While your car will serve you well during your time owning it, the time will likely come where you seek to sell it and move onto a different model. When this time comes, it is a good idea to do all that you can to boost its value in the eyes of prospective owners to maximise the return you receive on the asset. In some cases, it is just the surprisingly little things which can make such a big difference, Here are some tips to help you make as much as you can when reselling a car.
- Start Proactively
You would be forgiven for not thinking about reselling a brand new car the minute you buy it, but it is a good idea to take steps at this point to ensure your car’s value is protected. A great way to preserve the finish of your vehicle’s interior is to invest in a set of car mats immediately. These will provide an added layer of protection to its floors that can be invaluable when it comes to reselling.
If your car looks like it has been through the wars when you go to sell it, you can expect to receive lowball offers from buyers. Car mats will protect from spillages and dirt, preserving the factory fitted mats below. Mr Car Mats offers a range of car mats made from premium materials that can help maintain your car’s factory finish.
- A Deep Clean is Essential
Much like you might do a deep clean before selling a house, cleaning your car is a surefire way to make it more desirable for prospective buyers. When selling a car, first impressions matter a lot, and an excellent way to ensure that you get off on the right foot is to have a pristine looking product.
Often, when someone is buying your car (especially if it’s a car dealer), it is much easier for them to picture the vehicle as a valuable asset. It is, therefore, a good idea to pay for a professional valet service before attempting to sell your car. According to experts, spending this money will not be in vain, as you can easily make back two to three times the cost of the service when selling the car.
- Repair Any External Damage
If you have owned a car for some time, then it will more than likely have some superficial damage to the exterior. While this may not affect your driving experience or how you value the car, the same cannot be said for a prospective buyer.
If someone is looking to purchase your vehicle but notices some dents or scratches, they will immediately begin mentally pricing how much it will cost to repair. They will inevitably deduct this estimation from the amount they would be willing to part with for the car. While it might not make financial sense to spend money repairing a vehicle, you will sell for £2,000; if you are looking for something in the realm of £8,000, paying for repairs is well worth the price.
- Service Before Selling
Anyone in the market for a used car will keep their eyes peeled for recently serviced vehicles. A recent service and MOT removes a lot of uncertainty for prospective buyers. For a buyer, having to service a car after buying it can cause anxiety before the purchase. For example, there could be a plethora of issues with the vehicle they didn’t notice on the first inspection that will cost a lot to fix.
You can prevent this anxiety by ensuring that your car has recently been serviced before selling. This will make buyers more willing to spend the money you are looking for.
- Keep the Paperwork Safe
People looking to purchase a used car will often look for any opportunity to knock a bit of money off the price tag. Therefore, when selling a car, it is a good idea not to give them any reason to present a low offer.
Anyone serious about buying the car will want records showing how the vehicle has been treated during its life. By keeping hold of the car’s service book and ensuring that it is filled in thoroughly after being serviced, you will have a record showing that you have done everything you can to look after it. It is also a good idea to keep hold of any invoices for work that you have done on the car, proving that you have cared for it.
Follow These Tips to Maximise Your Return
Selling your car can be an arduous task, but diligently maintaining the vehicle and putting some effort into cleaning it up before sale can greatly increase its value. When selling a car, it is critical not to give the buyer any reason to knock money off the asking price, so consider the steps in this guide carefully before accepting any offers.
