Remember these are big ticket items - I think we worried more about getting those car seats, tables, lamps etc sold which sold for few hundred dollars. However, with cars, you are better off with a car in good shape. However, the tricky part is - you can't sell them off early. How do you live without a car in US?! But, if you start off early, you always have time to list and re-list, based on the demand. There is no rule saying you have to sell once you list in Craiglist! If you have 2 cars, may be sell one of them. Look for a buyer for the second one and have an arrangement that you will hand over the car during the last few days before you leave - worked for us! Don't forget to collect some advance from the buyer - if he/she drops out at the last minute, you are in a big mess and will need to look for a dealer who would buy the same car for 2/3rds of the price you would get from a third party.
Hence, good idea to get the cars ready 2-3 months in-advance. Cars need smog check before you sell, have services completed (BTW, I kept all of the service receipts in a file for each car and showed the file to the potential buyer - makes a good impression that you have taken care of the car and done all services and are meticulous about it). Normally, the small things give you a better price - you can get new tires installed for $400 to $500 but with bad tires, you might loose $1000 and don't have that selling point of 'new tires' in your ad for sale on Craigslist! (guess you got the idea - sell those babies on carigslist, free and you do get buyers)
Rented a van for last 3 days - that was convenient since we had 6 suitcases - rented the van from airport, loaded the suitcases, drove off to Airport, dropped the van and went directly to fly out.
Hence, good idea to get the cars ready 2-3 months in-advance. Cars need smog check before you sell, have services completed (BTW, I kept all of the service receipts in a file for each car and showed the file to the potential buyer - makes a good impression that you have taken care of the car and done all services and are meticulous about it). Normally, the small things give you a better price - you can get new tires installed for $400 to $500 but with bad tires, you might loose $1000 and don't have that selling point of 'new tires' in your ad for sale on Craigslist! (guess you got the idea - sell those babies on carigslist, free and you do get buyers)
Rented a van for last 3 days - that was convenient since we had 6 suitcases - rented the van from airport, loaded the suitcases, drove off to Airport, dropped the van and went directly to fly out.
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