wheelarch. Didn't highlight it in the text of the ad, but made it clear in the photos.

But if the service history isn't fully up to date, or it's coming up for new tyres, or there's a broken mirror switch for example - that's for the buyer to either ask about or find for themselves, not for me to highlight. I expect the same when I purchase privately.