So you’re thinking about buying a car. Great! Buying a vehicle should be an exciting and enjoyable experience.
But there’s a lot of information (and misinformation) out there, so let me see if I can help you with some of it before you get started.
First, the important stuff:
Try to get an idea of what your needs are. How will you be using this vehicle? What is the most important thing you’re looking for? Reliability? Gas mileage? Features? Etc. Try to come up with a few things that are the most important to you, or at least what the “deal-breakers” are if you have any.
Next, try to come up with a budget. How much (if any) money do you have to put down? How much can you afford for a monthly payment? How is your credit score? While you don’t need to check your credit on your own, it will help the process a bit if you know whether it’s good or bad.
If you don’t know any of these things, it’s perfectly ok. Some people are open-minded about what they’re looking for and don’t want to limit themselves.
Next, figure out if you’re going to trade-in your current vehicle (if you have one) or if you’re going to try to sell it on your own. It’s much easier to trade it in, but either option is up to you. Make sure to let your salesperson (hopefully me) know that you’ll be trading in a vehicle when you speak with them.
When you do go to check out vehicles in person, always take the car for a test drive. You need to know how you’ll feel driving it, and the test drive is the perfect time to either fall in love with a vehicle or to realize that you hate it. Don’t skip this part.
Lastly, if you find a vehicle you like at a price that works for you, you should take it. Cars move quickly and incentives change constantly, so don’t be one of those people who miss out on a good deal because they didn’t go for it.
And, of course, if you would like any help finding the right vehicle for you or answering any questions you might have, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I’d love to help!
