Give a Car Curb Appeal
Although people have started to use the term "curb appeal" for a variety of things, it makes the most sense in reference to a vehicle. Basically, there's the blue book value for your used car, and then there is the value the buyer sees in it. So what can upping the curb appeal of your car get you in terms of resale value? Hundreds of dollars, according to many experts and those who have sold used cars themselves. Some handy steps will help give a car curb appeal to enhance its potential resale value.
Steps
- Improve your car's exterior look. In some ways, value is in the eye of the beholder, and what the beholder sees first is the outside of your car. Make sure the car's exterior looks as good as it can.
- Wash and wax the car. Making that paint job gleam will increase the curb appeal for almost any vehicle.
- Add exterior trim items. Some manufacturers offer aftermarket racing stripes and other neat additions, like special tire rims, to increase your curb appeal.
- Fix any paint chips or minor body damage. You don't want to sink hundreds upon hundreds of dollars into these fixes, but any small items that are easily done can be curb appeal boosters.
- Clean your car's interior. Your used car is going to look multiple times better when you can show off the upholstery in a neat, clean environment.
- ”Hoover" your car, eliminating any crumbs, paper scraps, hair and so forth. Vacuuming the interior will help enhance the buyer's view of the car's insides.
- Declutter. Get all extra items out of cup holders, cargo areas and seats. This isn't one of the most fun jobs when it comes to used car resale, but it's key to improving the overall look of the car and getting the best deal that you can.
- Consider improving the suspension of the vehicle. Some of the more advanced car sellers like to add a custom suspension to a vehicle, which can really up the curb appeal for specialty cars such as sports cars or other high-energy vehicles.
- Add more aftermarket items. There are all kinds of handy gear you can get from the manufacturer to jazz up your vehicle, from turbo kits to speakers and decorative equipment. Take a look at the maker's catalog and see what appeals to you - and what might appeal to a used car buyer.
- Finished.
Warnings
- Be careful with aftermarket add-ons. If you're adding things that will change the way your car drives, some of your additions can have consequences regarding the insurance and titling for the vehicle. Look into the legal aspects of adding functional gear before throwing it into the mix for curb appeal.
