For most people, selling a car is just a time consuming chore that they would rather have someone else take care of. The only reason they bother with it at all is the promise of at least some money from the sale. Very few people take the time or effort to improve their chances for a higher sale value. But, honestly, it isn't that hard to do some simple things yourself to dramatically enhance the desirability of the car and ensure that you get top money for it when it does sell.
In my detail shop roughly 60% of our business is from people trying to sell their used car or who have just purchased a used car and want it like showroom new. When I do the just purchased cars, I often wonder why the person who sold it didn't have it detailed already. I see McDonald's wrappers, empty coffee cups, stains in the carpet, and other upholstery, dull paint and badly scraped bumpers. I'm fairly certain they could have improved their chances for a quick sale and secured more money for the car if they had gone to the trouble to clean the car up.
A good detailer is worth the money if you are selling your car especially if it is a higher end vehicle. But you can do some things yourself that will cost little or nothing to make your car look more like a show car. Here are my top five tips for getting the most out of your sale.
1. Clean Up the Engine.
Even the crummiest low life used car dealer will clean up an engine. A dirty engine sends a message to the buyer that it has had no maintenance. This may not true but that is the impression the potential buyer has. You don't have to rent a $2,000 high-pressure steamer to clean your engine. A few dollars here and there and a bit of effort on your part will get your engine looking presentable. It does not have to be perfect and you shouldn't feel the need to varnish everything in the bay the way the used car dealers do.
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Engine is not only dirty but is nestled in a rusted out bay .  |
Most people do not own a professional variable speed buffer which is used to remove oxidation and swirl scratches from paint. Although there are reasonably priced ones out there they take some time to learn how to use and are better left to professionals. Don't waste money buying an "orbital buffer". Although they do a good job of shining up your car they don't do the same thing as a variable speed buffer and basically you can get the same results by hand. Do get a bar of clay and a spray on wax and completely clay the car. It's cheap and will last a long time. Finally, get some cheap toothbrushes and clean areas around seams that can get clogged with dirt and mold.
Step 3. Thoroughly clean, vac and shampoo the interior. If you have carpet mattes, pull them out and soak them in a bin of hot water and laundry detergent. Later scrub them hard until all of the dirt is out and press as much water out as you can (assuming you do not have a professional extractor). Hang them up to dry. Use a dryer lint brush to go in between the front seats and the center console.
Step 4. Dressing
Of course you should clean up your tires and dress them to make them look darker. But you should also look at all the rubber components and hard black or grey plastic materials as well. In some cases these will have faded significantly over time and simply putting tire dressing will not give an optimal result. In that case take a bit more time and respray these items with Rustoleum Bumper Spray. It's a very good product and works fairly well in moderate temperatures.
Step 5. Windows and Headlights & Various Stickers
No matter how much you think no one will care that you put bumper stickers on your car, and parking stickers on your windows, people do notice these things and rarely appreciate them. If the person you have coming to buy your car is a Republican and you have Obama/Biden stickers all over it, get them off. Also, no one needs to see your out of date, parking permit or anything else. Use razors to get off the windows and there are products from Turtle Wax and others that can help with this. Don't ignore your headlights. Make sure they are clean and polish them up if you can. There are some kits available that can help with this and many are very good (3M makes an excellent that we use.) They cost about $20 and you will need a power drill to work them.
For lots of great information on detailing your car go to http://www.blacklabelmotoring.net
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