4 Effective Tips on How to Prepare a Car for Sale

Cars are not purchased once and for life. Sooner or later, you may have a desire to change your car to a newer model or think about selling your vehicle for some other reason. But in any case, all car owners are united by one desire, to do it quickly and profitably, without guessing the price. And only the correct preparation of a used car for sale can help you with this.

Ignoring this factor, you run the risk of selling a car too cheap, or you will be looking for a buyer for a very long time who is ready to pay its real cost for your car. After all, people choose with their eyes and they are unlikely to be interested in a car that looks unpresentable. In this article, we have gathered four effective tips on how to prepare a car for sale.

Preparing the car 

It is not a fact that you can generally find an interested buyer for a vehicle that does not have a presentation, even if it is in perfect condition. Most likely, you will attract the attention of dealers who are just teeming with the aftermarket. Knowing how to prepare cars for sale, they buy unprepared vehicles for a pittance, bring them into proper shape, and have a good income from this.

Why give someone a profit that you can make yourself? After a fairly simple and not very expensive preliminary "ritual", you can prepare a car for sale yourself. And this will significantly increase its value and attractiveness to potential buyers.

1. External appearance

Agree, the sight of a dirty and scratched car is unlikely to arouse an interest in a normal person and a desire to get to know it better. To draw attention to your car, and provide a good impression, you should definitely prepare it for this. Cars intended for sale must first of all be thoroughly washed. And if necessary, hide minor flaws in appearance. For example, scratches that often occur on a pre-owned paint and varnish car, touch up and polish the body. Otherwise, for each defect, you will have to reduce the cost of the car, and you will lose income from the sale. But if a scratch or chip is significant, it is better to contact a car paint shop.

If you decide to sell a car, in no case think that the appearance that you left behind will suit everyone. It's like a speck on a suit If you put up with its existence and stop paying attention, this doesn’t mean that others think the same way. Even if you think your car is clean, give it a comprehensive wash. Look at the paintwork of your car, somewhere there are chips and other unpleasant little things, touch up and polish them, it does not cost a lot of money. If you want to sell the car "as is", then be prepared that many people who wish will not call you back after viewing, or arranging an auction, knocking down your price

2. Engine and engine compartment

Preparing a car for sale necessarily includes the technical part. If the car has been properly operated and does not have serious breakdowns, then there will be no problems with this. Timely diagnostics, regular oil changes, and the use of high-quality fuel allow you to keep your car in excellent condition. And in order to prepare it for sale, a minimum of time will pass. Of course, the engine and engine compartment of a used car cannot look perfect, as if it had just rolled off the assembly line. But, preparing the car for sale, do not wash them clean. A potential buyer who is well versed in technology may be alarmed, and he or she will think that you were trying to hide the traces of leaking oil in this way. It is enough to wipe this area to remove accumulations of dust and dirt.

The engine is the heart of the car. A neat and well-groomed engine says a lot about the seller, if they cared about the engine, then he or she was attentive not only to the visual component, but also to the technical part, and looked after the car. Keep an eye on the oil level, use the oil recommended by your dealer, and change it regularly. If you have serviced the car, then the engine is in order, and it is enough to rinse it. However, you can leave it dusty. This way it is better to see that there are no smudges on it.

3. Salon preparation

The third in order, but a very important stage is putting in order the interior of the car intended for sale. If the exterior of a car is needed to make a first impression, then its ideal interior setting is basically the deciding factor for or against the purchase.

After all, the driver should feel as comfortable and cozy inside the car as possible. And a sloppy, bad-smelling, or damaged interior can scare off a potential buyer.

When a person gets into a car, he or she wants it to be clean inside, all the elements work properly, it is desirable that there is a pleasant smell in the cabin. If the buyer sees that it is dirty inside, there is rubbish or the seats are torn, then the person will not want to buy such a car. Pay attention to everything, from global problems to the smallest detail. Tidy up the seats, vacuum the interior, throw out the trash, if necessary, clean the pillars and the ceiling, these elements get dirty, like everything else. People want to give their money for a well-kept car, including the inside.

• In a well-groomed salon of an almost new car, it is enough to clean, vacuum, clean all the elements and remove everything unnecessary from it.
• It is a little more difficult to prepare a car with a higher mileage for sale. If the casing has stains, visible abrasions, or damage, it is best to replace it. Perhaps you are accustomed to these defects and do not notice them, but they will immediately catch the eye of a stranger and cause negative emotions.
• It is impossible to cope with such a task on your own if the car is extremely dirty, and it is better to entrust its implementation to a reliable car service. This cleaning will help you get your car ready for sale.

4. Submitting an ad

The ad should be given only when the preparation of the car for sale is completed, and it has acquired a dignified appearance from the inside and outside. In order for buyers to quickly respond to your call, it also needs to be prepared correctly.

The ad must include the actual price. It can be installed by looking at the cost of similar cars at special sites for the sale of used cars. High-quality photos showing it from the most advantageous sides will help to draw attention to your vehicle. Fuzzy shots from unfortunate angles will negate the efforts to get the car ready for sale, and will not make a good impression on potential buyers.