Vehicle Preparation
Put yourself in the position of the buyer. Would you buy a car that was grubby on the outside and smelt of fags on the inside? Probably not.
Would you buy a car that looked as though it had been deliberately ‘tarted up' for sale? You know, everything ultra shiny inside and paintwork that looks too new for the age of the car? Chances are it would make you suspicious that something was being hidden.
So, particularly if you are selling privately, good preparation for sale is absolutely vital to get the best price as quickly as possible.
Here’s how to get it just right.
- Before showing the car to anyone, give it a thorough wash and polish. Make sure you clean in all the little corners. Sparkling windows make a huge difference to any car’s appearance and don’t forget to clean the window rubber surrounds and tyres.
- Scrub the seats if necessary and vacuum thoroughly. Make sure ashtrays and glove pockets are clean and fresh. Don’t forget to remove any personal bits and pieces - not everyone likes fluffy dice!
- Avoid using silicone ‘as new’ sprays and cleaners. These give the appearance you may be trying to hide something. Buyers will expect wear and tear to match the age of the car.
- Make sure you keep it clean. Buyers often appear at short notice - keeping the car clean will avoid any panics or getting caught out with a dirty car.
- First impressions mean a lot when making a sale. If the buyer falls in love with the car as soon as he/she sees it, they will look for reasons to buy it rather than reasons not to buy. So repair any little dinks or stone chips. If the alloys are the worse for age, consider paying to have them professionally restored - it can make a big difference to that first impression.
- Cars over three years old require an MOT certificate. If yours has less than four months to run, get a new one. It’s worth the investment and puts the buyer’s mind at rest.
- When you know a buyer is coming to view, position the car so the first view they get will be the side or front. This is invariably more attractive than the back. Again, good first impression.
- Make sure you have all the paperwork to hand. Have as much service history as possible.
