“Preparing” a used car for sale is the process of getting it ready to be placed on the market and sold. Similar to the way you would prepare your car for a road trip (check the fluids, tire pressures, and wash the windows), there is a proper way to prepare your used car to be sold.
Follow these simple guidelines, and your used car:
- Will be easier to advertise
- Will sell more quickly
- Will have an smoother sales transaction
- Will command a higher resale value
The benefits are many, and the drawbacks (just a couple hours of time) are few. In fact, properly preparing a vehicle for sale is really quite simple.
Think Like a Buyer
Put yourself in the buyer's position. There are three things you look for in a used car:
- A car that has been cared for
- A car that is well maintained
- A car that has been serviced at regular intervals.
The best way to make the impression that you have met these requirements to the prospective buyer is to present a clean vehicle with the original keys, owner’s manuals, and complete maintenance and service documentation.
We will outline a several step process that includes collecting the keys, owner's manual, maintenance, and service records. Lastly, we discuss the points on washing and detailing the used car.
