A brief guide to selling your car quickly

Generally, spring is a good time to sell a car. As winter winds down, highways, byways and country lanes beckon. The result? A spike in car sales! But this doesn’t mean that propping up a “for sale” sign in your window will suffice. To the contrary, you can count on facing a fair bit of competition, making it essential that you present your car in the best possible light. If you wish to lay the groundwork for a speedy sale, you’ll definitely need to give your vehicle a bit of TLC.

A clean and fresh interior
Dirt, stains, odors and general untidiness detract considerable value from your car and can put off potential buyers. Even an hour or two of cleaning goes a long way. Tidying the interior involves vacuuming, washing the windows and dusting and wiping all the surfaces. It’s also recommended that you apply cleaning products to the carpets, followed by an odor eliminator. A fresh smelling car will sell quicker.

In addition, consider using a scented disinfecting product on the seats. For leather seats, a leather-cleaner is recommended. And be sure to wash those normally out-of-sight areas: clean the trunk as well as the engine. However, you should only clean the engine yourself if you have the know-how and the proper products. Otherwise, entrust engine cleaning to a professional.

A shiny exterior
Needless to say, the exterior should sparkle and a top-grade car wash is the first priority. Also, consider applying wax—spring happens to be the perfect time to do so and spray-on waxes can do the job in about 15 minutes.

Once the inside and outside are spick and span, perform a detailed inspection of your car, putting yourself in the buyer’s shoes. See if there are scratches that can be touched up or rust that might be worth getting removed. However, you shouldn’t go so far as to get your car repainted. Given the price of paint jobs, you’re unlikely to get a good return on your investment.

Good pictures
After thoroughly cleaning your car, it’ll be photo-ready. It’s worth pointing out that taking quality pictures is essential to speedily selling your car, especially if you’re going to have an online ad. It’s best to post clear photos taken from a variety of angles and to also include shots of the interior.

Documents for the buyer
If your car is in good shape, ask your mechanic for a signed inspection report. This will serve as solid reassurance for potential buyers. Moreover, hold on to your receipts to show that you’ve properly maintained your car and made essential repairs.

By taking these steps prior to putting your car on the market, you’re sure to increase your chances of making a speedy and satisfactory sale.