Tips for Selling Your Used Utility Van
When it’s time to get a new utility van, you want your old one to find a new home as soon as possible, and of course for the highest offer from shoppers. Here’s how you can do that, along with advice on what to look for in your next van.
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Know the Market for Your Van
Vans have become a hot commodity with the proliferation of online shopping and the resulting need to deliver these products to consumers. If your van is primarily configured as a delivery vehicle, target urban areas with your advertising to find local buyers. But if it’s specialized, such as with upfits or it’s a cutaway with a specific body, you’ll want to cast your net over a wider area to find the person who needs a van like yours.
Bigger May Not Always Be Better
Virtually all of the mainstream automakers have stopped selling compact and midsize vans in the US, but these smaller models can be the right size for many industries, including florists, bakeries, caterers, and more. An additional benefit is that these smaller vans usually get better fuel economy than larger ones. If you’re selling a compact or midsize van, the price may be in your favor since these businesses can’t buy a new version anymore.
Do Some Research to Set Your Price
A quick and profitable sale means putting your van in the “sweet spot” in your market, but you first have to determine where that spot is. Look at similar vans advertised in online marketplaces, and check yours against valuation sites. In addition to making sure the vans you’re researching are close to yours in capacity and condition, look at vans for sale in your local area to ensure your pricing is in line with it. Used-vehicle prices are seldom the same across all markets, and you don’t want to overprice or underprice because you’ve researched a market that isn’t similar to yours.
Get Your Van Ready to Sell
Your van should be showroom-clean to ensure a quicker sale. If you don’t have the time or the ability to do that, a visit to a professional detailer may pay off in a higher sale price. If it’s due for scheduled maintenance, get it done and then mention that prominently in your advertisement. Have all the peripherals together, including spare keys, the title, maintenance and repair records, the owner’s manual, and warranty information if there’s still any coverage on it.
Decide What to Do with Upfits
If you’ve added upfits to the van, determine what you’ll do with them. If you’re replacing the van with a similar one, you’ll likely just move them into it, of course. Otherwise, see what the market’s like for them. If they’re common upfits, such as shelves, they could be an asset to someone who can just put the van straight into service. If they’re more specialized, you can advertise the van with them but also offer a lower price with them removed for those who want the van but don’t need the extra items. If that’s how you sell it, you can then put the upfits on the market on their own.
Take Photographs and Videos of Everything
Your photos and videos should be the equivalent of a complete walk-around in person. Photograph the van against an uncluttered background in good light. For the interior, take your pictures when it’s overcast or the van is in light shadow, so bright sunlight through the windows doesn’t ruin the shot. Think of everything you would want to see when buying a van, and take pictures of it: the engine, cabin, cargo area, undercarriage, inner fenders, and close-ups of any special features. Include a picture of the odometer to back up your mileage claim.
Mention Everything in Your Advertisement
Just as with your photos, talk about everything you would want to know when looking for a van. Mention anything impressive about the van, such as improved fuel economy or ease of loading; but also be honest about any issues, such as rust spots or damage. Provide information on the van’s dimensions and capacity. If you’re selling it with upfits, give all the details, such as the length and width of shelving, or the size of tool boxes or drawers. Describe any driver-assist features the van has, such as a backup camera or beeper, extra mirrors, navigation, or parking sensors. These can be of extra importance to fleet owners who have a variety of drivers and who find these very beneficial.
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Considerations For Your New Van
When you’re upgrading to a new van, think about your old one and with a critical eye. Consider everything that was right about it, and just as importantly, what you didn’t like and what you would have changed about it. Use that “shopping list” to decide what you’re going to buy to replace it, looking for the features that will improve your working conditions with it.
You’ll need the same dimension of van to move your upfits, if applicable; but there’s also a chance these additions have improved as well and a model equipped with the latest equipment might be a better choice. Also look for new features, including those aforementioned driver-assist technologies, phone integration, or touchscreens. Once you know what you want, check the listings on the marketplace to find the van that meets your needs.
Jil McIntosh
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