more car dealership customers, more sales and more money.

     These week I want to encourage us to acquire more car dealership customers because this will lead to more sales which will in turn lead to more money for the owner of the car dealership.
     First let's define the word 'customer', according to wikipedia. "A customer (also a client, buyer or purchaser.) is a recipient of a good, service, product or idea obtained from a seller, vendor or supplier for a monetary or other consideration.
     If you are offering any of these customer wants as a seller, vendor or supplier, then you are on a serious journey. I f it were possible, you would have been glad to just make money without customers. But because it is not possible, you scratch your head, clean sweat from your forehead and have sleepless nights over how to sell more to more customers.
     Understand the following facts about customers and you are on your way to having more of them and selling more and more to them because you gain their loyalty and brand recognition.

• YOU NEED CUSTOMERS TO MAKE MONEY :- The whole business of car dealership is about the customer. Understand this fact and the sky is your limit. It is the number of customers you are able to satisfy that determines your turnover, it is your turnover that in turn determines your income. And without income and adequate cashflow, your business grounds to a halt.
• HOW DO YOU SELL MORE TO MORE CUSTOMERS? :- As a dealership business you need quality sales to stay alive. And sales volume depends on the number of customers you  have and how much you are able to sell to each customer. This goes to show that the question you should be asking yourself as a car dealer is how do you sell more to more customers. Please always crack your brain about this.
• CUSTOMERS REACT DIFFERENTLY TO THE SAME PRODUCT DEPENDING ON THE SEASON OR ENVIROMENT :- Seasons and enviroment affect customers reaction to the same product. In the case of cars, a customer might like one car during the rainy season but prefer a different one during the dry season. He might ride one type of car when in Nigeria and seem to be loyal to that brand, but when in another country, the customer changes loyalty and becomes loyal to another brand.
• THE CUSTOMER'S LOYALTY :- I want you to as a car dealer understand that the customer is not really loyal to the brand of the car, the customer is loyal to you the dealer, because, you are supplying him a particular car brand that is for the time being, loyal to meeting the customer's needs.
• THIS IS 2013 :- Some 80-90 years ago, advertisements were meant to persuade customers to buy a particular product. Today's customers have changed, customers are not the same. Even the most expensive adverts fail in terms of customer conversion. The cost of advertising is even going higher everyday and if you are not one of the strong companies you might not even survive the high cost of advertising. So now how do you reduce your heartache and get more customers? The answer is very simple. The solution is the last fact amongst those I said will put you on the way to having more of them, just read on.
• BE LOYAL TO YOUR CUSTOMERS :- Yes that is correct. The times have changed, the customer is now king. Make your marketing and advertising team understand that the focus has now shifted from how to make the customer loyal to your brand. The focus is now on learning how to be loyal to your customers. You have to ask your customers genuine questions on how to help them, and make sure you help them. It is a fact that in terms of cars, most customers don't really know what they want. And for that, your advertising should be meant for educating them about your products. Ask them questions, know what they really want, provide genuine solutions to their problems and watch how they crown you king with their money.

     In concluding, I will assure you that if you can know and implement these facts, then, be rest assured that you will truly have more car dealership customers, more sales and more money for sure. Please add your comments, I will be glad if you do.          

car dealers can become billionaires

   Welcome reader, this week, we shall be looking at car dealers and the billionaire status. We are going to look at how car dealers can become billionaires. I am not going to list car dealers that have already attained the status because that is not the focus of this article. Rather, this article shall look into traits and attitudes of billionaires to encourage car dealers that are just starting out and even those that are already established but are not seeing much growth.
    I have studied individuals that have attained the status from around the globe. This is a summary of my findings on their traits, attitudes, mindsets and behavior. I am not saying that a car dealer has to copy all this traits as a businessman or an entrepreneur. Modelling success is about picking out those things that will work for you in relation to where you are headed. Here is a list of the traits that I have summarized.

• DRIVEN:- Billionaires have drive, they are always stretched, about to take off. It's like there is one fire in their bum bum and if they sit too long in a place, their bum will disappear. They are always moving.
•   COMPETITIVE:- The competition they have is about going inside of themselves to look for ideas of improving on already valuable services/products.
• DISCIPLINED:- This means they are not out of order, they are in control. They move when they want to move, something doesn't just move them.
• FOCUSED:- They do not let themselves get distracted by smaller details/issues. They are always focused on their set goals/targets.
• DECISIVE:- They are not hesitant, whenever they decide to do something, they immediately hit on target.
• PURPOSEFUL:- Purpose is the magic of meaning to life, when you are out of purpose, you are out of order, you don't have direction. this shows they are deliberate in their actions.
• CREATIVE:- They always bring something new and unique into existence. For this trait of being originative and imaginative alone, car dealers can become billionaires if they are creative enough.
• PLAYFUL:- The pursuit of success is always fun for them. If you study them closely, you will find that their journey to success is always pleasantly humorous.
• RISK TAKERS:- We are not talking about the weight or volume of risk here. We are talking about how they view risk.
• DARING AND COURAGEOUS:- When you take risks, you need this trait very much. You need the character of boldness to go through risky business ventures like car dealership.
• PIONEERS:- Billionaires are not copycats, they are pioneers. They always arrive the earliest in new business territories. They are the first in any effort of solving problems.
• PERSISTENT:- They don't give up. If they try a formula and it doesn't work, they find another one and try it.
• RESILIENT:- They see everything through to the end. They perform against all odds.
• OBSESSED WITH EXPANSION:- They believe that whatever status you have reached, you can still use more.
• THEY THRIVE ON DEALS:- They are always negotiating and striking deals.
• RESPECT FOR VALUE OF MONEY:- They buy expensive things but they always insist on quality.
• FEROCIOUS CURIOSITY:- They are always asking questions. This curiosity leads them to constant improvement.
• FIERCE DEDICATION:- They are not only dedicated, but they are dedicated fiercely.
• HUMILITY:- Humility is agreeing with who god says you are, they do just that.
• LEARN BY MISTAKES:- They pay close attention to feedback and they use it to adjust their radar.
• FLEXIBILITY:- Since change is the only constant thing in life, billionaires always adjust to accommodate change.
• CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT:- No matter where they are, they are always improving themselves, their business and any other thing about them.

   There you have them, my summary of traits of billionaires, which if they will model and follow them, I believe car dealers can become billionaires. The reason being, if you model success, you are bound to become successful yourself, or what do you think. Please post your comments and additions.   

3 sure tips that put your car dealership ahead of competitors.

     Remaining competitive is one important area every serious business owner needs to concentrate on. You can even dominate the market place. If you do, you gain huge sales, profitability and general success to the business.
     To get ahead of your competitors and dominate the market, here are 3 sure tips that put your car dealership business ahead of competitors you can use.
    
     1:KNOWING YOUR CUSTOMER:- We have always heard phrases like "the customer is always right", "the customer is king", etc. This is especially true for car dealerships. So why don't you try and know what the king wants. The best thing to do is to give him what he wants so that you can remain in business. This is because he has the power to do and undo your business success. Be a pioneer ( by being innovative and creative ) in understanding what the customer wants. Be sure that your customers get the 'wow experience' with you. Let all the cars you sell at your dealership have quality and style. Let those that buy your cars feel good and they will surely come back. Instead of being a copy-cat, let your customers copy you. A lot of things are happening in the car dealership business world today that people are reacting to. This is because a few dealerships are creating a standard style to stay ahead in competition. Customer wants are always changing so be knowledgeable, always research and study to know what's new in the industry.

     2:-ALWAYS ADJUST:- "Change is the only constant thing in life". Because this is true, be ready to adjust to all change demands of your customers. Don't say that's how you met things or that's how they are done in other places, so you have to leave it like that. If you leave it like that, you might not be meeting the demands of your customers. Once they know you will not change with their demands, you are out of business, because they are the reason you are in business in the first place.
     Always look at what products your competitors have in stock, the price they are charging, what value they add and what features customers are asking for. Is there a gap in a particular area of your market?

     3:-BE SMART:- Most companies have standard modes of operations. This is what gives them their own techniques and strategies for staying ahead in business. You must create and implement modes of operation that will give you an edge in the car dealership industry.
     Competitors are often predictable. They might compete with price or quality. You have to be smart to find out what your competitors are up to. So get really involved in your industry's community, know what is going on, don't just be an observer, participate in the community.
     Having an ear to the ground often has a lot of merit. When you know the competitor's strength and weaknesses, you can beat or counter their offers.
     By looking at their websites, other people's websites and requesting data from places like companies house and libraries, you can discover much about your competitors without commissioning a new research project. This is possible because some companies accomplish feats and place them in libraries for generations to see.
     In conclusion, remember, gaining the market leader position brings huge sales, profitability and success. So use these 3 tips that put your car dealership ahead of competitors and watch yourself become the market leader.
     Please post your comments or other tips. You are welcome to do so. Till next week.    

5 important habits for the car dealership owner to get your business to the top.

     Welcome reader, This week, we are going to look at the issue of habits. There are important habits for the car dealership owner to get his business to the top and I shall look at 5 of them.
     Having good habits is a must for car dealership business success. It is clear that the only difference between successful car dealership businesses and unsuccessful ones lies in the differences of their habits. Therefore it is a must to create and have good habits.
     People usually become slaves to their habits. Bad habits such as procastinating, lying, improper management of time etc.How do we change these habits? I think only a habit can subdue another habit. Therefore, the only way to change a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit. Here are 5 habits you can use to replace your old bad habits.
    
     1:- SINCERITY:- As a car dealership business owner, there are a lot of things you need to be sincere about. You need to be sincere about which habits you need to change. you even need to be sincere about your intention and reasons for needing the change of habits. And you also need to be sincere in your implementation of the changes. I've mentioned sincerity in relation to habits only, because it is the topic we are looking at.
    
     2:- INCREASING SELF VALUE:- This is what psychologists and business experts use the word 'personal development' to refer to in relation to development of self-awareness, talents and identity. This is often for the purpose of progressing towards achieving some overall life goal. A successful, ambitious car dealership owner may develop himself further in order to advance some of his business goals. The importance of self development rests simply on the fact that people are capable of being more, doing more and having more whenever they improve themselves. Greater personal health, stability and ability can lead to better opportunities and to an increased state of happiness and satisfaction with life.
    
     3:- MANAGE YOUR TIME:- Time management is another positive habit that is a must for success in our car dealership businesses. We have so many obligations and commitments outside our business, eg, family activities. Sometimes, they make us overlook our business commitments without noticing it. Therefore, it is important to draft a daily time allocation schedule for your business and your personal life. Know that income producing activities are tasks that generate money into your business.
    
     4:- COMMUNICATE:- By saying communicate, I mean you should interact. Interaction in car dealership business puts an end to confusion. To enjoy consistent progress in your car dealership business, there should be a spirit of communication in the system. Many start-ups fail because of tiny communication mistakes that could have been easily handled by the team. This is not uncommon in the car dealership business world. Some of the top companies out there are there because they have very great interaction systems.
    
      5:- ALWAYS TAKE ACTION:- I have left action taking for last because, taking daily action is the most important habit a car dealership owner can create and develop. Having the positive habit of taking daily action is the only bridge between our inner world and our outer world. Our outer world is simply the results of what we have in our inner world expressed outwardly. Our inner world consists of our thoughts and feelings that create our goals and dreams. Action is the bridge between the goals of our inner world and the results of our outer world. It is a fact that the habit of daily action is the only factor that determines the value of our car dealership business. You may be one of the smartest, most intelligent or most educated people in the world, if you do not have the habit of daily action that puts what you learn and what you know into action, nothing is going to happen in your car dealership business. Success in any area of life is all about habits. Develop these habits today!
     There you have them, my own 5 important habits for the car dealership owner to get his business to the top. Please feel free to add your comments and habits you think should be included.  

tips for starting a successful auto dealership business

     Are you an auto dealer that is just starting out trying to build a business? Or you have been in it for sometime but don't know where you are headed? Don't worry because it's natural, (trust me, I've been there). I have been able to set up a successful auto dealership business and here are my personal lessons on success as an entrepreneur. I've called them the 10 tips for starting a successful auto dealership business. Read them and I hope you learn from them.
     1: THE RIGHT PRIORITIES:- Make sure your priorities on which components should come first are clear. Know which components will have the most impact. Repeat the design phase time upon time until the component is simple to use and understand. Begin by seeing the picture of the actual destination you want to see the business land. This helps you navigate through the high and low moments of entrepreneurship.
     2: COMMITMENT:- An entrepreneur can only have either results or excuses and not both. Set your personal bar and be responsible for it. Your center of influence is you. Do not procastinate or leave things halfway done. If you really want to be an entrepreneur then put your 100% into becoming one. Forget any other thing.
     3: COMFORT IN DISCOMFORT:- Entrepreneurship to me is like a roller coaster; massive highs sometimes, massive lows sometimes. This should be your driving force. The lows are always inevitable, but coming out of a massive low to a massive high can be most exhilarating.
     4: STUDY AND UNDERSTAND YOUR TARGET MARKET:- You need to really do your homework on your potential clients and customers. Always ask your customers what they think because you can only sell them what they want to buy and not what you want to sell when it comes to automobiles.
     5: BE TRUTHFUL AND SINCERE:- The need for trust and reliability cannot be overstressed in business relations especially with the way people already view car salespeople. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don't change meeting times and venues. Be reliable and trustworthy.
     6: GOOD NETWORKING:- Networking is the best way to get ahead in the modern business world. Offline, attend conferences, after-parties and other events in your field and connect with fellow auto dealers. Online, use facebook, linkedin, twitter and other social media platforms to connect with potential customers, investors, advisors etc. You never know where and how your paths will cross.
     7: BE IN BALANCE:- All work no play makes jack a dull boy is a true saying when it comes to entrepreneurship. Take short/daylong breaks here and there. If you burnout, you become very inefficient, and you will burnout if you go too hard for too long. Take a weekend off and recharge yourself once in a while.
     8: WORK CAN BE FUN MAKE IT SO!:- I know that starting up is hard work, but that should not stop you from having fun. This part is very easy if you are doing something you really love. So as an auto dealer, do you love cars?
     9: PERSISTENCE:- This in my opinion is one of the most important ingredients for auto dealership start up success. The lows we talked about can get so low that you sometimes start to consider giving up. It is persistence that you will need when this lows occur. So whatever happens look ahead and not down. Keep going with persistence you shall come out tops.
     10: YOU NEED A BUSINESS COACH:- What you can achieve alone as an entrepreneur has a limit. Engage the help and services of a professional business coach. Take advantage of his expertise.
     There you have it, my own 10 tips for starting a successful auto dealership business. What do you think? Do you have other tips you think need to be added? You are welcome to add your comments. Keep looking forward and not down and you shall come out tops.      

real publicity for your automobile dealership business? checkout these 8 platforms.

     Publicity for your automobile dealership business is one of the major ingredients for long term recognition and success in the business world as a whole. Business publicity is a major playing factor of any business's success because it is what makes people aware of your product and services and it helps them make up their minds whether or not, to patronize you.
     I will not be going too far if I say that publicity is the lifeline of your business because it is one of the major factors for your business growth. You are in business to make money and people must know about you and what you do for you to make that money. You can get people to know about you through one form of publicity or the other. Some of the ways by which you can get effective publicity for your automobile dealership business are:
     1. YOU: I think this one is obvious, you are the number one publicity for your business because no one knows or can talk about your business better than you. You need to talk to people around you. So talk to your friends, your neighbors and all other people you meet about what you do. Encourage them to also help you tell their friends.
     2. WEBSITES: You can get publicity for your automobile dealership business by harnessing the power of the internet. Create your own website, make use of popular media like facebook, twitter googleplus etc. Encourage your friends to like and share your business pages.
     3. TELEVISION ADVERTS: This medium works very fast in publicizing your business because of its large audience. You can target popular programs and series and run advert slots on them.
     4. RADIO ADVERTS: You can also get publicity for your automobile dealership business through this medium. It also works very fast because it is perhaps the most affordable medium in developing economies.
     5. PRINTED MEDIA: This medium also has its own audience and you can use either:

• newspapers/magazines: These come in daily editions, weekly editions, monthly editions and so on. You can choose the one that best suits your business plan and see how it augurments your business publicity.
• fliers: You see people most times at strategic locations sharing out fliers. This is because they are a very  effective way of bringing your business to the awareness of the public. They are particularly effective when you are launching a new product or starting a new business entirely.

     6: POWER OF THE TONGUE: Word of mouth from person to person makes a business go viral in a little time. This is the referral system. When someone who has patronized your product or service recommends it to someone else. This only works when that customer is satisfied and pleased, so, ensure you deliver quality at all times.
     7: QUALITY ASSURANCE: This not only publicizes your business, it lets you be in business and makes your business experience fast growth. Whether you are offering products or services, if you ensure quality, you will always have patronage. Imagine you selling a car to someone and everyone keeps asking the person "where did you buy this car?" That is what I call real publicity for you.
     8: GIVE AWAYS: From time to time give something away that won't break you, because everyone loves free stuff. If you are not strong enough to give away samples of cars, you can always make do with car accessories and related services. You can also give away free trials and promotional gifts.
     In conclusion, whether you are a small, medium or large scale auto dealership business, or even a 'one man' business, publicity for your automobile dealership business is a must. This is because without the public being aware of your business, there won't be business expansion and eventually you might have to close down the business. Please your comments and ideas of other platforms will be appreciated.

5 major questions for you before you buy that car. have you answered them?

     Welcome reader, this week we shall look at major questions for you before you buy that new car. I hope you learn something.
      Purchasing a car is most people's second biggest lifetime dream after house ownership. That is why it's very important to ask and answer questions before buying a car especially if you will need an auto loan or credit from the dealership.
     There are different reasons why people buy cars. Answer the following 5 top questions to ask  yourself before you purchase a new vehicle and you will discover what your reasons are.
  1  WHAT ARE THE FEATURES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME?: Figuring out how the new car is going to work in your day to day life is important so you might want to answer the following questions.

• Will I use the vehicle for only transportation? if not what else will I be using it for?
• What requirements do I need in terms of space and accommodations for others in the vehicle?
• For how long am I in the car on a daily basis? These are the kind of questions that show you what's really important to you in your next vehicle.

  2  HOW DOES IT FIT IN MY BUDGET?: The automobiles market has a lot of cars to pick from that fit all kinds of budgets. New cars will naturally be more expensive than pre-owned vehicles. This makes it easy fro those with limited budgets to decide what way to go. A good rule of thumb fro an estimated monthly payment on a car is to figure 4% interest on any loan or credit you want to take.
  3  WILL I RECEIVE INCENTIVES?: Manufacturers typically make rebates and incentives available to customers to entice them to buy new cars. The rebates can be just hundreds or a few thousands depending on the type of vehicle you are buying. Always take a look at special financing offers because their special interest rates sometimes saves you more than a rebate in the long run.
  4  IS PRE-OWNED NOT A BETTER OPTION?: If you find yourself in the middle trying to decide on a new car, you may want to consider a pre-owned vehicle instead. The benefits of buying a pre-owned vehicle is you can get a similar vehicle to the new one for thousands less in most cases. Or, you can get more features and equipments on a pre-owned  vehicle than you can on a new car that has the same price point.
  5  HOW LONG IS THE CAR'S WARRANTY?: You should always consider asking yourself how long you plan on keeping the vehicle then, find a car with a warranty coverage to match. Most new cars have a warranty of 3 to 10 years depending on the manufacturer. Some manufacturers certify pre-owned vehicles that meet their requirements through dealerships, giving you the same assurance as a new car would.
       These are not the only questions you should answer before making that purchase as there are other questions like, is it safety or what that is most important to you?, do you really require an upgrade in luxury?, how many miles do you drive in a year and so on. I could go on and on with questions you should answer but the 5 I have listed are the major ones only that their answers could go a bit deeper so I will advise you to search deep for yourself and find out what works for you.
       If you have any questions of your own that you think should be answered before buying a new car, you are welcome to drop them in the comments box please, I will appreciate it.
       If you want me to answer these questions in a lot more detail, you are welcome to contact me through the contact form.
       That will be all for this week, till I come your way again next week.

12 things to know before buying a car ---2

   Welcome reader, last week I promised the other half of 12 things to know before buying a car. Without wasting any time, let's go to number seven so I can fulfill the promise I made.

• SALESPEOPLE ARE OFTEN AS AFRAID OF YOU AS YOU ARE OF THEM: Most people see car salesmen as sharks that are ready to attack you as soon as you walk into the lot. The truth is that most of them are scared to even talk to you. They know how people see them and it is hard to start a conversation with someone who hates you before you even make eye contact with them. As a rule, seasoned salespeople are likely to have the typical car salesman personna.You may want to avoid them but, then again, remember they know a lot about the product. So whatever you do remember that car salespeople are people too.
• BEWARE OF HIDDEN FEES: Car dealers are notorious for obscure fees that show up on the contract when you are signing the papers. While it is true that they have legal and administrative expenses, everyone does. I am not saying that you should not pay any fees, I am suggesting though, that you ask what it is upfront from the dealer you are buying the car from. It will save a lot of headaches when you get to the finance office.
• YOUR CREDIT DOES MATTER: I cannot wrap my head around this, but many dealers heavily advertise their unique ability to get people who have terrible credit into great cars. For the most part, they are gimmicks. They get you in the door to see if they can get you approved but, most of the time, they cannot and they simply waste three to four hours of your time. And, obviously, if you have bad credit and get approved by a bank, then know that you will be paying a ridiculously high interest rate so do not fool yourself. Car dealers are not miracle workers. If your credit is bad, your chances of financing a vehicle purchase with a credit are not good.
• GO WITH THE BEST INTEREST RATES: Dealers will always try to get you to finance in-house. They often make more money in the finance office than they do in the selling price of the car. It is harder for you to see the money you are spending when it is spread over three to six years. But the dealer sees it right away. Shop around for interest rates, sometimes, the dealership really will be able to get you better rates through the bank  it uses. Sometimes, you will do better yourself. Just be smart and finance with the lowest bidder.
• DON'T FORGET ABOUT CAR INSURANCE: This is something that most people don't consider when buying a car. How will it affect your insurance policy? Some cars raise insurance premiums, others can lower them while most do not affect them all that much. Before signing a contract, call your insurance representatives and give them the VIN number of the car to get an estimate of how it will affect your premium. One thing people do not realize is that different insurance companies have different "appetites" for cars. Just because your current company was the cheapest for your old car does not mean they will be for the new one. Make sure your broker checks all available companies and does not take the easy way out by just doing a "substitution". You will be surprised at how much better the rates get when one shops around and negotiates. Ask your insurance representative how many companies he checked for you and keep him on his toes. This is because it is your money we are talking about.
• GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING: I am typically not a big fan of cynicism, but I will make an exception here. Never take anybody's word for it. A handshake means nothing without a written contract. Anything the dealer promises you, politely ask if you can get it in writing, if they refuse, you probably do not want to buy a car from them. Most of the time though, they will concede. When they fail to deliver on a promise, it is not likely because they are liars. It is often most likely because they forgot about you as soon as you drove off the lot and went right on to the next customer. They sell maybe a hundred cars a month. You buy only one in 5 years. Just get it in writing, it will make everything a lot simpler.

    As far as embracing the new paradigm of transparency and authenticity in buyer-seller relationships, car dealers have along way to go. Sadly, most of them are way too entrenched in the tricks of trade to have open, honest conversations about their methods and motives. That is why buying a car often becomes more of a confrontation than a transaction.
     It does not have to be this way. I have a dream that people will one day be able to buy cars without the fear of being scammed. But, until that day, you have got to be informed. Do not be a jerk. Do not lay into salespeople. Just be ready for anything that might occur. The worst thing you could do is get caught off guard. Above all know your stuff.
     That's it! The 12 things to know before buying a car. Till I come your way again next week, until then, remain blessed.      

12 things to know before buying a car.

    Last week I promised that I will tell you 12 things to know before buying a car. This post is a fulfillment of that promise.
    Buying a car can be a daunting task, most people are not automotive experts, they just need a vehicle or a vehicle for transportation business. And, yes, people like the way certain models look or the way they zip along the road in commercials, but do not know the first thing about getting them into their driveways. Not all car salespeople are shady and not all car dealerships are trying to take you for everything you've got. The only way to hold up your own is to be prepared. Here are points to consider before going to the dealership.

1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AND WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD: As with buying anything, the first point is to consider your values and your limitations. What matters to you most? Do you need something big or small? something dark or light in color? Engine Horse power? safety?technology?stereo system etc. People care about different things, see what is available. Then, decide what you can afford either as a one time purchase or, as an installmental rent to own purchase. Look exclusively for those makes and models you know are right for you.
2. DO YOUR RESEARCH ON THE WEB: There is no excuse for modern day car buyers to be uninformed. Car experts provide neutral informative resources on the web that will help you make the best decisions. Even if you are purchasing a used car, I will still recommend that you actually shop for a car on the web to narrow your options down. There are good and legitimate sites on the web if you search.
3. ALWAYS SEE THE CAR IN PERSON: The phrase "condition of a car" is a highly subjective term that makes the salesperson face a difficult dilemma when asked about it.If you are buying a used car, it is not going to be perfect but the salesperson is at crossroads of either stating all its problems or not. Some salespeople take pictures and videos of the car but lighting makes them unreliable. So going to see the car for yourself is the only way to know what you are getting for sure.
4. YOUR CAR IS NEVER WORTH AS MUCH AS YOU THINK: It is all fine if websites tell you how much your car is worth when you put this information in there. But whatever number you get is worthless because those sites are not buying your car. Everybody has an agenda. While there are valuable resources on the web for information about makes and models, the trade-in values they give are not law. These sites rely heavily on ad revenue generated from those who go there to appraise their cars. Your best bet for realistic trade-in values is to take your car to dealerships and offer to sell it to them. The average you get from three or so dealerships should be a realistic amount.
5. EVERYTHING IS NOT ALWAYS NEGOTIABLE: If you find a rare car at rock bottom price that you are driving 90 miles to see, do not expect to haggle, the era of haggling prices is dead. The internet has killed the negotiation process. Most times, communicating with an internet department lets you negotiate price before walking in the door. If you have done your research and know what is out there, then you know the dealer will not drop the price because "No one pays a sticker for a used car". There are no more stickers. Internet pricing is very competitive so don't expect a huge discount or maybe don't even expect any discount at all if you find a car online.
6. SALESPEOPLE ARE NOT MECHANICS: Don't be surprised if your salesperson does  not know anything about the mechanics of a car. (He did not study the technical mechanics of a car, He studied sales, He is now only practicing his sales with cars). Salespeople mostly know all the options and features, what makes the vehicle safe and comfortable--you know, the things that really matter to you. But, for example, if you want to know why your car is making a noise, a bad salesperson will make up a reason that sounds good, and a good salesperson will say "I don't know". So always ask a mechanic. H e is the one that has the technical knowledge of the mechanics of a car. He will tell you why your engine is making a noise or why you are having any other problem with your car for that matter.

      We have gone halfway, we have taken six of the twelve things you should know before buying a car.
This is the much we can take this week. But if you have gained and been enlightened, then keep a date with me next week as I bring you the second and concluding part.
       We shall look at the remaining six. That is the other half of the 12 things to know before buying a car. Keep a date with me till I come your way next week.  

own your car in 2 years----6 (last tip)

     Welcome reader, this is the last post in our own your car in 2 years series. We have covered a lot of ground in the last five weeks. We have taken at least one tip/strategy each week. You are by now familiar with the subject of getting to become a car owner in two years. We have looked at the subject from all the three perspectives of a driver that wants to become an owner, a civil servant/corporate employee that wants a car for private use or a business man that intends using a car for commercial transport services.
     This week, in this post, we shall take the last tip and summarize all we have been learning so far. We started in the first week by proving that it is possible to become a car owner by financing the purchase through a two year rent to own program.
     You learned that the first tip is finding your motivation and really deciding that you want to become a car owner within a two year period.
     The second tip you learned was to know yourself in relation to the type of car you intend to own. It was also about having a strong enough why for ownership to help you when things don't go as planned.
     The third tip was about knowing what type of car appealed to you and why. You learned that you needed to research very well before making a choice.
     Tip number four taught you how to plan your course of navigating the not so easy road of paying for a car in installments over a two year period. This is because technically you are not yet a car owner until you have paid in your last installment.
     Now, we are going to take this week's tip/strategy which is the last and concluding one in the series. So our last own your car in 2 years tip/strategy is :
                                                      WORK YOUR PLAN
     When last week I gave us the tip that you should plan your work, I made it clear that whatever category you belonged to, you had to have a plan.
     So when this week I say you should work your plan, I mean you really need to stick to your gun and stick to the plan. You need to give your plan all it will take and all the persistence it will require to see it through.
      If you are a commercial driver aiming to become an owner, your transition is the hardest to make. This is because like I said last week, certain expenditures for maintanance that your owner used to shoulder will now become your responsibility. You will need to take this along in your stride. You will be taking on this responsibility even though your weekly/monthly installments might even be greater than the balance you used to deliver to your former owner because you are on a rent to own program.
      You will have to really work your plan as to sticking to budgets concerning maintanance of car, maintanance of home and family, personal responsibilities e.t.c. Whatever the case may be, I say you should just stick to your plan and make adjustments when necessary.
      As a civil servant/corporate employee that is aiming to use a car for private purposes, remember, it is the same salary you were getting before you decided to buy a car that you will still be getting. And you will have to make provisions for a certain percentage of that salary towards financing your weekly/monthly installments and maintanance.
      You are going to be doing this despite the fact that all your other financial commitments are still the same or might even be rising. You then need to sit down and map out a realistic plan and stick to it.
      If you are the business man that is aiming to create a transport business service, you will need to plan very wide as you have to consider your driver and the routes he is going to be plying in your plans.
      Your plan will be wide because you are making plans for owning a car and a business plan for a business at the same time. Whatever happens, please just be sure you have a plan before you start out and stick to the plan.
       This is all we are taking in our own your car in 2 years series. Next week when I come your way, we shall be looking at things you should know before going out to buy a car. See you then. 

own your car in 2 years-----5 (tips)

    Own your car in 2 years series will this week look into the DOING part of getting to own a car in 2 years through a rent to own program. All along what we have been looking at in the past were all the tips/strategies that are concerned with the BEING part. We have tried to define exactly the kind of person you have to BE in order to be able to DO the things you are supposed to DO which is what we shall begin looking at this week, so that you can HAVE the outcome you desire of getting to own a car within a 2 year period.
     If you have stayed with me this far, then, I believe you are psychologically ready, you have found your reason for motivation and you are adequately motivated. I believe you now know yourself and your cause, your personality, your emotions, your risk tolerance level etc in relation to cars.You also know what your WHY is, that is the cause of your striving to become a car owner in two years. This should be your chief personal reason for wanting the transition of becoming a car owner. I also believe that from the above you now know and have made a decision concerning the exact car you desire to own.
     So at this stage that you have made this decisions based on the research and thoughts you have had, you have now gone to the dealership, stated your mission, made your choice and maybe you have even test driven the car, you have negotiated the purchase contract, you have been given your total purchase price and your weekly/monthly installmental payment amount, you have agreed to the terms and contract papers have been signed. The car has been issued and you have driven off the lot and gone home, your family, friends and well wishers have all gathered round the car to appreciate it and maybe say prayers and give you some words of encouragement because they know you have technically not paid for the car eventhough it is parked in your driveway.
      At this moment of reality what should be next? This question is what is going to bring us to our own your car in 2 years tip/strategy number 5 which is:
                                                                  PLAN YOUR WORK.
      If you fail to plan, then you have automatically planned to fail. This saying is just as true for owning a car as it is for any other thing in life. You need to plan how you are going to go about becoming a car owner especially as a commercial transport business.
       If you are a driver that is aiming to become an owner, the first thing you should consider is that certain expenditures for mantainance that your former owner used to shoulder will now become your responsibility. You will need to plan your working hours/days, your route and your work/mantainance roaster because mantainance is also an integral part of car ownership.You will need to calculate how much work you need to do in a day and how much is the amount you need to generate to cover all the expenses that your budget contains. You will need to know what percentage of your income you will budget for each of, instalmentall repayment, vehicle maintanance, home/family upkeep,weekly/bi-weekly servicing of the car, periodic changing of tires, periodic renewal of vehicle particulars, personal savings, incidental savings for the car in case you need to carry out major repairs in the future and savings for re-investment that gives you the opportunity to grow.
      If you are a civil servant/corporate employee, you have to take all the budget percentages we discussed above and consider them in relation to your salary. How much can you spare monthly from your salary, a fact that should have been a major factor in the first place concerning the type of car you have chosen to own. You will need to consider all these and more but the most important thing is to have a plan.
      As a business man planning to own a commercial transport service business, you need to plan the most, because your driver has to be automatically considered in your plans. You have to involve him in certain aspects of your plan because he happens to be the one that shall be working with the vehicle. You also need a system in place that shall measure progress since you are running a business and nobody wants to run a business at a loss more so as you have to be paying instalmentally for the vehicle you are using.
     This is not all there is to planning your work as regards cars but all the points I have made here are supposed to serve as a basic foundation which you can build on. I believe if you do that, then you really can get to own your car in 2 years. That will be all for this week till I come you way again next week.   

own your car in 2 years---4 (tips)

   Welcome reader, our own your car in 2 years series is back once again this week. Last week I gave us tip/ strategy number two which was all about knowing yourself and your why (cause) in relation to the vehicle you will like to own. This is very essential because it helps you stand firm on all commitments needed to ensure that getting to own the vehicle of your dreams within a 2 year period becomes a reality especially the issue of weekly/monthly instalmental payments which requires a lot of discipline and deligence to see through.
    There are a lot of car options out there that sometimes making a choice becomes confusing more so with the volume of promotional advertisements we are bombarded with on a daily basis. This week our tip/strategy shall focus on how you can sift through all the options and advertisements to make a choice that shall be most appropriate for your personality and cause which is the first reason why you want to own a car in the first place.
     Buying a car can be a daunting task. Yea, people like the way certain models look or the way they zip at high speed along the road in commercials but do not know the first thing about purchasing them. The only way to hold up your own is to be prepared by reading informative content such as this.
     Our own your car in 2 years tip/strategy number three is:

                                                    KNOW THY CAR.
    Our previous tip/strategy was about knowing yourself, your personality and your why (cause). This week our tip/strategy is about knowing what car fits that personality and that your why (cause). To help you understand the point I am trying to make I will like you to look at the pictures of the cars below then continue reading. 

   Yes, I hope you now see my point. You can never like the cars equally. So know the one you like, the one that makes something click inside of you and think owning it in relation to why you want to own a car.
    For you to fully understand what I mean when I say know thy car you should consider the following points before making your decision.

• Know what you want and what you can afford.
• Do your research on the web.
• Always inspect the car in person.
• It is not every time that you are in a position to negotiate more so if you are buying on credit.
• Salespeople are not mechanics and so cannot give you mechanics details of a car.
• Salespeople are afraid of you the customer just like you are afraid of them.
• Beware of hidden fees in your purchase contract.
• Your credit does matter a lot.
• Go with the best interest rates.
• Remember your cars insurance.
• Let everything about the purchase contract be in writing and signed by the dealer.
• If there is anything you do not understand about the contract, ask questions.

   These are all points you are supposed to put into consideration when thinking about purchasing a car. These points will go a long way in your decision as to which car will suit your personality, your why (cause), your payment schedule and ultimately your pocket.I believe you now have enough insight to help you decide what kind of car you should go for.
   Next week we shall begin looking at tips that show you the actual things you have to do in terms of actions to be taken to implement and actualize your plan to own your car in 2 years. See you then. 

Own your car in 2 years----3 (tips).

   Own your car in 2 years series continues again this week as promised. Last week we took the first tip/strategy which says that you should find your motivation and really decide. If you were with me last week and you read that post, I believe you would have gotten motivated and really decided because eventhough I did not treat the topic of motivation and decision exhaustively (those are full topics of discussion each on their own and will have to wait till another day.)  I gave us an insight into it and a few examples of how you can go about getting motivated and really deciding.
    If you have really read that post and practiced the tips/strategies I gave in it, I believe you are now supercharged and ready to go and you are also eager to learn what the next tip/strategy is. I will not disappoint you because that is the essence of this blog in the first place, to give you all the tips/strategies that make it possible. Before I give you the next tip/strategy, I will advice that you go back to our first one and re read it to refresh your memory and to supercharge and motivate you as being successful requires that you really understand and implement all the tips and strategies I shall be giving you.
    I am saying all these because car ownership and a successful commercial transport business is not magic or some get rich quick scheme(If that is what you want, this blog and articles are not for you). It is a business that requires proper planning, perseverance, patience, diligence and a lot of hard work. If you can persevere and work hard in implementing all(and not some) of the tips and strategies I am sharing with you, then I promise you that you shall come out tops, you will build that commercial transport business and watch it grow beyond your wildest imaginations.
    We should now take the next tip/strategy, so our own your car in 2 years tip number two is;

                                   KNOW THYSELF AND KNOW THY CAUSE.

     Yes! that is exactly what I mean, know yourself in relation to cars. What type of cars appeal to you, what cars are you in love with, what is your risk tolerance level, what can you afford in terms of finance for installmental payments and so on.
     Knowing yourself in relation to cars helps your decision of what car you want to own. Some people like big cars, some like small compact ones, some people like fast cars with very big engine capacity while some do not mind speed and engine capacity, some people like cars with a lot of customizations while I will not even advise that for somebody that wants a car for commercial transport even if that is what he likes. I am saying this because sometimes the issue of knowing yourself goes beyond what you like to what you need. A person with a family of 9 members will be better off with a space wagon than a 406 saloon car. A person that cannot conveniently change gears will be better off with an automatic car than a manual one and so on.
     So it is really important that you seat down and think through all the factors that will let you know yourself best in relation to your car.
     The next thing is that you should now know what is your cause for wanting to own a car, do you want a car for commercial transport in which case I do not think you will consider owning a Toyota Camry 2013. Do you want to use your car for private purposes in which case I know you will hardly consider a Toyota Hiace bus. Do you want to give your car to a commercial driver to work with, you will need to sit him down
and seek his opinion concernig which car he wants you people to buy.
     I have listed these cases just to give you an idea of how the consideration of the cause of your wanting to own a car can affect the choice you will have to make because for every cause there is an effect.
     Lastly, I now believe that you understand that knowing thyself and thy cause cannot be overstressed when it comes to the issue of car ownership. Understanding your personality and other personal attributes goes a long way in making you go for a car that you know you can persevere for and see the installmental payments through.
     I shall stop here until next week when I shall come your way with another own your car in 2 years tip/strategy. See you then.   

own your car in 2 years----2 (tips).

Own your car in 2 years series continues this week as promised. We shall begin from this week to look at tips and strategies one at a time that ensure that you attain total ownership of your car in two years if followed and implemented. We shall be taking one tip/strategy each week from this week onwards. I hope you will stay with me throughout the course of the lessons so that you shall grasp all issues pertaining to car ownership, be it as a commercial vehicle you are driving yourself, as a vehicle you are using as your private car or as a commercial vehicle another driver is driving for you. We shall be looking at;

• What cars serve what purposes.
• How do you maintain a car to prolong its life.
• How do you use a car to get the best out of it so it serves you better.
• How do you structure a commercial transport business to make sure it is a success.
• What mistakes should you avoid as a car owner so that your car does not become a burden.
• The psychology of of owning and maintaining a car that brings out the best in your car and much more.

 By the end of this series you would have become a car expert yourself because this knowledge that I shall be sharing with you shall give you a broad base knowledge of car sales, auto engineering, book keeping and business management because the issue of car ownership most especially as a transport business requires a little knowledge of all these subjects.
 You shall be able to look at car and assess;

1. How much it can cost.
2. What level of maintainance it requires before going on to the road.
3. How much will be needed for its manitainance over time.
4. How much income it can generate as a business.
5. How long will the life span of the car be and much more
6. As a commercial transport vehicle owner, you would have learnt human relations too as you would have learnt how to interview and hire drivers that will drive your commercial transport vehicles and how to relate with them to bring out the best in them.

We shall now look at the tips and strategies, so, our own your car in 2 years tip number one is;   
                     
                                        FIND YOUR MOTIVATION AND DECIDE!
You should find your reason that motivates you to want to own your own car.It is this reason for motivation that makes sure you are persistent especially when things do not seem to go as you planned. A very good way to find reasons for motivation is to list out the problems and disadvantages of not owning a car to you. Think of those things not owning a car is causing you that you do not like, that you do not want. List them out, write them down. Declare you do not accept the condition not owning a car has put you in. After listing the disadvantages, you should now list their opposites, that gives you the advantages and comfort that come with owning a car. Think of all the advantages of owning your own car, that car you have always liked. Think of all the things you will do if you owned that car of your dreams and these shall be reasons that will motivate you.
As a driver that wants to own your own commercial vehicle, you can think of the frustrations of having to take orders from your vehicle owner, you can think of the sadness of sometimes not having enough left over for you and your family when you must have paid your vehicle owner his weekly balance,then, now think of what it would be like if you owned the car and did not have to go through all that frustration and sadness and let that or any other positive thought motivate you.
As a civil servant or corporate employee that wants to own a car for private use, you can think of problems and frustrations associated with commercial taxis like being squeezed when  taxis are fully loaded or getting  to work late because commercial vehicles keep on stopping at intervals either to drop or pick passengers. On the flip side think of the opposite of these, you with your seat belt drawn and all the space in the car, or you leaving home at a particular time, not in a hurry because you know you are driving straight to work and you know how many minutes you need to reach the office and so on. Let the thoughts of the advantages and comfort motivate you.
As a commercial transport vehicle owner, you can think of the things you do not want like may be the income from your regular job not being enough or the returns from your other businesses not being enough to pay your childrens school fees and so on. Now on the flip side, think of how owning a commercial transport vehicle will solve all these problems  and more for you. Think of what it would be like to always collect your weekly returns from your driver every week and may be still have some left to take to the bank and let that motivate you.
After you have been adequately motivated, it is now time to really decide that you WILL own your own car. When I say decide I mean that you should not only decide that you want a car, you can get a car, you might own a car or you should own a car e. t. c. The kind of deciding that I mean is the one that gives you confidence, makes you certain, keeps your mind at rest because you know from deep down that you WILL get to own that car of your dreams. When you have really decided, do not worry yourself about the HOW. Once you have a strong enough WHY and you have really decided, nature begins to move for you too in setting in motion the machinery, enviroment  and factors that will ensure that you really get to own your car in 2 years. Till next week.

Own your car in 2 years.

 Own your car in 2 years! Yes it can be done and that is what I shall be helping you see. That it is very possible. Are you a Nigerian commercial driver that has been driving for an owner for years and you have almost lost hope of becoming an owner yourself? Are you a civil servant or corporate employee that has always wanted to own a car for your private use but has given up because you have been unable to put all the money you need to purchase the car one time together? Are you a commercial vehicle owner that does not understand what your driver is doing with your transport business because you are not seeing any growth in the business?
 If you belong to any of these categories, then I advise that for your benefit you stay tuned to this blog because I can help you solve your problem. Yes! I can help you to own that car of your dreams in 2 years and that is a promise from me. It can be done because I have done it for many people. You can start from zero and get to own your car in 2 years. All that is required on your part to achieve this is determination, discipline and lots of commitment.
 I was a commercial driver for years and I even rose to the post of a sectional leader in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (N.U.R.T.W.). This gave me the opportunity of putting a little over sixteen years of experience behind me working in the motor park in Mangu, Plateau state, Nigeria. Within these sixteen years I was able to notice that the level of economic prosperity and the level of becoming a success that commercial drivers could attain was limited. The best a commercial driver could get was may be owning a house that is nothing to write home about and may be having some little conveniences of life.
 With this realization, I made a decision that, that was not the kind of life I wanted for myself and I started researching what were the reasons that were keeping commercial drivers stuck at that certain level and what could they do to break the bondage of not being successful.
 The results of my years of research have shown me;

• Why every commercial driver needs to own a car of his own in order to become a success in life.
• How Nigerian civil servants can get to own the cars of their dreams that they have always dreamt about in two years.
• How Nigerian corporate employees can also get to own the cars of their dreams by paying instalmentally for them in two years.
• How Nigerian commercial transport car owners can structure their transport business and watch it grow tremendously.
• Which are the best cars to use for commercial transport business in Nigeria that will guarantee you business growth.
• What are the things that make your car last longer irrespective of wether you are using it for commercial transport or for your own private use.
• As a commercial driver, how do you recognize an owner that is a team player so that when you drive for him you have the opportunity of economically growing together.
• As a commercial transport car owner, how do you recognize a driver that is a team player that grows both of you as your driver.
• All the safety tips for commercial transport business and much more.

 With these results of my research, I have been able to help people to structure their commercial transport businesses in such a way that they have been able to measure and see exponential growth in their businesses and I can help you too. You too can watch your transport business grow with the tips and steps I shall be sharing over time on this blog.
 So if you know that you really want to own your car in 2 years, stay tuned as I begin to reveal the secrets that make it possible from my next post.