What makes a listing sell

Cars that sell in a week and cars that sit for three months are rarely different cars — they are differently priced and differently presented. Nearly everything that determines how fast yours sells is decided before the ad goes live.

Price at or slightly below the median for your model and year. That is what generates calls in the first week, which is when your listing has the most visibility. Pricing above the market and waiting to be discovered is the single most common reason a car sits.

• Photograph in daylight against a clean background — the first image decides whether anyone opens your ad
• Include all four exterior angles, the interior, the dashboard with the odometer visible, the boot and the engine bay
• State the year, variant, genuine mileage and registration city up front
• List recent maintenance with dates: tyres, battery, timing belt, major service
• Disclose known faults and accident history — being caught at the viewing costs you the sale

Preparing the car

A thorough clean inside and out is the highest-return money you will spend. Beyond that, fix what is cheap and visible — blown bulbs, wiper blades, a weak battery, tyre pressure, fluid levels — and clear out all personal belongings.

Do not spend real money on major mechanical work hoping to recover it in the price. You rarely do. Disclose the fault and adjust the price instead.

Handling buyers safely

Meet in a public place during daylight and bring someone with you. Check the buyer's CNIC before any test drive and go along with them.

Do not hand over keys or documents until payment has actually cleared, and be sceptical of a transfer screenshot as proof. Complete the ownership transfer at the same time as the sale — until it is recorded, you remain the registered owner and every challan still points at you.