When it comes to selling a second-hand vehicle, photos do a lot of heavy lifting. After all, words can only say so much – by showing an honest, visual depiction of your car to your prospective buyers, you’re helping to seal the deal.
Think about it this way – would you blindly buy a vehicle without seeing what it looked like, first? Probably not. It’s all the more reason, then, why you should always try to take high-quality, true photos of your car before you sell it online.
Island Motors makes it super easy for you to sell your car in Grenada – but you’re going to need to do some of the work yourself. Let’s run through some quick tips on how to show off your second-hand vehicle at its best.
Clean your car up
This should be a no-brainer, but it’s worth stating. Even if your car has a few rust patches or a little wear and tear, you should still give it a good clean, a wax, and clear out the interior.
Do also make sure to only photograph what you’re selling. That means any ornaments or internal pieces you’re going to keep should be taken out of the shot.
Choose the right weather for your shoot
Try not to take photos of your car when the weather’s overcast – the best weather for your photos will be gentle sunlight and partial clouds. That’s not just to ensure your car looks its best in the shots, but also to help lift the overall mood and feel.
The last thing you want to do is instill a sense of dread in your buyers! Show off your vehicle in gentle lighting.
Show it off at all angles
One or two photos might be enough for some buyers, but for the completely honest approach, it’s vital you show off your vehicle from all sides. That’s front, back, each side, maybe even the roof if you can – and, where possible, the interior.
This is all in the interests of not misleading your buyers. The more honest you are about what’s for sale, the less buyers will feel like you’re trying to hoodwink them. Be willing to show off any cosmetic faults, too – because your buyers will certainly see them when they come to pick up, and that could scupper the final sale.
Be consistent
It’s tempting to try and show your car off in different spots or locations. However, a consistent background will keep viewers solely focused on the subject matter – your car – and less on the ever-changing backdrops.
What’s more, it’s wise to have a neutral backdrop where possible, simply because – again – the star of the shoot is your vehicle. It makes sense to show off all its best features!
Focus on your car’s strengths
Are there any features to your vehicle that you really want to show off? What are its biggest selling points? Now’s the time to really let them shine.
As well as being as honest as possible about any flaws your car may have, it makes sense to sell your vehicle as much as possible through photos. Be proud to show it off – and, where you can, make sure to take photos of the features and highlights you talk about in your listing text.
Avoid fancy photo effects
We’re absolutely living in an age where filters come second nature to phone photographers – but you’re going to want to leave sepia tones and bubble effects off your listing photos.
This is, again, largely because of honesty. Using too many filters and effects will shroud your car in its photos – and some visitors to your listing might think you’re adding effects to hide something. The more you can do to dissuade feelings of suspicion, the better!
Take as many photos as you can
Even if you take the best photo possible of your car, you’re still more likely to sell it if you have a few different angles and shots. That’s because the more photos you upload, the more confident buyers will become.
They’ll have fewer questions about your vehicle, and they’ll feel more empowered to make an offer. Just uploading a shot of the bonnet or side of your car might make people wonder whether or not you’re hiding something elsewhere.
At Island Motors, we believe that selling a car effectively is all about a careful balance between great photos and a solid, written listing. Once you’ve got those down pat, you’ll be ready to pitch your vehicle to the masses!