When it comes time to sell your car, your top priority is usually getting the greatest amount of money you can from the sale. However, because you might not have been in this frame of mind since you got your car, you may not have prepared well for making a lot of money off the sale. Luckily, there are a few things you can easily do now that will help improve the amount of money you’re able to make off of selling your car. To show you how, here are three ways you can sell your car for more of a profit.
Make It Sparkle And Shine
Even if you didn’t clean your car regularly before you planned on selling it, you should now make it a habit to get your car cleaned inside and out more often. According to Melanie Pinola, a contributor to LifeHacker.com, this cleaning should include things like getting it detailed, replacing the floor mats if they’ve been well used, and taking any modifications you’ve done back to the factory settings. If you can show potential buyers a sparkling, shining car, you have a much better chance of being able to ask for a higher price and actually getting it.
Get Obvious Problems Fixed
If there are some simple yet obvious issues with your car that you just haven’t taken care of yet, now is the time to do so. Things like a check engine light or a cracked windshield are all things that don’t necessarily make your car dangerous to drive, but they are all things that can take a dent out of your ability to make a larger profit off the sale of your car. But if there are things that you just can’t get fixed before selling the car, Stacy Johnson, a contributor to MoneyTalksNews.com, suggests that you come up with an honest way to discuss these issues with potential buyers so they don’t ruin the sale for you.
Break Out Those Old Receipts
Buyers often like to see and hear about how you maintained the car well while you were its owner. However, it’s often hard to just take someone’s word for it. Knowing this, Consumer Reports recommends that you try to find all the old receipts you got for any work done on your car. By having these on hand, you’ll be able to prove that certain work was done and that your car was well maintained throughout the lifetime of your ownership. If you can’t find these receipts, try to at least create a timeline of when big projects were done on your car, like replacing the timing belt or getting brand new tires.
If you’re hoping to sell your car for a nice return, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.