Helpful rules to follow from expert auto appraiser Jason Phillips:

#1. Educate yourself on pressure selling tactics, so you are less likely to become a victim of them. Google (car sales pressure tactics by Jason Phillips)
#2. Don’t act like an expert. You practice buying a car once every few years….they practice selling a car 5 times a day! Your skill set is way outweighed!
#3. Don’t rely on your “expert” just because he’s a guy. Lots of guys pretend to know about cars that really don’t.
#4. Utilize seller provided photos to introduce yourself to a car, but never rely on these photos to be telling the whole story. It’s like marrying the woman based on the photo she posted on match.com!
#5. Look at book values, but use only as a guideline. Even weekly publications like NADA can be off by thousands of dollars, and often NOT in your favor.
#6. Due diligence! Get to know asking prices on the car(s) you are following. Use mileage and option packages to adjust accordingly.
#7. Be open to more than one car, one color, etc…..the wider your sights, the less pressure on you, the better the deals you’ll usually get.
#8. Use a title branding service like carfax, to look at reported vehicle history. Don’t be naive enough to rely solely on this, as LOTS of stuff goes unreported. Buyback guarantees offered by services similar to this are usually impossible to collect on.
#9. Once you’ve narrowed your search, and negotiated your best deal, have a full blown professional inspection done. It will be the best piece of mind your money can buy. It’s a lot cheaper than a plane ticket, rental car and a missed day of work! Go to www.autoappraise.com to arrange for your inspection, or call them at 800-301-3886. The best in the business at protecting YOUR interests!

Technorati Tags: buying a used car for sale, used car tips

auto appraiser Jason Phillips points out that his last auto appraisal on a 2007 Cadillac revealed that previously repaired accident and structural collision damage were evident during the car inspection. Neither carfax or autocheck reported on the damage. The car’s history was clean. The driver’s side tire was “cambered” in at the top, due to a insufficient repair on the Left frame rail. No amount of suspension work is going to stop that tire from wearing out prematurely, as the root problem is much deeper. The client did their due diligence by ordering a report at the time of sale. “….it wouldn’t have mattered which service we chose, because when we found out, we ran a second report, with both companies, and it still never showed up… ” As you would imagine, neither company took responsibility for the missed information. Conclusion: the carfax guarantee is worthless in my opinion. If you or anybody you know has ever been financially compensated by either company for missed information, then please report it to us, as we would like to report it to you. If you have a similar story to share, please sign up to this blog and report it. e-mail to cars@autoappraise.com

Technorati Tags: auto accident, diminished value, total loss

Auto Appraise Inc. has 266 auto appraisers nationally and can help you with a certified auto total loss appraisal in California. Don’t be enamored by claims of huge, unrealistic settlement numbers promised by auto loss appraisers within the industry. Further, don’t believe in “self boasting”, instead, believe in customer testimonials that you can actually contact. Be smart, and get a second opinion, no matter who you are doing business with. We can provide you with solid advice and a reasonable position that will be respected by other legitimate auto appraisal firms within the industry….not laughed at. Be sure to take time to read about complaints filed against various appraisal groups. Do this by typing in auto appraisal complaints and auto total loss problems into Google. Also, the Better Business Bureau BBB does a great job as well. You will fast learn that some insurance companies won’t even accept the internet appraisal you’ve just purchased, due to unscrupulous tactics. In short, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! If you need assistance, call 800-301-3886. http://www.autoappraise.com

Technorati Tags: auto accident, diminished value, total loss

Auto Appraise Inc. has 265 auto appraisers nationally and can assist you with a certified auto total loss appraisal in Oregon. Don’t be tricked into huge, unrealistic settlement numbers promised by auto loss appraisers within the industry. Be smart, and get a second opinion, no matter who you are doing business with. We can provide you with solid advice and a reasonable position that will be respected by other legitimate auto appraisal firms within the industry….not laughed at. Be sure to take time to read about complaints filed against various appraisal groups. Do this by typing in auto appraisal complaints and auto total loss problems into Google. Also, the Better Business Bureau BBB does a nice job as well. If you need assistance, please call 800-301-3886. http://www.autoappraise.com

Technorati Tags: auto accident, diminished value, total loss

auto appraiser Jason Phillips points out that the buyback guarantee you receive is not as it seems. “We tested this out when a client came to me after totaling their car and was $5,000 short of payoff”. The insurance adjuster on the case noted that the car had multiple previous repairs that were physically obvious, but went unnoticed by the new owner. She had purchased her used 2002 Pontiac Bonneville only 11 months earlier, and paid “all the money” for it in my opinion. She ran a CARFAX report, and the car came up clear of any major problems. Trusting this, she purchased. However, when I subpoenaed the records on the case, I found dealer from Grand Rapids Mi. had purchased it two weeks earlier, from a Michigan based dealer auction, that reports weekly to carfax. Further, the records indicate that GMAC financial announced the car on the podium AS-IS, previous repairs, and turned on the “red light”. The whole thing was recorded. to add insult to injury, we re-ran a carfax, now 14 months later, and the car was STILL coming up clean, with no bad history! So, who’s at fault here? The seller reported, the auction recorded, and the system was in place. In short, carfax denied any wrong doing. they’re response was….”well how were we supposed to report it, if nobody reported it to us?” Ultimately, the customer suffered in the end. The expense of an attorney, appraiser, fight with their insurance company, and all the lost time. Who pays for that? Unsuspecting customers that trust the system, that’s who. Their ads are cute, but very misleading. My advice….have it professionally inspected.

Technorati Tags: accident damage claims, autochex, carfax, salvage title

Ordering an auto appraisal on line is almost as easy as ordering Chinese take out. So, how do you know who’s knowledgeable, versus somebody that’s just copied some good sales info to a website in an effort to take your money? How do you know if insurance underwriters respect their opinions? How do you know if banks will even accept their work? How do you know if they’re even real. Don’t be charmed by price alone. Although price is important, be enamored by knowledge. Read referral letters and testimonials. Contact by e-mail or phone any referrals that posted their contact information. If there is no path provided to contact the past customers, then you too should pass on choosing that company. Autoappraise.com has over 100 testimonials posted, each allowing personal contact through e-mail, and some have left telephone numbers. They have 265 inspectors and auto appraisers nationwide. They are staffed with knowledgeable and trustworthy people. Call them at 800-301-3886.

Technorati Tags: auto appraiser, technical

Use the seller’s photos to introduce yourself to the car, but NEVER rely on them to be accurate on details. Be leary of photos taken on an angle, to “display” the car in a sexy way. Don’t be affected by the huge mansion in the background shots. When someone tells you “I’m selling this for a friend, and I really don’t know much about it”….then it’s time to ask for more and extensive photos to further introduce yourself to that car. Most of these people really own the car, they’re just jumping title to avoid paying Federal tax, and giving themselves a clean out on the “lack of information” story. After hiring us, we’ve sent potential buyers over 200 photos of a car that thay were just about to committ to buying from only 30 nice seller photos. They almost ALWAYS say the same thing…..I can’t believe that’s the same car I was looking at! Don’t be forever ridiculed by your car buddies for being a sucker and buying an ebay car (or similar) sight unseen. You have two choices: If you’re car savy, then get on a plane, rent a car, and have a good look. The cost of this is far less than the cost of a garage full of humuliation. It that doesn’t fit you, then hire www.autoappraise.com to carry out the job. We have 265 inspectors nationwide that travel with a floor jack and stands, not to mention a magnet!! Happy shopping! 800-301-3886

During routine auto appraisals and inspections, appraiser Jason Phillips has come across several 23737 vin cars, posing as true GTO’s. Sometimes, their owners aren’t even aware. They’re never happy when I tell them that their GTO isn’t really a GTO, but a Lemans or Tempest instead. The cowl tag will also contain a Body By Fisher number, that will confirm or deny this. Only 24237 cars are true GTO’s. Auto Appraise has over 265 inspectors throughout the country. Contact us if you need a car inspected or appraised. We know Pontiacs. Also, it is a good idea to invest in PHS documentation before you purchase your new/old Pontiac. “PHS online” is the source to go to for a detailed history of what the car was when it left the factory. An inspection by Auto Appraise will verify what it is today!

auto appraiser Jason Phillips recently inspected this code 912A silver blue 1963 Split Window. The car was ordered sold by the court of local jurisdiction, who assigned the work to auto appraiser Jason Phillips and staff. It had the same owner since 1964, and has a very nice original interior. It features correct 63 gages, correct 63 only adjustable seat frames, but it does have a 64 hood. It has a solid, unrestored underbody, good solid frame, and runs well, with it’s correct 300hp number’s matching motor and original 4 speed. In the history of Corvettes, this was the 1st coupe ever available in the Corvette line. It also was the introduction of IRS, replacing the “straight axle” set up with nylon straps. This car has a driver quality, older repaint that was never really sanded and buffed out very well. A wet sand and wheel will bring it up a couple notches. If you are interested in purchasing this car, please contact me. 810-694-2008. The asking price is $39,500.

Technorati Tags: chevrolet, corvette, numbers matching

Jason Phillips points out in an auto appraisal that it’s easiest to identify true factory built SS Chevelle’s in 1966 and 1967. Even without a protect-o-plate, or a build sheet, the cowl tag and VIN tag will not lead you astray. If it begins with 138, then it was a factory built SS model. All SS chevelle’s from 1966 through 1970 were 396 equipped cars. All except for some 402’s, and of course LS5 and LS6 equipped 454 1970 models. If you need more info or a car inspected, check out our website, www.autoappraise.com.

Technorati Tags: chevelle, chevrolet, SS, technical