Click to enlarge picture
When selling your car to a private party, make it look presentable to maximize the return on your investment.
When you decide to sell your car, whether you sell it to a private party or trade it in to a dealer, you want to maximize the dollars that you put in your pocket. MSN Autos spoke with Charlie Vogelheim when he was editor of Kelley Blue Book, for some tips on preparing your car for sale.
Make It Presentable
"The most important thing is to clean the car inside and out," Vogelheim told MSN Autos. "If the car is older, a good wash and wax on the exterior and vacuum of the interior is probably enough. The extent of the detail will vary depending on the age of the car."
And if the car is nearly new, you may want to take it to a professional detailer and have them clean the interior, exterior and engine.
Vogelheim suggested taking the car to a full-service car wash as an alternative to a full detail. Have the car wash perform some of the extra services available, such as vacuuming, wiping the interior and dressing the trim, and the car should come out looking good.
A clean, shiny car gives the impression that you care about the car and have maintained it in good condition. On the other hand, a dirty car full of fast-food wrappers does exactly the opposite, and may unfairly devalue your car in the eyes of potential new owners.
"The better the car looks and the more broad of an appeal the car has, even if you don't get more money for it, you will probably sell it quicker," Vogelheim added.
Fix Obvious Damage
"You should fix any broken items that are easy to replace, such as lenses and headlights," Vogelheim told MSN Autos. "You don't want to give a buyer a reason to not buy your car."
"The difficulty with repairing body damage is that the greater the amount of damage, the less return on your investment you will get when you sell the car," added Vogelheim. But you don't want the damage to prevent you from selling the car.
"Another problem is inconsistent repair quality," Vogelheim cautioned. "And after the repair is completed, there will always be the question of how much damage there really was before the repair was made."
The best idea may be to get a written estimate of the cost to repair the damage and use it as a negotiating tool, advised Vogelheim.
Paintless Dent Repair and Airbrush Touch-Up
Paintless dent repair can be a good alternative to traditional body shop repairs for small dents and dings. Technicians use special tools to massage the dented metal back to its original position without painting the vehicle—and the work can usually be done in a few hours.
"And if you have multiple dents to repair, you can negotiate a deal to repair several dents at the same time for less than it would cost to repair each of the dents individually," Vogelheim suggested.
Airbrush touch-up of small scratches and chips is also a good idea because it is cosmetic and it makes the car look better. The repairs are done quickly and many companies will do the work on-site for you.
Windshield and Tires
"If the windshield is cracked, you may need to replace it, depending on the location of the crack and how large it is," explained Vogelheim. Buyers may balk at a six-inch crack near the driver's line of sight. Talk to the experts at a windshield repair shop about whether a particular crack can be economically repaired.
"For the most part, a dealership will have to do a lot more work to a car before reselling it, because they are liable for the car for some period of time," stated Vogelheim. "So the dealer will deduct the cost of any repairs that will have to be made from the amount they will pay for your car."
Vogelheim noted the car should have tires that have some tread life left on them. "Tires must be the proper size and match for the vehicle. If you are trading the vehicle in to a dealer, the tires should be fairly new to avoid a deduction when the car is appraised."
Remember the Service Records
"Try to have all records complete and neatly arranged for your prospective buyer," suggested Vogelheim. "This will instill confidence that the car has been well cared for."
If the car has been serviced at a dealer, the service records will be stored on a computer. Ask the dealer for a copy of the service history for your car.
Other Considerations
Be objective about the condition of your car, and be honest with prospective buyers about any serious problems or repairs the new owner will have to assume.
Sell your car "as is." You are not a dealer and you are not required to provide any type of warranty on the car. But be careful that you don't intentionally misrepresent the vehicle's condition, or the buyer may have some recourse.
Include a statement in your bill of sale that the car is sold "as is," and keep a copy of the bill of sale for your records. The bill of sale will establish the date of sale and help protect you from any further liability.
Finally, ask for payment by cashier's check or money order to avoid the hassles that can result from a personal check or a cash transaction.
In the market for a new car? MSN Autos is pleased to provide you with information and services designed to save you time, money and hassle. Click to research prices and specifications on any new car on the market or click to get a free price quote through MSN Autos' New-Car Buying Service.