How to prep your car to sell in the current market

[Pmifa]

Words fail me. And yes I meant your but can’t edit

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312034...

[Big Al.]

Pmifa said:

Words fail me. And yes I meant your but can’t edit

Sorted.

[Pmifa]

Thank you

[scot_aln]

Surely though -

Best valet, great photos & wrong price = no sale

No valet, rubbish photos & right price = sale.


Could be very much an outsider but have always preferred to see anything unprepped. If I agree to buy then a bit of grooming is of course expected.

[Ian Geary]

I don't generally buy cars at the £30k mark, but how much value does a £20 wash add?

Are buyers unable to "see through" the small amount of dirt to appreciate the car underneath?

A new car might be buying the showroom experience, but used cars are surely more about spec and price.

And given it's parked outside on what looks like soil anyway, it does seem sensible to not wash it until it's ready to go.

[DRE7]

I was expecting a Dakar finisher reading the thread title. Yes the mats need a hoover but it’s not too bad! The tyres are a bit dirty?

[Pmifa]

Ian Geary said:

I don't generally buy cars at the £30k mark, but how much value does a £20 wash add?

Are buyers unable to "see through" the small amount of dirt to appreciate the car underneath?

A new car might be buying the showroom experience, but used cars are surely more about spec and price.

And given it's parked outside on what looks like soil anyway, it does seem sensible to not wash it until it's ready to go.

You could also argue why wouldn’t you spend £20 on washing it prior to the photos being taken? It’s a £30k car that they want to sell in a current market that’s full of used cars. Suppose it does stand out compared to 99% of similar vehicles though.

[Truckosaurus]

Pmifa said:

You could also argue why wouldn’t you spend £20 on washing it prior to the photos being taken? ....

Indeed. A quick trip to the local hand car wash and some photos on tarmac (could even be the corner of the local Tesco carpark) would be a vast help.

If the seller has been too busy to spend an hour doing good photos you'd think they would be a pain to deal with and arrange a viewing as well.