When you’re selling your used car, you want your vehicle to stand out to potential buyers. You only get one chance at a great first impression and sometimes the tiniest detail can cause the sale to fall through.
Fix the little details
– Repair visible flaws like broken taillights, windshield chips and dents.
– Replace burnt out interior lights, put on new wiper blades and make sure all your accessories and options are in working order.
– Consider making any other small repairs that could make a difference to a buyer.
Visit your mechanic
– Take your vehicle for a quick inspection before you hang up the “For Sale” sign.
– Get the mechanic to give your vehicle a good tune-up, checking your fluids and filters to see if they need to be topped up or changed. It’s also a good idea to check your brakes, hoses, belts and tire pressure.
– Eliminate any warning lights. Did you forget to reset your oil change indicator or does your ‘check engine’ light always come on? Talk to your mechanic to see how you can resolve this.
– If you discover serious problems then you’ll want to weigh out the cost and benefits of fixing them – will it help you make the sale or does it make more sense to leave it as is?
For any issues you opt not to have fixed, get your mechanic to give you an estimate so you can pass this information along to potential buyers.
Gather your records
Compile your service or maintenance records – if you typically do the oil changes and tune-ups then be prepared to tell shoppers how often you serviced the vehicle. Put together notes on how you used the vehicle including your highway and city driving usage and the amount of mileage you put on annually. Make sure you have the owner’s manual handy along with extra keys.
Clean the vehicle inside and out
– Take your vehicle to the car wash and give the exterior a deep clean. Don’t leave any area untouched scrub the wheel wells and get under the door handles.
– Use an engine cleaner or de-greaser to clean things up under the hood too.
– Grab a vacuum and get under and in between the seats, clean out the cup holders and clear out the glove box. Wipe around all the knobs, switches and the gearshift, and give the dashboard a good wash. Don’t forget to clean all the windows on the inside as well.
– A lingering odor in your car could turn off a prospective buyer. Avoid the traditional tree-shaped car freshener but consider using an odor eliminator or a light, fresh scent to give your car a pleasant new aroma.
– If you don’t have time to give the vehicle a good long clean, you can take your car to a professional detailer so they can get the job done.