The trade secrets used car lots don't want you to know!
Do you have a classic car you haven't driven in a while? Maybe an old commuter you no longer need, or perhaps you just want to change your ride? Here are the secrets to selling your car for the most money!
Bonus:Â If you live in Vancouver or any part of British Columbia, we will tell you all you need to know to transfer vehicle ownership. But let's keep it a secret; most used car lots wouldn't want you to know!
If you want to sell your car for the highest value, here are five essential items you need to consider before listing it!
1) The condition of your car and how to improve it.
4) The legal requirements to transfer the ownership of your car.
How to improve the condition of your vehicle for sale?
Most car dealers know this, but there are certain areas of your car that buyers will notice immediately and are more likely to impact your car's sale value positively or negatively.
Door jambs and door cells:Â We're talking about the space between the door and the car where you'll find the door's hinges. We don't want to point any fingers, but to this day, we have yet to have a single detail service where this place is clean. And we understand this is a place you'd typically not clean. But as a buyer, this generally is the one place that will stand out when inspecting a vehicle.
What to do about it? First, grab a detailing brush, an exterior cleaner, and perhaps a degreaser. As professional detailers, depending on the vehicle, we might even use a power washer, followed by a light coating of cleaner, agitating the detergent with a brush, and water rinse and wipe down.
Pro tip -Â If your car has caked on grease, you can use a degreaser, but be careful. Ensure the hinges have enough grease; you might need to replace it. Otherwise, the hinges will squick and eventually malfunction.
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Carpets and mats: While most sellers choose to only vacuum, they are missing an excellent opportunity to increase the value of their car. A simple carpet shampooing will return the vitality to the fabric and will make the car look and feel much newer than it is. Why? Easy, when you vacuum, you only collect the outermost layer of dirt, leaving most of the dirt underneath. Also, micro speckles of dust will stay on top of the carpet, removing any gloss and saturation from the fabric's colour.
What to do about it? First, buy some carpet cleaner, and rent an extractor and cleaning drill if you want to do it right. At washbe, we start with a vacuum, followed by a light agitation of the fabric using carpet cleaners and specialised equipment. Finally, we use a fabric water extractor to dry the carpets and finish with the last vacuum.
Pro tip -Â Experienced detailers will leave a cross-grid pattern on the fabric when doing the final vacuum. This doesn't add anything to the detail other than giving that new car experience to prospective buyers. This pattern also looks great in pictures; just saying.
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Paint:Â This is the most important part of your car when you're selling it, especially if you want to increase its value. And here are some essential things to consider: 1) Depending on the age of your car, the paint will oxidise and lose its lustre. This can be solved, but only sometimes. 2) Our cars are full of tiny scratches, we call them swirl marks, which can only be seen when light hits the paint, but we also have real visible scratches to the paint. Figuring out which ones to fix can save you a lot of money. 3) Sometimes, a ceramic protective layer will fix most problems you have and might even revitalise the colour of your car. But most car salespeople don't want you to know that.
What to do about it? First things first, give your car a good wash. By the way, there's a right and a wrong way to wash a vehicle. Be sure to check our blog on how to do it. Once you have that done, try to rent a power washer, and please check the PSI of the water pump; too much power will permanently damage your paint; too little, you might as well use a water hose. Use the pressure washer to get to the hard-to-reach places, the spaces between body parts, and, if you can, the car's undercarriage.
Once you're done with the wash, dry the car with a vehicle blower or edgeless microfiber towels. And here comes the fun part. You'll want to buy a ceramic sealant, not a ceramic coat, a sealant. To apply the ceramic protection, use one towel to spread it (one body panel at a time), wait ten seconds, and use a second towel to remove any excess chemicals.
What's the result? Your paint will look noticeably newer, and the sealant will add depth to the vehicle's glow. This protection will last one to three months, so mention this to the buyer. Then, they can keep that glow and protect their paint if they continue to apply the sealant.
Pro tip - You can eliminate swirls with a two-stage paint correction and a dual-action polisher; this will also bring your paint back to better-than-new condition, but getting it done by a specialist is not inexpensive. If you're interested, be sure to contact us using this page.
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If you're price-conscious or would want to avoid doing this for a vehicle you are selling, we recommend hand polishing the scratches that are visible on the car. Depending on their depth, some might be erasable. However, we'd only recommend it if you understand how car paint works and are willing to risk permanently damaging your vehicle's paint if the polish is done incorrectly.
There are several other areas you should consider detailing if you're selling your car and would like to increase its value, but these three are an excellent place to start. See our "How to detail your car at home" for more information.
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How to present your car for sale?
We're talking about the pictures. And trust us, this is a crucial aspect that most sellers and even car dealers need to pay more attention to when creating their online ads.
Aspect ratios -Â Having the correct measures for your online ads is vital; understanding how this will be displayed on social media and other websites is crucial, but who has the time, right? Well, you should; mainly if you use free tools like Canva; they have online templates to make your ads stand out and always have the correct measurements.
Framing and angles -Â We recommend taking pictures from lower angles, accentuating the features that you love about your car. For instance, Porsche Caymans have beautiful curbs that wrap around their fender wells; taking a low-profile picture of this feature will help you catch the eyes of more than one buyer.
Pro tip:Â Being artistic with your photographs is encouraged if that creates a dynamic image. However, try to get several pictures with the entire car in the frame.
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The number of pictures -Â More is not always better unless you're selling your vehicle. Be diligent and upload as many high-quality images as you can. If the car has any noticeable defects, show them; this will save you time and headaches in the long run and help you build trust with possible buyers.
Lighting -Â Let's keep this one simple; uniform soft lighting is the best way to go if you're an amateur photographer. And that means... Clear days at first sunlight and slightly cloudy days are the best opportunities to capture the perfect picture. Try to avoid fluorescent lighting like parkades, underground parking lots, etc.
Interior pictures -Â By this, we mean take some. You'd be surprised by the number of online ads that lack a single interior picture. So instead, capture the dashboard, condition of the seats, carpets, and any eye-catching trim.
Your audience and your ad
If your main query is "how to sell my car for the most money?" you should look at your audience. But what do we mean? Top buyers are hard to reach, but you'll be one step ahead of the pack if you can identify who they are. Let us give you some examples:
- Porsche enthusiasts belong to the PCA (Porsche Club of America), which has a local group in most major cities across the US and Canada. In Vancouver, they have a Facebook group where you can reach real enthusiasts.
- Like Porsche, JDM (Japanese domestic market) vehicles have Facebook groups and community forums.
- Jeep lovers, you guessed it; they have their groups too.
But the sales channel you use is just one side of the equation; the message is the other. That means you need a compelling message that encompasses why your car and only your car is precisely what a buyer should look for in their next vehicle.
For instance, if you have a Civic, you could write something like...
"Not a looker nor a shower, but this baby will never leave you stranded. So enjoy your cruise to Cars and Coffee as you see Italian exotics drip enough oil to fill a tanker. Reliability is the game's name, and Manolo, my Civic, will deliver."
Showcase your personality and the main reasons why you love your car; don't be surprised if you don't want to sell your car after you finish writing the ad.
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How to legally sell your car in BC
This process is straightforward; to complete it, you will only need one form and a quick 15-minute visit to your local insurance agent.
You can find the transfer tax form here, and you will need the info and signatures of both the seller and buyer. You can fill out the form at home and give it to the buyer to process the transfer or the other way around if you're the purchaser. However, we recommend that both parties assist to ICBC to complete the property handover (in case the form has the wrong info and needs to be re-signed).
But that's it; after you figure out payment, you only need one form, and you're good to go. Again, it's important to mention that anyone can do this, both residents and immigrant permit holders.
Are you ready to sell your car for the most money? If so, we're excited for you! However, if you need help preparing your car for sale or would like to maximise its market value, schedule a platinum service with us, and be sure to mention your intentions to your technician. We are trained to target specific areas of the vehicle if you're planning on selling!
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