Prior to putting your car up for sale, know and understand the market. Know when, where and how to sell your secondhand car. Regardless of whether you are selling your vehicle privately or handing it to a car dealership, do your research on the market trends and demands in the used car market, and current resale price for your type of car. Such information may help you to come up with a competitive and effective asking price within the fair market value.
You may want to have your used car checked by a professional mechanic before taking it to the dealership or listing it for sale. By doing so, car issues and flaws that might otherwise significantly reduce its resale value can be fixed. Even minor issues such as dents, scratches, and chipped windows could lessen your car’s value and turn the buyer off.
With just a little bit of elbow grease and minimal cost, inexpensive repairs can have a considerable difference on a car’s perceived value. Likewise, make sure that essentials such as the tires, electrics, engine oil, coolant, brake fluid levels, and everything under the hood are also checked.
Doing major repairs for older vehicles, however, may no longer be worthwhile. Instead, you may be better off reducing its price and disclose any issues that need addressing in the vehicle description.
While the buyer’s primary concern is how well and smooth the vehicle runs, its interior and exterior appearance could surely make or break the deal. You want to make sure that potential buyers will see your vehicle at its best. It might be worth investing in a professional car detailing, but if you opt to deep clean it yourself, clean it thoroughly inside and out--from the door jambs to tires, wheels, crevices between the seats, engine bay, and boot lids, mat, and seals.
Declutter and remove all the junk and personal possessions from the glove compartment, under the seats and the trunk. Vacuum the interior including the carpets and upholstery, remove any visible stains and leave the glass and other interior surface clean and spotless.
It may take an extra effort but making your car look as mint as possible will help you get the maximum price possible.