Selling cars to strangers - do you have them come to your house, or meet at a neutral site?

I'm selling my one owner 188K mile now rusty and its time to let it go Jeep Grand Cherokee, and am a bit surprised at the interest, even at the low price I have it listed. I was planning to give potential buyers my address to come look at it, then wondered if I ought to do that, especially given the market I'm selling in. Am I too paranoid, or should I be meeting potential buyers at a neutral site near the house? Upon reflection I guess I'm concerned about buyers coming back for more when we aren't home (note to self - delete the garage door opener code in the jeep tonight). What do you folks do in this situation? I'm in suburban Pittsburgh if that matters.

I've sold reasonably pricey ($3,000ish) cars from my house and it felt pretty safe based on the people showing up. I've also parted out a car out from my garage, and all sorts of people showed up for that...made me want to keep my garage locked during the day. But I live in a pretty safe, quiet area in a small town well outside any real city, so they would have to drive pretty far to rob me.

If I lived in a city, I would prefer to meet people at a parking lot. Not sure how I would approach parting a car out though. I do make a point NOT to put my address or actual map coordinate in the craigslist ad. I just list the town.

Suburban Pittsburgh like Bethel Park or like Braddock?

If a neutral place feels better for you, or would split the distance between you and the buyer, go for it. It's also a good sign that the vehicle moved under its own power to get there.

I just find it easier for people to come to the house. From just selling my grand Cherokee, under $5k, most of my interest was people looking for a first car for their kid or something to go to college with.

And what the guy above me said I refuse to put my address on the ad and always uncheck the map box. Just the city is good enough

Are you going to ride along with the test driver?

I pick a well lit, well traveled place near my house until I've ascertained that they aren't weirdos. Well, not any weirder than a GRM regular.

Meet at a local police station. If they don't show up, you've probably saved yourself some trouble. As far as I know, most PD's encourage it.

I've done both, both as a buyer and a seller. I think in the future I will make sure to meet on public neutral territory unless I know the person.

The pd in Sioux Falls actually designated a pair of parking spaces out front with 24/7 cameras on them specifically for online meetings and kid swaps between parents that don't get along. Last I heard they were thinking about adding more.

PA being the pain in the ass that it is and requiring sellers to sign the title in front of an agent we're actually meeting at a AAA. I'm going to have to accept a ride back from the buyer to my house anyway.

I like to meet at a public place near my house with a wide field of view. I get there at least ten minutes ahead so I can watch them pull up. I make sure to be out of the car when they arrive so I won't get pinned in the car if something goes bad.

I do realize that this is probably a bit much, and I am ok with that.

Ive had people meet me at my house to buy 800-1000 dollar cars but i live in a small town. I do not let strangers inside my house or garage though. Having a friend whos a licensed notary makes it easier to just meet at my house.

We've always met somewhere public with non-car Facebook yardsale (whatever it's called) stuff.

Many times the buyer appreciates that as much as we do.

I personally have no problem meeting at my house. Let's just say it wouldn't end well for them if there was a plan to do harm instead of buy my truck. The Second Amendment keeps me as safe as I feel I need to be in these cases. Not to sound like a cowboy/vigilante, it's just that I'm into personal protection more than ever. Too many drugged out freaks looking for a score even in quiet towns like mine.

If not for that, I'd be more weary as well as carry a large ("That's not a knife... THIS is a knife!" on my side. Scumbags are looking for helpless victims to prey on. I wouldn't sweat it too much but I'd NEVER have them look at it when I wasn't there or to have my wife show it. (Don't mean to sound too old fashioned but 6'-3" 250# is more of a deterrent than 5'-3" 115#).

In reply to pushrod36:

Good post!

Depends on the situation for me. If it's parts, or something small enough that I can throw in the back of the car, I'll meet them at the Sheetz gas station down the road. It's well lit, busy, well covered by cameras, and also pretty conveniently located for whatever direction they may be coming from.

If that isn't an option, I'll try my best to feel them out beforehand. I figure most druggies and scumbags aren't capable of writing a coherent and grammatically correct email or text message, or speaking well on the phone. I've got a dude coming to my place to look at my bike on Sunday, which isn't currently registered or insured, but has been very respectful and coherent in his communications.

I'll also 2nd what ebonyandivory said. Craigslist transactions were the primary motivation in purchasing my pistol, and pretty much the only time I actually carry. This goes double being on the buying end, as they'll know I'm likely coming with cash and I'm in an unfamiliar location.

Last time I sold a car to a stranger, we met at the local branch of his credit union. It made the transaction more convenient, and there were plenty of security cameras inside and outside. But usually I sell my cars to someone I already know. (Like finding a home for a puppy.)

I guess I'm lucky to have a little bit of property so that I can meet people at my storage building at the road and they can't even see my house.

That said, I don't really worry much about it and would gladly welcome most people I would sell a car to into my home.

Maybe I'm naive, but I live in a non-ghetto area where both parties are equally likely to be packin, which also doesn't bother me.

In reply to Tyler H:

Not naive at all. And I know you weren't referring to anyone in particular but I'll just restate that I live in a very rural area surrounded by other rural areas and some VERY nice neighborhoods and the drug epidemic is astronomical even here.

Heck, in NH where we just got back from vacation, they had a 900% increase in Narcan use this year over last. 900%! And that's just for OD's and doesn't represent the number of users. These people are everywhere and they'll do anything to get your money.

RevRico wrote: Suburban Pittsburgh like Bethel Park or like Braddock?

Both, ish. I'm north but Bethel Park like, but my buyers are more Braddock. Ha.

Rural here as well, but always gotta keep your guard up when dealing with strangers. That being said, I've never had a truly sketchy Craigslist transaction. The last two guys I've had here ended up BSing with me for 30+ minutes about their various projects.

I do whatever is the most convenient for me or gives me the best chance at completing the the transaction at the desired price.

kazoospec wrote: Meet at a local police station. If they don't show up, you've probably saved yourself some trouble. As far as I know, most PD's encourage it.

This x100 every police station I know of encourages this.

I sell cars and other heavy stuff from home, with cars they're gonna have my info from the completed title anyways. Stuff small enough to fit in a car I'll go somewhere high traffic, I usually use the far end of a grocery store parking lot near one of the exits.

I've gotten pretty casual about it and just had people come to the house lately......but the last two sales were to friends.

My recent purchase of the Suburban involved me going 90 miles into the country and up a VERY isolated driveway with $6K in cash on me. But A: 2nd amendment. And B: the guy was really cool, a type who would fit in well here so I told him about the challenge and the forum. He was interested in both.

Here I've had people come to the house in Illinois. In the florida house meet in a bank parking lot - lots of cameras. Also like the PD dept. option.

Haven't had anyone meet me at my own house but bought cars from a few folks from theirs no problem. Got Miata part's from a guy who was nearly my instructor at the next weekends HPDE once.

I'm lucky enough to live walking distance to a Kroger so often use that. It's near a highway exit so serves good for test drives. I can also go another few blocks past and hit the bank in the event I make a sale.