More tips for selling your car
For some of us with our favorite car, the time has come to part with a vehicle that no longer suites our lifestyle.
Most people looking for a car have opted for move fuel efficient cars or smaller vehicles all together, but the economy has made the used car market the hottest thing since sliced bread. Many car owners, especially those who own more than one vehicle, have found a way to inject money into their budget from used car sales.
For those of us with vehicles that are incompatible with our lifestyle, the sell is inevitable. So here are a few quick tips to help your old car retain market price.
TIP #1
Don’t forget that cars have cycles which coincide with the seasons. Selling your drop-top sports car works best in the summer as buyers will look for a discount in the winter. If you have an off-road truck, always make sure that the drive-train mechanism (of the four-wheel-drive system) is maintained and serviced once a year or at least once every 10, 000 miles. Keep off-road tires on your truck and make sure that any vanity additions match the personality of the car.
Stickers, advertisements, or any other personalization should be removed from the car. Outward professions of your opposition to the war may turn off the potential buyer, whose child has just been deployed. If you are selling the minivan, make sure the features that make the vehicle appealing are functional, such as a properly sliding side door, the child-proof door locks, and the driver-side power controls.
Tip #2
Regularly scheduled maintenance is paramount. The reason it is not number one is that it should be obvious. Always keep service records, or a soon as it is known the car will be sold, keep all service records.
But the simplest economic tips are changing fluids. You can change your car's oil yourself, provided that you have read the owners manual and are familiar with the process. You can have the mechanic at a local dealer show you when you have your vehicle serviced. But most vehicle owners forget to change the braking fluid. The petroleum based substance gets black and murky and can compromise braking performance.
Air filters cost less than $10 for most V-6 models and less than $25 for larger vehicles. This cheap, simple and highly important car part can be changed easily by most car owners. There are few vehicles that require a large amount of labor for air filter replacement. Yet changing the air filter helps improve fuel economy, boost air flow intake amplifying engine performance and reducing engine waste.
Tip #3
Keep you car relevant. New technologies are available daily. From the outrageous 16’ inch plasma or the nitrous (illegal in some states) racing system; to the zebra seat covers. Some aren’t aware that a little $10 knick-knack can add 100s of dollars come sell time. Image is everything.
If you have an expensive upgrade to your car, keep the receipt; if not, stay in contact with the technician of the auto shop where your upgrades were done. If all comes to worst, find a mechanic who can work on your car for the next owner; this gives the car’s history credibility.
Not everyone enjoys an ear-shattering, earth-splitting sound system, but all enjoy good sound. Good door speakers can be bought at the local pawn shop and even larger chains have car speakers available for less than $30 a set.
Tip #4
Keep your car clean. This can be done at home, and if you are charged for your water, there is a multitude of car cleaning kits, fluids, towels, and options available. By keeping your car’s exterior clean, you are helping to prevent rust. Waxing repels surface scratches and UV-ray damage.
Also, the exterior is the first thing that the potential buyer sees. Eager, desperate, or picky buyers sometimes base their purchase entirely on aesthetic appearance. A shiny car can generate more money for the seller and confidence in a buyer.
At less than $15, sun-reflecting windshield sets are great to protect your personal items and the cars interior. A faded interior can cost you $100, especially if you have the unfortunate experience of selling your vehicle to a dealer. Floor mats are cheap and vanity mats are a nice way to add character to a car.
Vacuum or sweep your car regularly. Buildup along paneling and excessive particle buildup makes a car look junky. Sometimes, these areas of buildup catch food particles or other bacteria and begin to smell. Some gas stations offer cheap car washes with tank fill-ups, or you can do it at home.
Tip #5
Make sure all upgrades are done with factory parts. Fabricated parts are an easy way to raise insurance premiums when it comes to upgrades. Original parts can retain the car's price and in some instances, increase the value.
The owners manual should be included or a reprint from a local auto-parts dealer. Upgrading your car may work for private buyers, but dealer ships largely frown upon most modern upgrading techniques that compromise the body integrity with 24 inch wheels and re-route important wires for electronic additions. Try to keep it simple; insure the buyer can restore the factory settings. Note all non-factory adjustments.
These are simple tips and the list goes on. But when followed, these tips can be the difference in 100s of dollars.
—Javier Johnson
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