Selling your car can seem like a daunting step, especially for those who have not done so before. However, getting the most out of your car sale need not be such a confusing or harrowing experience if you know how to navigate the needs and expectations of the buyer.
In this quick guide, we’ll show you a few steps you can take to make your car more enticing to its new prospective owner by maximising its perceived value. It’s essentially putting your car’s best foot forward to make the best possible first impression.
Gather All Documents
This should actually be considered Step 0 as a responsible car owner should have easy access to all pertinent documents relating to the vehicle. The most important is the registration grant, first of all, but this will also relate to any purchase receipts obtained during the original purchase.
This could be from the dealership, bank, JPJ, PUSPAKOM, and the like. There will also likely be some extra matters to settle if your car still has an outstanding loan. However, before dealing with that, it’s important to have all the important documents and information in order to plan your sale and present the right information to buyers.
Make Sure Everything Is Working And Running Well
It’s useful to take the perspective of a buyer and experience your car with fresh (and critical eyes). Anything out of the ordinary or mildly worrying could be a red flag – that odd noise coming from the engine bay, the creak coming from the passenger side door.
It’s also a very good idea to send your car in for a full service to ensure that the car is running on a full set of fresh fluids. On a test drive, buyers will be looking out for a smooth engine, poised suspension, fully functioning electronics, and other potential signs of obvious wear such as worn tyres and interior trim.
Get Your Car Detailed
Supposing your car is free from rust and obvious body damage, showing it off in gleaming condition is the surest way to wow buyers, indicating it’s a well-maintained and cared-for example. Whether you have a Proton Saga or a Toyota Corolla, this will legitimately boost its market value.
A professional detailer will be able to advise you on how much work needs to be done in terms of polishing in order to restore the car to its showroom level of gloss and vibrancy as neglect and general wear can dull the paintwork.
An interior detail is also recommended to, again, restore its condition as close to factory fresh as possible. Not only that, but a full detailing treatment will also include cleaning and some restorative treatment to the wheels, engine bay, and undercarriage, depending on how much you are willing to pay.
Delete Personal Information
For newer cars, particularly ones with in-built navigation and fancy touchscreen infotainment systems, privacy can become a serious concern as they will invariably accumulate personal information.
From map locations that might display our home or work address (or that of our loved ones), phone numbers, mobile device identifiers, music preferences, and applications, to digital content and subscription details – our cars have become a goldmine to be compromised.
Though the process varies by make and model, every car should have a reset function that will automatically delete these kinds of personal information, so do your research or consult your owner’s manual for the proper procedure.
Want to skip the headache? Sell Your Car With CARSOME
CARSOME’s mission is to help everyday car buyers and sellers like yourself by taking the headache and guesswork out of your hands, replacing it with ease and transparency from end to end.
To get started, just book an appointment slot for a FREE inspection at any of their nationwide locations. Your car will then be attended to by a skilled member of their inspection staff, who will conduct a 175-point check before presenting you with an offer.
If you are satisfied with the offer, you can sell your car directly to CARSOME or opt for live bidding. Either way, CARSOME takes care of all the paperwork hassle and other busywork so that you don’t have to. Even better, you’ll enjoy fast payment and can even get paid the full agreed value for your car in as little as 1 hour!
Keyword: Ready To Sell Your Car? Here Are Some Tips To Make It A Buttery Smooth Process