How To Revalue Your Car Economically

Cars are among the assets that suffer the most depreciation; in addition, they do it at high speed. Just when they leave the dealership, they are already worth 10% less.

To revalue your car and put it up for sale, and also to prevent it from falling into a hole from which it is too expensive to remove it later, there are practical and simple tips. Homemade tricks and mostly inexpensive.

Always clean

It is not an act of magic, although at times, it seems. The image that a vehicle can offer only after going through a deep cleaning is totally different. Especially when the car in question tends to appear dirty and neglected.

In addition to the consequent corrosive effect that dust has on the body, a car that can be drawn or written on looks really bad. In the passenger compartment and in the trunk, the lack of cleanliness and order will accelerate the deterioration of carpets, upholstery, dashboard, etc.

A grease stain on an armchair can be corrected relatively easily, if you act quickly (always depending on the substance).

But if the trace ‘settles’ on the fabric, trying to remove it later can be a mission impossible. On the other hand, food scraps can attract insects, mites and parasites of all kinds.

Shiny and polished bodywork

To revalue your car, the action of soap and water needs to be complemented with an additional component: wax. Polishing the body with these substances will give the car the shine it left the dealer. If there are impurities in the paint, you can resort to special tablets that restore the finish.

But this is not the only thing that should shine. The wheels and tires should also look neat and shiny. To clean each wheel, the first step is to apply plenty of water under pressure. Next, a damp sponge is passed with a little soap, which leaves only very deep stains in sight.

For rims, a good number of cleaning products are available on the market. A toothbrush is an indispensable tool to reach all the nooks and crannies. As for the tires, an old and efficient trick is to apply a cola drink with a cloth.

To revalue your car, all the details count

Worn windshield wiper brushes or broken, incomplete, or dysfunctional door handles. The same as scratched or cracked windows, as well as burnt out or misaligned headlights.

All these details that we are looking at are small in appearance, but  once they are accumulated, they detract a lot from any vehicle. Also, it will always be cheaper to repair one fault at a time.

In the passenger compartment, (seemingly insignificant) situations such as corroded belt hooks or unstable armrests must be addressed . Steering wheel linings and pedal rubbers that are worn from use should also be replaced.

But the sense of sight is not the only one that scrutinizes the interior of vehicles. Mainly when looking to buy a second-hand vehicle. Smells also add up when it comes to revaluing your car; a vehicle with a strong stench of tobacco will be more difficult to sell.

Keys, license plates and documents in good condition

Cars that keep both their primary and replacement key sets are valued much better. The difference can be between 100 and 245 euros, depending on the vehicle segment.

That the documentation is in perfect condition will not only make a good impression on potential buyers; it can also represent significant savings in duplicates.

Another detail that counts is that the license plates of the car are in good condition. At first glance, the condition of these parts will be the best reference for the care and treatment that the vehicle has received. Changing and homologating them is a relatively quick and inexpensive process.

 To consider

For those who want to sell their cars, cleaning the engine (in an attempt to make it look clean and new) is a bad idea. In fact, it can cause potential buyers a different effect than expected; it can be interpreted as an attempt to hide faults.

Likewise, the photographs taken of the vehicles for advertising purposes for sale must be taken during the day and in open spaces. Closed parking lots and also dirty and poorly lit, should be avoided at all costs.