Pre-sale preparation
Make
your car sparkle
First, give your car a thorough clean. Looks aren’t everything,
but a good-looking car will appear well cared-for and be easier to
sell. If you don’t mind spending some extra cash, a professional
detail will ensure your car is gleaming without you having to lift
a finger.
If you’re happy to do the grunt work yourself, pay attention to
the following areas:
- vacuum the interior
- shampoo the carpet and upholstery
- wipe dust from surfaces with a damp cloth
- shampoo and polish the exterior
- clean the windows
- blacken the tyres
- clean under the bonnet – wipe any radiator or oil spills with a
damp cloth. A commercial degreaser (from any automotive shop) will
help if there’s lots of mess to contend with.
Repairs
Before showing the car to prospective buyers, you should take
care of any basic mechanical repairs. Also, fix or replace any
lights or fuses that don’t work, as well as bald tyres, broken
stereo, torn upholstery or a cracked windscreen.
Before undertaking major repairs, consider the value of the car
to determine whether it’s worth your while – you might be better
off selling it as is at a cheaper price.
