How to get your car ready to sell

When getting your car ready to sell, there are certain things you can do ahead of time to make sure your car is in the best state to attract buyers.

Wash the exterior: The first thing potential buyers will see is the outside of your car. Like homes need curb appeal, your car needs a good wash before it’s seen by potential buyers.

Clean the inside: If you skimp on getting your car detailed throughout the year, don’t skimp when you’re ready to sell. Make sure the interior of your car is clean, the floors are vacuumed and all of the windows and mirrors are washed. During this process, take all of the garbage and other items out of your car – including the trunk.

Check under the hood: Potential buyers will want to look under the car’s hood to see the engine. Before you’re caught off guard, take a look yourself and have the extra grease and oil cleaned up.

Fix it up: If anything on your car isn’t functioning the way it should be, make sure you repair it before you sell it. If you don’t want to make the repairs, make sure buyers know of the issues and knock the price down to account for the needed maintenance. Also check all of the car’s fluids and make sure they are topped off.

Know what it’s worth: Before listing your car for sale, make sure you know what the going asking price is for the model of your car. Keep in mind you’ll need to account for the mileage and the overall state of your car.