ALT-1 Automobile Information Prepping your Car for Maximum Sale Price
Once you've made the decision to sell, the first thing to do is to completely empty the vehicle of all personal belongings. Be sure to check under the seats, inside the doors, glovebox and trunk.
Gather all receipts to show what work has been done on the vehicle and to prove that the car has enjoyed routine maintenance. If it's a newer vehicle that's had all work done at the dealership, your service advisor should be able to give you a print-out of the service record.
The five best places to spend money repairing and replacing are as follows:
TIRES. . .Insert a penny upside-down between two treads. If any of Lincoln's head is visible, the tires are worn. Replace the tires with the least expensive ones available. Even if the buyer plans to purchase fancier tires, if the ones that are on the car are in good shape, he cannot expect the $200-400 discount he would if the tires are in worn condition.
GLASS. . .If the windshield is cracked and your insurance covers the replacements, get it taken care of before putting the vehicle up for sale, or expect an immediate $500 discount request from buyers. If the glass has been chipped, have it chip-repaired and keep the receipt to show the buyer that it's not going to segue into a full blown crack any time soon.
MISSING/WORN PARTS. . .Hubcaps, stripping, antennas, knobs for the radio, gearshift and the like, mirrors, floormats and windshield wipers can all go missing or become over-worn. Some buyers will look for any excuse to talk the price down. Making minor replacements like those listed above need not be over-costly. Many parts (hubcaps, knobs, mirrors) can be found at salvage yards and all are very simple to replace. Paying attention to small details like this can help earn more money on the sale.
MINOR DENTS and SCRATCHES. . .Don't attempt to paint-match scratches. Finding the exact color is next to impossible, and if the vehicle is not buffed immediately afterward, the touch-up will be noticeable. If the car only has one or two very minor dents, it can probably be left as is, but more than that may call for a visit to a paintless dent repair shop. Repairmen use suction cups and soft hammers to pop the dent out at a cost that is significantly lower than an auto-body repair shop might charge.
CLEANING AND DETAILING. . . After all the cosmetic flaws have been repaired or replaced, have the car detailed inside and out. If the vehicle has a large engine that is part of the selling point, you may want to have the engine professionally steam cleaned, too.
Enlist a male friend to help show the vehicle. There are a lot of bad guys out there who would think nothing of taking advantage of a female. If dad/brother/friend are at hand and can act as your assistant, he'll be able to put a stop to it if a buyer is railroading you.
Above all, take an honest evaluation of the vehicle, paying close attention to first impressions. If you're noticing a flaw, so will the buyer.
