It’s time to sell/trade your car, and you want to get top dollar for it. The best way to do this is to make it look and feel like new.
The next person who buys your old car understands they are buying a used vehicle, but they won’t pay full Blue Book for your car unless it’s in perfect condition. This means you need to do a few things to make the car look and feel like new. This car isn’t new, but it will be new to the next driver, who wants to get a great deal while you want top dollar.
Use these tips when preparing to sell/trade your car.
Get it fixed
Does your car need a few items repaired before you pass it on to the next person? If so, you need to take care of these items before listing the vehicle. You won’t receive the highest price possible if it has mechanical or cosmetic damage. The next person will expect to receive a discounted price if the car has issues. Get items fixed and make sure the car operates as it should, which is how it worked when it was new.
Have the car detailed
The first impression your car makes on the next person is its overall look. When you’re preparing to sell/trade your car, you need to make sure it looks like it just came off the showroom. This means getting the car detailed from top to bottom. Have the engine cleaned, the interior scrubbed, and any paint blemished filled and matched. This step helps push your car’s price where you want it, making it much easier to get the most value for your vehicle.
Get a service done
Even if you’ve kept meticulous service records, have the car serviced before passing it to the next buyer. This gives the next person a good feeling about the car because they can start from this service appointment and schedule the next service when necessary. When you’ve got a car that’s been properly and recently serviced, you can ask for a little higher price because it shows buyers that you’ve cared for the car while owning and driving it.
Bring it back to factory build
Your car is personalized to you. If you’ve added aftermarket accessories and add-ons, now is the time to remove them. When preparing to sell/trade your car, these added items don’t add value to the car, regardless of how much those items cost you in the process. Bringing the car back to the factory build is extremely beneficial when trading the car to a dealership. Those items get in the way and can often cause the vehicle to sell for less after the trade.
Note: If you have the original wheels because you upgraded to aftermarket wheels, put the originals back on before listing your car for sale.
Remove your stuff from the car
Whether you want to list the car yourself or you’ll trade it at a dealership, you need to remove any personal items that can distract shoppers from what your car has to offer. Remove items that shouldn’t be in your car and belong only to you. It’s important to keep the registration in the car, so don’t remove that item, but the rest can go.
Are your documents in order?
Do you have the title for the car, or is there still a lien on it? Do you have all of the maintenance records to show the car has been serviced properly? One of the most important items when preparing to sell/trade your car is to get the paperwork in order. Put all of this documentation in one place so that you can show it to someone who comes to look at the car or give it to the dealership during a trade.
List or trade your car
If you want to sell your car yourself, it’s time to take some great photos and list the ads where you want to try to sell your car online. Make sure you take photos from various angles. If you want some ideas of the views you should offer, check out some dealership websites and imagine the angles used to get each shot. The better your photos look, the more likely you’ll get the full asking price for your car. Trading is a little easier; you won’t need any photos.
Preparing to sell/trade your car isn’t an easy process. If you want to get the most money for your old vehicle, you’ve got to put in a little work and some money; but this investment is worth it in the long run.
