Prepping A Car For Sale

Prepping A Car For Sale

At some point it becomes inevitable that the old reliable family car falls out of favor as children grow and lifestyles change. So, too, do the clunkers that we happily drive during our college years get left behind in favor of newer, spiffier models. Whether you plan to take your car to a dealer for trade-in, or simply want to get the best possible price on the open market, prepping the car for sale will help you achieve your goal by making your vehicle:

Easier to advertise
Faster to sell
Have a smoother transaction
Command a higher resale value.

Be the Buyer

In order to sell your car quickly and for a great price, you have to put yourself in the buyer's mind, and look at our car to see if it seems cared for, well maintained, and regularly serviced, and the best way to meet these requirements is to present to potential customers a car that has the original keys, manuals, maintenance and service documentation, and is incredibly clean.

Here are a few guidelines to follow as you are prepping your car for sale:

Collect the Keys:

Make sure you have all of the original keys to your car before you're ready to sell. These include, not just the ignition keys, but also any valet keys, and separate keys for the trunks or gas cap. If you have keyless entry, make sure the fobs are all accounted for, and have batteries in them.

Gather the Documentation:

Having the owners manual (the one you probably stuck in the glove box and never looked at again) available for a buyer is important, but you should also gather any and all documentation regarding care, maintenance, and service on your vehicle. Have you been doing oil changes like clockwork? Provide proof. Have there been any major repairs? You'll want to show what they were, and whether or not the work is still under warranty. Maybe you’ve taken a defensive driving class? Let the buyer know. Any accidents that were reported will show up on a CarFax-style vehicle history report, as well, but providing documentation up-front will make the buyer trust you – and even though the product they take home is your used car, you do want to look like a reputable seller.

Detail the Car:

Detailing is the one aspect of prepping your car that will take a significant amount of time – several hours, in fact – but it is worth the effort. This isn't merely driving your car through the car-wash, however. You'll need to:

Wash the car thoroughly, including the undercarriage and wheel wells. Dry it with a chamois, and then wax or coat.
Polish the wheels and clean and polish the tires.
Vacuum the carpeting and any other upholstery, and clean any interior leather, with a leather-friendly product. You may want to condition the leather as well.
Polish the dash, steering wheel, and any other interior vinyl or chrome.
Clean the windows and mirrors with window cleaner
Clean the engine. When a buyer looks at a car, having a clean engine really impresses. You wouldn't buy a vehicle with grunge under the hood – why would anyone else?

While doing this level of cleaning will cost you a few dollars in products and chamois, the end result witll be a car that is shiny and attractive – thus easier to sell.

As you can see, prepping a vehicle for sale isn't that difficult or time consuming, but taking those few hours will make all the difference. Buyers will have faith in you, and in your car, and you will get the best possible price in the shortest amount of time.