A little bit of elbow work could potentially net you a better
offer for your vehicle and attract more buyers. Sean Stewart, President of yourautomarket.com, offers some practical tips on preparing your vehicle to sell. “A good first impression goes along way and when it comes to vehicles the first impression is vital”. Before batteries are put into your camera it is a good idea to read the following and implement all or some of these tips.

The Exterior:

A buyer will usually look at the exterior first. They have already made the decision that the style and colour is acceptable, now they want to look further. During this period they will be assessing if there is anything wrong with the paint, the body, major scratches and so on. Take the time to wash the vehicle if weather permitting. The worst thing you can do is hide your well-maintained car under an inch of road dirt. You know you have road dirt when you see finger smears on the trunk and doors, and the always comical “wash me” on the back. How about a nice coat of wax? This would give your vehicle that showroom look and help buff out small scratches. Check the tires for air and shine the rims. “What really attracts my attention is a set of polished rims. It’s stylish and tells me that the owner takes good care of the vehicle”. “You can buy foam sprays for the rubber and rims at any Automotive Retailer that make them look wet and shiny”. If the exterior passes inspection then the buyer will move onto the interior.

The Interior:

“No one wants to open the door and see potato chips ground into the carpet”. A few dollars for the vacuum at the car wash is simple and easy. “The suction is usually better than a home vacuum and while cleaning you may just find enough loose change for a Tim Horton’s coffee”. “I like a wet look to my dashboards so I frequently use a treatment to the vinyl”. But be careful not to put too much treatment on the steering wheel, Sean warns, as this can make it quite slippery and dangerous for driving. Is there a story there for some other time? For a quick clean a damp cloth can do wonders for wiping the dust off the dashboard and all components. Remove any fuel receipts, ice scrapers, and other items that take up real estate in the interior. Give your inside a total overhaul of clutter. Clean out all compartments and most of all the glove box. “If you are like me you will use your glove box as a temporary garbage bin” Sean states. “It sounds funny to remind people to empty out compartments and glove boxes but being in the industry I have seen many interesting items inside vehicles for sale”. The trunk needs attention too during your cleaning. Ensure the spare is accessible and ready for use.

The Engine:

An engine shampoo would do wonders if you feel it is required but for some this may be un-chartered water. “Shampooing an engine can be intimidating. Most do it your-selfers will spray the engine using a $10 bottle of engine shampoo, let it soak and then hose off. Some say it is good to wipe off the major parts of the engine and either air dry or use an air hose”. It is best to follow the instructions that come with the engine shampoo or get it done professionally if you prefer.

Now that the vehicle is photo ready, think about the location. “A nice landscape is ideal but most people don’t have access to a beach with a windsurfer in the background. Ideally try to get as much of the vehicle in the photo to minimize background noise”. Sean explains background noise as visual objects that take the viewer away from the vehicle. For photos Sean has always liked the front 45-degree shot from a height just above the bumper. “What we try to do is get a low shot on an angle of the front as the first shot. This to me is classy and also stylish”. ”I really enjoy seeing vehicles posted on our site where the photo taker has put effort into their photos”. “I can’t stress enough how a clean vehicle with a really good photo can make a difference”. If you find that you are not able to get your vehicle ready for sale then seek out local professionals. Most retailers are about $100 for a detailed clean of a family sedan sized vehicle with engine shampoos extra.

So why all this work to sell your used vehicle I ask Sean? “The vast majority of vehicles being sold are posted onto websites like ours. Therefore your vehicle is competing with potentially thousands of other vehicles very similar to it”. “A great looking exterior will generate interest and potentially sell it quicker”. “Our website also uses video to showcase used vehicles for sale which is quickly becoming the industry standard”. So yourautomarket.com is now using video to advertise used vehicles. I sense another reason to meet with Sean and find out more about video for used vehicles? Hmmm.

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Sean Stewart is the president of YourAutoMarket.com, the first online auto classified with video which is a virtual test drive to show case the true condition of the vehicle for sale. YourAutoMarket.com is an excellent way for consumers to shop online and make better-informed decisions.

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