Looks matter when it comes to cars. Even though you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, people see some signs of wear and tear on a car and ignore that it is the engine that is important. They assume there is something wrong with the car when they see some physical defects.
If you are trying to sell a car like this, then it can cost you thousands of dollars because the value is so diminished because of how it looks. There are some things you can do to make sure you get the most money possible for your car, however.
In this article, I will give you a few tips to help you sell your car for what it really is worth.
1 – Take care of the paint
A paint job can be quite expensive, but it is really important that the car look like it is as new as possible. If your car isn’t worth thousands invested in a new paint job, go for the basic plan.
You can save money by going with white car paint and picking the most budget friendly brand. Alternatively, you can do the paint job yourself and save even more while making it look as close to brand new as possible.
When you have the pain done, also pay a little extra for some wax and a professional buff job to really have it shiny and new looking.
2 – Make it sound good
If your car is getting old it probably squeaks and squawks while you are starting it or even driving it. Get rid of those noises and people will feel like it is running well.
If your motor is making noise, bring it in to a mechanic and have them pinpoint what it is. It could be simply needing lubrification that you can do yourself. Or some parts are worn and need to be replaced.
If it is a seat that squeaks or something else in the car then an auto body shop may have the answers.
3 – Do a detailing
When a car is professionally detailed it looks almost brand new. And it also smells totally clean and new for the next person to not think about the last person to own the car. If it feels new to them then they will pay top dollar.
Have it cleaned up outside and in with a fine tooth comb and not just a quick run through with a vacuum and spray cleaner. Invest in some good products that the pros use if you decide to do it yourself.
4 – Don’t cover things up
Try to get rid of as many flaws as possible, but some things will still be visible. Don’t try to hide them. Let the buyer know that they are there and they will trust you more and feel better about the condition of the car overall.
If you try to cover up some flaws they will wonder if you did the same to the engine and they may fear it breaking down soon.
