When we’ve got a new car, the last thing we tend to think about is what happens when we sell it. However, if you want to keep the maximum amount of value in your car and get the best price when you do come to sell it, then you need to make sure you’re taking care of it from day one.
If you take care of these basic steps, then it will help to keep your car in good condition and make sure you get a good price for it when you do come to sell.
Keep it Clean
Perhaps the easiest way to keep value in your car is by showing it some love. You don’t need to be out cleaning it every day, but if you let it get out of control, then it will show through tired paintwork and a scruffy interior.
When someone’s buying something as valuable as a car, they want it to look relatively shiny and like it’s been well-cared for, and if you consistently look after your car and keep it clean, then you’re taking the first step.
You can wash it by hand, take it to a car wash, get someone else to clean it, the choice is yours, but it will save you money in the long run.
A simple, clean will get you a long way!
Drive Sensibly
Sometimes you can’t avoid the odd alloy scrape or the fact that someone scratched your paint in the parking lot, but you can reduce the likelihood of it happening.
If you’re careful with how you drive, where you park, and who you let drive your car, then you’ll find your much less likely to pick up the wear and tear that can bring the value of your car down.
It’s costs money to get things like your alloys done up, so it pays to be that little bit more careful. When you come to sell your car, you will be thankful you took a couple of extra seconds to find a safe parking spot or mind the curb when you were pulling over.
Fix Dents
If the people buying your car are expecting an excellent shiny paint job, then they’re certainly expecting it to be dent free.
Dents and small chips happen, but the important thing is that you fix them straight away. Most dents can be fixed using an advanced technique, paintless dent repair. It’s called paintless because the method repairs dents without painting, sanding, or filling, to maintain your car’s factory paint warranty.
If you live somewhere with changeable severe weather like hailstorms in Colorado, then you might want to find hail and dent repair best in Denver.
It’s always tempting to put these things off, but the sooner you get it fixed, the less of a problem it will be.
Regular Services
Part of keeping your car in good condition is getting it regularly serviced. Things do go wrong with vehicles from time to time, and it’s best to be proactive and protect against them.
Make sure you’re using approved service providers and do your research to find the best place to do it. You don’t want someone who is just going to pay your bill, you want someone who is going to help keep your car in tip-top condition, so check the reviews and find someone you’re comfortable with.
Getting your car serviced might cost you some money in the short term, but it will come back to you through increased value when you come to sell your car.
Take Care of Your Paperwork
The history of your car plays a big part in the value people are willing to pay for it, so you must keep your paperwork safe.
If you lose vital documents, then it can be a costly exercise getting them replaced, so make sure you put everything in a safe place. Keep documents such as information about services and repairs, and generally make sure you’re keeping a paper trail.
It might seem like a small detail, but it’s worth paying attention to as it can save you money when you come to sell your car.
Do Your Own Checks
As well as getting your car checked out by a professional from time to time, there are also checks you can do on your own to make sure you’re keeping your car in tip-top condition.
DIY checks such as making sure you’ve got enough tread left on your tires and checking oil levels help ensure you’re not damaging your car while you’re driving it or risking anyone’s safety.
These checks only take a few minutes to carry out, and in extreme cases, can be the difference between ending up in an accident or just avoiding one. If you smash your car up in a crash, then it’s likely to have an impact on its sell on value no matter how good the repair work is, so small things like carrying out safety checks can make a difference.
Secure Overnight Parking
Another great thing you can do to keep value in your car is to keep it in a garage overnight. Lots of people use their garage for storage and relegate their cars to the street, but this can lead to your car losing value.
Cars are built to last, but things like acid rain can affect the paint jobs, and if you’re leaving your car out in the elements, then it will show. When you keep your car in a garage, you not only increase its security, but it also makes it much easier to keep it in good condition.
Your car is one of the most valuable items you own, so if you have a garage, use it for your car!
Search for the Best Deal
When we come to buy a new car, we’re generally eager to close the deal, and we rush the sale of our old car without really holding out for maximum value.
If you’re serious about realizing your car’s full value, though, it’s worth taking the time to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Do your research on your car’s value and explore different ways of selling it.
You might find you get a much better offer than if you simply part exchange it.
0
0