A new CNN report advises car owners that some simple, inexpensive cosmetic fixes can add up to $2000 more to the sale of your used car. The reasons all these small fixes make such a difference: buyers perceive small
things like dirty carpets, dented doors, and more to be signals of owner neglect. That is, these cosmetic problems signify that the owner didn’t maintain the car mechanically or was an abusive and aggressive driver.
A summary of CNN’s 8 suggestions:
- Maintain your paint quality. Regular car washing (once a week) and paint waxing (once a season) are enough to keep your Oregon paint job looking good.
- Keep your headlights lenses clear. Regular car washing is enough to maintain new lenses. Older lenses can be restored at our body and paint shop in Tigard.
- Keep wheels clean. Regular washing prevents hardened brake dust, but if your wheels have become stained to a degree that you can’t clean them yourself, we can clean 98% of wheels to like-new with industrial strength acid cleaners at our Beaverton detail shop. And if you scuff/scrape your wheels, we can fill and repaint them at our Tigard location.
- Don’t neglect the interior. This is about regular vacuming and removal of litter. A yearly deep cleaning and shampoo should fix the bigger stains you can’t remove yourself.
- Have receipts ready. No one believes you got your timing belt changed at 100,000 without a receipt. Have a receipt ready for every claim you make in your for-sale ad.
- Lightbulbs. Inside and outside, ALWAYS sell a car with every light checked and verified.
- Pay for pro detailing. There’s issues–odor, pet hair, “kids’ messes”–that only pros can fix with their equipment and chemicals. You’re best off handing over these jobs to a shop.
- Fix those dents. Dents that have no paint damage can be fixed cheaply by paintless dent technicians. Another service we offer at our Tigard shop.