Top tips when selling your car

If you are planning on selling your car these tried and true tips from the experts will make sure you put more money in your pocket.

There are some simple things you can do to maximise the sale price of your car. Picture: Thomas Wielecki

Used car prices are going through the roof and if you sell your car privately it can put even more money in your pocket as opposed to trading it in. But before you list your vehicle there are several things you should do to draw in more buyers and maximise your sale price.

Here’s what the experts say:

PRESENTATION IS KEY

If your car is fairly new, has been well maintained and in decent nick then a simple wash and vacuum may suffice. The majority of cars could do with a full detail inside and out, though.

These days a professional mobile car detailer will come to you.

Jim Mantzi from Jim’s Car Detailing in Panania says his service costs somewhere between $350-$500 depending on the size of the vehicle.

Jim Mantzi says presentation is key and you want your car looking its best.

This will get you a wash and polish and a vacuum and shampoo of the seats and full clean of all the surfaces inside and out. Hard plastics on doors and steering wheels have needed special attention recently according to Mantzi as hand sanitiser can discolour or leave marks on the area.

“The service is called a presale detail. It’s all about getting the car nice and tidy and making it look its best, similar to when you’re selling a home,” Mantzi says.

“It’s all about presentation and customers I’ve spoken to have generally sold their car within three days after getting it detailed and the buyers don’t haggle,” he says.

“Customers say they have listed their vehicle for $3000-$4000 more than they would have after the service and have had no trouble selling it.”

AIR IT OUT

Sellers should pay special attention to the interior of their vehicle. A mechanic we spoke to says if the areas you can see are unloved then there is a good chance what’s under the bonnet is in worse shape.

A stinky car is a big no-no according to detailer Mantzi.

If your car has a musty, mouldy smell – especially after all the rain on the east coast – that’ll turn buyers off quick smart.

If your car smells of smoke that’ll lower your sale price dramatically. Mantzi suggests a clean with an ozone machine that’ll get rid of both smells in as little as half an hour.

Smartphones take excellent photos.

TAKE A GOOD PICTURE

If you want to make a good first impression then a great set of photos is the way to go.

Mark Kehoe, managing director of Gumtree Australia, says to take as many photos as possible.

“Using your phone, make sure your photos are free of reflections and are captured in an open and clear location like a carpark or boating ramp,” he says.

“For a better result, always take photos in natural lighting and turn off the flash on your camera.”

Professional car photographers recommend to shoot your car in the morning or afternoon for the best result. Shooting in bright sun can wash out the car and create dark shadows.

Also post lots of images including of any damage to the car, as it is best that any potential buyer knows before they arrive to look at the car.

MAKE YOUR AD STANDOUT

Kehoe says Gumtree Cars has more than 150,000 potential buyers visiting its car listings daily, so spotlighting your vehicle’s key features is crucial to attracting early interest.

“Mentioning add-ons such as extended warranty, a safety package or sunroof are also good to specify, to help demonstrate the overall value of the vehicle,” Kehoe says.

Mark Kehoe, Gumtree Australia, managing director.

If you’ve just kitted your car out with new tyres in the past year, then make that a selling point, especially if they are from a name brand.

A new set of rubber costs about $600 so it might not be worth replacing your car’s tyres, but if they are near the end of their life it can help boost the sale price if you do.

AT YOUR SERVICE

Make sure you tell everyone about your fully stamped service log book.

This will show potential buyers it’s been looked after and they are less likely to have any major issues soon after purchase.

“It’s important to detail as much as you can about the car when listing,” Kehoe says. “Consider including why you are selling, the vehicle’s service history and any repairs or modifications made.”

Originally published as Top tips when selling your car