Boost Your Curb Appeal
LOOKS
ARE EVERYTHING
A complete detail is a must — As a private-party seller, you are competing with the dealer who gives every car on his lot a "new car feel." A hundred thousand miles of eating, smoking, fishing or diapering is a big turn-off to buyers unless they smell a steal of a deal. That being said, a complete detail is a must.
Professional detail — Since we're saving hundreds, or even thousands of dollars by selling the vehicle ourselves, go ahead and splurge. Spend the $100 to $125 for a complete professional detail. Check the Yellow Pages under 'Car Washing and Polishing' to call and compare prices. If your finish is heavily oxidized, how many coats of wax will they give? Do they steam carpets? Do they steam clean the engine? There are even mobile services that will come to your home or office. Some detailers also offer paintless dent removal and paint touch up.
Do it yourself detail — If you'd rather have that $100 or more in your pocket, you can also do it yourself. You might also consider getting the engine professionally steam cleaned (approximately $25), then doing the rest yourself.
EXTERIOR TREATMENT return to top of page
Washing
No dish detergent, please — First, do not use any household detergents. These detergents were designed to strip grease and grime, and can strip off your car's wax protection. Use a gentle soap or a car wash shampoo specifically made for washing cars.
Big bucket — Second, use a full large bucket so that dirt particles sink to the bottom and the fresh suds are free from grit.
Cool man, cool — Third, make sure your car surface is cool (preferably in the shade) by hosing the entire vehicle down. Apply suds to the top and work down using a wash mitt, large towel or soft brush.
Oh sheet — Rinse the car by "sheeting" a stream of water instead of a high pressure spray. This will reduce water spots and drying time.
Wipe away spots — Fourth, wipe the vehicle down using a clean, dry towel, cloth or synthetic chamois.
Lose the bumper stickers — Nobody cares that you voted Clinton-Gore '96 or that My Child is an Honor Student at ABC Pre-School. Removing bumper stickers is a chore, but absolutely necessary for pre-sell. Here's how: 1. Run a hair blow dryer back-and-forth, 12" away to apply heat and loosen the sticker adhesive. 2. Keep the dryer moving while you lift a corner and continue peeling. If a scraper is necessary, try an old credit card to avoid scratching the finish. Be careful. 3. Use Goof-Off or other solvent on a rag to remove the leftover adhesive. Wear rubber gloves. 4. Wash, polish and wax the area according to your car's finish requirements.
Polish
and Wax
Check the manual — Never use a wax, cleaner, or polish on a paint surface until you check the owner's manual for recommendations — especially if you have a clear coat finish. Cleaner waxes often contain abrasives that can damage some surfaces.
Older cars — If you have an older car with a heavily oxidized finish, first use a polish/cleaner to rejuvenate a very dull finish with fine abrasives that remove a thin layer of the oxidized paint. Rubbing compounds contain even stronger abrasives and can remove paint right down to the bare metal.
Modern cars — Most modern cars have a clear coat finish that can be damaged by conventional polishes. If you're not sure, you can check on the door jamb or glovebox sticker for your paint code.
Wax: Natural vs. synthetic — Waxing provides a natural and/or synthetic coating that provides protection and shine — the final step in caring for your vehicle's finish. Carnauba wax, a natural wax from Brazilian palm trees, is the hardest natural wax available. Synthetic waxes are also good — and usually easier to apply — plus they can contain ingredients to repel dirt, protect against solvents and filter the damaging effects of sunlight. Shade is good — Never wax a car in direct sunlight. If your car's metal temperature is too hot, the chemicals in the wax can permanently damage your car's finish.
Sealant — Sealants shine and protect much like a wax and can be used instead of one. There are sealants specifically designed for clear coat finishes. There are also one-step products (cleaner/polish/wax/sealant) that combine all of these steps in one application.
Wheels and Tires — Tire and wheel cleaners offer a one step application that will remove brake dust, road tar and grime. For that deep natural new tire look, use a rubber tire dressing or vinyl protectant spray. Rubber dressings can also restore black moldings on bumper areas. Newer cars have clear coat finishes on the wheels which can be damaged by conventional metal polishes.
INSIDE TREATMENTreturn to top of page
Carpets
and upholstery
Shop vac heaven — A good shop vac is essential to a rejuvenated interior. If you can't beg or borrow one, head to the coin car wash and vacuum, vacuum, vacuum to get the dust, gravel and salt up from the floor. You'll probably find enough loose quarters under the seats to pay for the machine. After vacuuming, foam cleaners can be scrubbed onto floors and cloth upholstery with a damp cloth, then allowed to dry and vacuumed again.
Steam me up — Rental home carpet steamers often include an upholstery attachment for deep soil extraction and rejuvenation of your interior. Plan on steam cleaning your home carpeting at the same time to justify the cost.
What about leather? — Leather seats require specific leather cleaners and conditioners.
Interior
surfaces
Any spray-and-wipe cleaner will work for most interior surfaces. Use a glass cleaner for windows. Vinyl protectant sprays like ArmorAll should be used sparingly on dash surfaces to avoid too much glare and shine. Avoid the steering wheel! For dust in cracks and crevices use Q-Tips. Give the trunk a full treatment as well.
TO FIX OR NOT TO FIXreturn to top of page
Major mechanical repairs — When it comes to major mechanical repairs, the rule of thumb is to avoid them. Obviously, if your car needs a new starter motor, the brakes hit bare metal, or the radiator leaks, your only alternative is to fix the car or sell "as is" to a salvage buyer.
Baby
needs new tires? — A high-priced
shoe salesman once told me, "When a woman checks out a man, the
first thing she looks at is his shoes." Tires have the same effect
as nice shoes. Worn-down tires make a car look like it's been driven
into the ground. Spending $250 on a fresh set of economy tires makes
sense if your asking price is over $10,000. If you have plenty of
tread left, a tire dressing is sufficient to create that new-tire
look.
Recouping the cost — The cost for other major repairs — such as air conditioning, transmission repair, inoperative fuel gauge, dead window motor, new timing belt, a set of tires etc. — may exceed the dollars you would recoup at the sale. Buyers for older cars are often looking for basic transportation and might forgo air conditioning if it puts a newer car in their dollar range. Conversely, buyers for late model, big ticket cars don't want to spend $25,000 and receive any flaws at all — unless they're getting a great steal on a Lexus. Ultimately, you must let conscience and practicality be your guide.
Basic maintenance — What about basic maintenance? By all means, take the car for to the quick lube or mechanic for an oil change. Clean oil on the dipstick is one of the first thing buyers inspect. Check the tire pressures, radiator and fluids. If it's a young, first-time buyer, this may be the last time the oil is checked until the warning light comes on.
Minor
repairs — Be sure to fix any visual
problems that can be addressed within your budget (a cracked windshield,
chipped paint, missing trim, lost hubcap, worn wiper blades). Definitely
fix a broken tail light lens — call the salvage yards and save
some bucks.
Paintless Dent Removal — Minor dents and door dings can now be removed without body fillers or painting. Small dents and door dings are "hand-tooled" to their original shape, retaining the original paint and finish. Look for ads offering this service under "Automobile Body Repairing" in the Yellow Pages.
Windshield repairs — Small chips, cracks and "bullseyes" can be repaired in windshields by injecting plastic resins instead of replacing the entire, expensive glass. Stone damage smaller than a 50-cent piece and single-line cracks up to a foot long can be repaired using this process,provided the repair is not directly in the driver's field of vision. Search "Windshield Repair" and ask if they use this process.