Dealers take real time to polish up a used car so it looks as showroom-fresh as possible. Take a cue from them and increase your chances of getting the asking price on your used car.
Photo by area57.
MSN Money put together a list of six ways you can get more money for your used car. Key among them is thinking like a dealer—as shower-inducing as that sounds—and getting your car as clean and shiny as possible:
Dealers have a few tricks up their sleeves. They know that even a clunker can look like a cream puff when it's cleaned up.
A detailing that includes vacuuming the interior, cleaning the seats, and washing and waxing the exterior will run about $50. Shining up older tires is cheap — $5 to $10 — and helps increase curb appeal. Dealers also steam clean the engine, polish chrome surfaces and even use Armor All on the plastic tubing, says Phil Reed of Edmunds.com. That can give buyers a sense of confidence in the care of your car when they look under the hood.
Besides the spit and polish, make sure your vehicle is clear of all your stuff. Look in the compact-disc player, seat-back pockets, under seats and in the trunk. Verify that the spare tire is there (if it comes with one) and that all jacks and tools are accounted for.
It seems like having a spotless maintenance record would be more important than a spotless driver seat, but purchasers like to feel like their getting a "new" car, even when they're shopping for a used one. Check out the full article for more tips. What put your own used car over the top for a buyer? Share your trade secret in the comments.
Send an email to Jason Fitzpatrick, the author of this post, at jason@lifehacker.com.
