Hello, I am trying to sell my 97 F150, so I went on KBB to get a book value and priced the truck a couple hundred under the Fair condition value of my truck ($2300 book so I posted at $2100 OBO). I got a couple responses right away but no takers. I have gotten several calls asking for my bottom dollar but few willing to actually make an offer. I would throw out like $1800 or $1900 mentioning the $2300 book value, but everyone declined, one person even stating that a book value isn't a good indicator of a vehicle's worth (which is exactly what it is supposed to be). I dropped the asking to $2000 OBO, and just got a $1500 offer, which I turned down as it is $800 under the book value I had from when I posted it for sale. I just checked the KBB on it again today and it was like $1200?!?!? I double checked it 2-3 time to make sure I didn't accidentally mis-enter something or choose the wrong value type (dealer vs private party) and I would get about the same value each time +/- $100. KBB doesn't seem to return a consistent value even when run with the exact same options/millage multiple times in a row, and I find it hard to believe my truck lost 52% of it's value in less then a month! I tried looking at posts for similar trucks but they vary so much (from $900 for one with air bags deployed, to over $8000 for one in prestine condition), and NADA says $3300 which I know is high as it doesn't take into account the milage and condition of the truck. Which leads to my question, Where do I get an accurate value for my truck?
Thanks

 

KBB gives you a rough idea of what a truck is worth. Older trucks will be effected by the condition. A truck in Texas has a lot less rust and crud than a truck in Ohio winters. The difference in them saying a truck is worth $2000. and you selling it for $1500 or even $1200. is probably within the margin of error.. They are just giving you a rough idea.. A lot depends on WHO WANTS it also.. 20 year old truck would have a lot less Lookers, than a 10 year old truck.

 

also the 4.2 motor and 5 speed could be a good thing, or bad, again depending on who is looking.

 

KBB isn't really all that accurate to be honest. They're pretty good for popular, more modern vehicles, but for older cars that might have "collector" value, it starts to break down pretty quick

 

If you checked in December, then in February, it is a year model older now, which can easily account for the big price difference.

In the end it is worth what somebody will pay for it. KBB, Edmunds, NADA are all just guides and can get you in the ballpark for your area, but looking online (craigslist, cars.com, other local online sales sites) can give you a more accurate idea.
Also, where are you trying to sell? You will get bottom of the barrel many times using craigslist.
Any medium (online, newspaper) that you pay to list will give you a better overall sale price for the most part.