All dressed up and ready to show

Whether you have a big date tomorrow night, or an important meeting next week, you make sure that you get all dressed up and are perfectly groomed in every way..right? Your car needs to be prepared the same way when its going to meet a new prospective owner. While your car is probably perfectly fine for everyday use, a quick private party sale requires that it is even better when meeting with potential buyers. No second chances to make first impressions here. Even before you meet buyers, your car should be in top shape for your pictures and videos.

First you need to decide how to deal with any mechanical or cosmetic issues it may have. You can sell it as is but that may be a tougher sell and you may have buyers coming back to complain after the sale. Your best bet is to address these issues with a mechanic. That way you can either have it fixed or atleast adjust your selling price based on the repair estimate.

Once you address any functional issues, you need to clean it up and make it look as new as possible. A good wash, polish, and wax is in order as well as an interior detailing. After that, weekly washings will make sure the car is always presentable.

Remember that a lot of buyers will have seen other cars just like yours that week. In the end they’ll be deciding between two or three very similar cars and yours probably won’t make the cut if it was dirty or had some minor issue. You want your car to be clean, attractive, and free of any issues.