“Curb appeal” is a term often associated with selling a
house. Homeowners selling their
homes want to improve their home’s external
appearance so it creates a stronger first impression when prospective buyers
first pull up to the curb for an open house or a visit with their realtor.
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| A pre-owned car with curb appeal is far easier to sell than a vehicle that appears dirty or poorly maintained. |
But while curb appeal is often uttered in real estate
parlance, the term also is applicable when selling cars. Private sellers want
to make their vehicles look as nice as possible, giving it the kind of curb
appeal that impresses potential buyers the moment they see the vehicle.
Improving a car’s curb appeal typically doesn’t require as much work as doing
the same for a home, but the following are a few ways sellers can improve the
look of their vehicles in an attempt to impress prospective buyers.
• Give the car a good wash. The easiest way to improve how a
car looks from the outside is to wash and wax it. Sellers should make this part
of their vehicle maintenance routine until the car is sold. If you’re driving
the car while you’re attempting to sell it, wash and wax the vehicle each week.
Always wash the car before a prospective buyer is scheduled to come over and
take a look. Spray detailers can be used to give the car some extra sparkle.
• Don’t forget the interior. While a car’s exterior
contributes heavily to a buyer’s first impression of the vehicle, the interior
also bears heavy influence on any potential buyers. Vacuum the vehicle’s
interior, including both the floorboards and the seats, and clean the windows
and windshields from the inside. Once the cup-holders have been vacuumed, clean
them with a damp cloth to remove any coffee stains or spots where something may
have melted. A dirty interior may make buyers question if the rest of the vehicle,
especially what’s under the hood, was properly maintained, so be sure to
include this easy step as part of your curb appeal routine. Clean the interior
as necessary until the car is sold.
• Park the car in the garage. Whether you plan to keep
driving the car every day until it’s sold or intend to keep it parked until the
right buyer comes along, try to park the car in your garage or in some place
where it’s protected from the elements. This prevents any additional damage
from harsh weather and ensures a freshly washed car won’t succumb to falling
leaves or other debris that may necessitate another washing.
• Clean under the hood. While it’s easy to notice the
buildup of dirt and grime on the interior and exterior of the vehicle, it’s not
as easy to notice any such buildup under the hood. And while sellers may not
see such unsightly buildup even when they open their hoods, buyers almost
certainly will. Plastic covers are typically placed over the engine on many
late model vehicles, and these covers can accumulate grease and debris over
time. A spray cleaner or detailer can remove such buildup to make what’s under
the hood as visually impressive as your freshly cleaned interior and exterior.
• Clear out the trunk. No buyer wants to pop the trunk and
see your golf clubs, beach chairs and cooler. When selling a car, remove all of
your personal items from the trunk. This shows prospective buyers how much
trunk space your vehicle is equipped with. In addition, an empty trunk will
make the car lighter and, as a result, more smooth to drive, something buyers
are sure to notice when they take the car out for a test drive.
The term “curb appeal” is just as applicable to selling a
car as it is to selling a home, and sellers can improve their chances of
selling their used vehicles dramatically if they take steps to improve the curb
appeal of their cars and trucks.
