From purchasing fuel and insurance to cleaning and maintenance, it is easy to see the challenges of owning a vehicle. Of course, the actual purchase of your car was most likely also an overwhelming expense that you will want to see a return on in the future. Unfortunately, upholding a vehicle's value can be difficult due to the amount of wear and tear your car sees over the course of ownership. When it comes time to sell your vehicle, you can make it more appealing to buyers. With these simple solutions, you can increase the value of your car when it is time to sell.

Detail Completely

A vehicle's make and model, year, and mileage plays a large role in its overall value. However, most buyers will decide to buy a vehicle within the first initial seconds of seeing it. Similar to a home, your car's "curb appeal" plays an important role in its value and if a person finds it attractive enough to buy. Thankfully, a complete detail can improve your car's curb appeal drastically.

A complete detail should include a wash and wax of the car's exterior. Tires should be scrubbed thoroughly and rims should be cleaned and shined.

During the detail, be sure the interior is also cleaned. Dirt, crumbs, and dust should be vacuumed from the floors and seats. All interior leather and vinyl surfaces should be wiped down. Increase the shine and appeal by applying a vinyl or leather protectant solution to these surfaces, as well.

Use a glass cleaner or one part water/one part vinegar solution to clean the windshield, windows, and mirrors. For a streak-free shine, scrub the glass surfaces with balled-up newspapers.

If you have any stains on the carpet or seats, consider having the surfaces shampooed. Also, if you smoke or have pets that ride in the car, you may have odors that buyers will find unappealing. Deodorizing smoke or pet odors is possible by sprinkling baking soda onto carpeted and upholstered areas. Allow the baking soda to sit for a few minutes before vacuuming the surfaces.

Restore Damage

During the complete detail of your car, you should take note of any damage to the vehicle. Even the smallest areas of faded paint or dents and dings in the body can decrease the value of your car. Restoring this damage before listing your car for sale is wise. Someone looking to buy a used car is likely going to be very carefully checking all areas of your car, so make sure they don't find anything that will prevent them from buying it.

If the paint is in good condition, an application of wax should be sufficient for enhancement. However, if the paint is dull and faded, apply a wax that not only polishes, but also protects. For numerous scratches in the paint, consider having the damage buffed out by a professional. Touch up small scratches and dents using touch-up paint. Be sure to purchase the paint from your local dealership to ensure the paint color matches perfectly.

Even if they are small, dings and dents in the car's body are big concerns for buyers. Repairing this minor damage may be costly, but is will be a smart investment if you want to sell your vehicle in a shorter time and at a higher price. Contact a body shop like Select Collision Group to get an estimate for the repairs.

Gather Maintenance Records

Many potential buyers will not ask to see maintenance records, but having this proof on hand will make your car more attractive.

Gather receipts and records of any services you have completed on your car. If you have completed the work yourself, you may have receipts on hand or have a book that you recorded the dates/mileage of these important services. If all maintenance has been completed by a dealership or auto specialist, contact the company to have the records printed out for you to give potential buyers.

Selling your car can be a success with some effort. Using this guide, you can improve the appeal and value of your car. 

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