Resale revs up a gear
GET ON THE ROAD TO PROFITABILITY WITH SIMPLE TIPS TO HELP PRESERVE YOUR CAR’S VALUE COME SALE TIME
There’s an old but true saying that a car starts losing value the minute you drive it off the showroom floor.
Covid has seen a spike in used car values but as a general rule, most cars will drop at least 30 per cent of their value in the first three years of ownership.
There are ways to stem the flow of cash, though.
Experts agree that well looked after cars can fetch thousands of dollars more than neglected ones of the same vintage. Here are some of the do’s and don’ts
DO SERVICE YOUR CAR
Most three-year-old cars these days have five-year warranties. But the warranty can only be transferred to the next owner if the car has been serviced according to the schedule by an authorised dealer. You don’t have to service with the dealer you bought the car off, but as most offer reasonable capped price service plans these days, it makes sense. Buyers love a fully stamped service book, especially when it means their threeyear-old used car comes with a twoyear warranty. If you have work done on your car, keep the receipts and show them to prospective buyers.
If you have work done on your car, keep the receipts and show them to prospective buyers
DO WASH IT REGULARLY
Regular washing will preserve the life of your car’s paint and make it more attractive to potential buyers. Over time, even day-to-day road grime will degrade your paint, while bird droppings and tree sap need to be removed as soon as possible, as they are extremely corrosive. If you can avoid it, don’t park under trees or power lines and if you have a garage, use it, as sun can age a car prematurely.
DO LOOK AFTER THE INTERIOR
A senior mechanic we talked to says he often judges used cars by the state of their cabins. If the buyer can’t be bothered looking after the bits you can see, they’ve likely neglected what’s under the bonnet. Seat covers are a worthwhile investment and if you’re picking up a wardrobe, make sure you line the luggage area. Otherwise it’s inevitable you’ll scratch the plastics.
DON’T SMOKE AND EAT
The smell of cigarette smoke is almost impossible to remove from a car. It gets into the fabric of the seats and the headlining and it’s an instant turn-off to nonsmokers. Pull over if you feel the urge, or maybe try to carry a vape in the car for that emergency nicotine hit. The same applies to food. If you regularly eat in a car it can develop an odour – not to mention the potential for drink spills and rogue french fries finding their way into hard to reach crevices.
DON’T IGNORE DENTS
Bumps and scrapes are an inevitable part of car ownership, but they are a big turn-off for potential buyers as they give the impression you don’t look after your car. They can also lead to rust, which is also a bad look. You don’t always have to go through your insurer, as there are plenty of small businesses that repair dents and scrapes cost effectively.
DON’T TAKE THE DOG
If you can, limit the times you take your dog in the car. Is there somewhere you can take them that’s within walking distance? Dog hair can weave itself into the fabric of the seats and carpet and be incredibly hard to remove, while slobber and wet dog odour is tough to remove as well. If you love to bring the pooch with you everywhere, consider installing a barrier in the load area and laying down a rug to keep the damage to a minimum.
Finally, if you’re looking to sell, get in before the odometer clicks over to 100,000km. It’s a psychological barrier for many.