How to Maintain Car Resale Value - Car Detailing Sacramento CA

If you have plans to get a new car, you'll be glad to hear that many finance options are available. If you're leasing, the vehicle becomes the company's property rather than yours, but if you want to buy it for yourself after your lease is finished, some great incentives allow you to get more money back when selling it on. 

Taking care of your car will help it retain better value; not taking care of it might cause you to pay the company more when the lease finishes.

Don't just say goodbye to your old car; make sure you clean up and put on a fresh coat of wax! Otherwise, people may not want to buy it.

Want to know how to get the most money when you sell your car? 

Read on for our 16 practical tips that will ensure your car worth remains high.

1. Keep the Vehicle Clean

There's nothing like a clean, fresh-smelling car. But as the grease and dirt work together to make your car look like an eyesore, you can't help but feel like cleaning it could be such a drag.

Nevertheless, give your car the royal treatment thoroughly with a deep clean, and it will treat you back with more of the love, respect, and resale value you deserve!

For cars with leather seats, condition the seats every six months to keep them looking great and smelling fresh. If they get scratched or stained (it happens!), take them to a professional for repair. It's expensive but will be much cheaper than buying a new one!

Throughout the year, your car's resale value can deplete - but never fear! A dirty, messy exterior or interior can affect performance, therefore, give it a thorough cleaning at least twice a year, and more often if possible.

Read more on 10 Reasons Why You Should Professionally Detail Your Car

2. Do Polish & Wax

Just like when you visit the hair salon for a blowout, it's all about maintaining your look to make sure others want to run their hands through your locks (in this case, your car). Cleaning and waxing can help you stay on top of those pesky "ding's" and dents that constantly threaten the resale value of your car.

Polishing your car can help restore color and shine and give it that "just waxed" look. In addition to regular waxy coatings, consider adding a silicone coating to protect against those annoying bird droppings! Keep in mind the following tips when polishing:

• Don't do this more than once a year, or you can damage the paint and reduce value.

• Always use a wax specially formulated for cars and never use household cleaners as they might remove the existing wax!

• For those pesky bird droppings, use an acid-free absorbent towel to remove them.

3. Make the Interior Sparkle

The same way you make your home inviting and comfortable, you should also consider making your car the perfect place to relax.

By keeping it clean on the inside, not only will you create a more enjoyable experience for passengers (especially kids!), but if your next buyer decides to put their child in that seat, they'll be grateful for some extra effort.

It's always worth having a professional detailer wash your car. Just add some soft scrub and water in a spray bottle to eliminate those annoying bugs that don't go anywhere else once they're dead.

If you want to find a professional detailer in your area, so don’t forget to read our guide “How to Choose the Best Car Detailer?”

4. Research About the Best Value Retain Vehicles

Research the models of cars that will retain their value. You can do this by looking at fleet or fleet management companies for used vehicles, as these are likely to be worth more over time because they are reliable and have low mileage.

Look for cars with a high resale value when shopping for one! This means that it has been popular enough for people to want to buy them, which means you'll be able to sell them quickly. However, resale value also depends on the car's condition and how well you take care of it.

Find out which cars are likely to retain their value by looking online at reviews. If many people say that a vehicle is reliable, it is expected to have a high resale value. You should also look for used cars with excellent safety features, as this will make it worth more when you sell them.

Don't buy a car with bad reviews online, as people won't want to buy a car from you if there are problems with the engine, body, or other parts.

If you're one of them used car shoppers, get one that is under 100,000 miles. If it has more than this, it is likely to lose its value faster. You should also look at cars with low mileage because they haven't been driven much and are still in good condition!

5. Avoid Excessive Wear and Tear: Consider a Warranty

Wear and tear on your car can lower its resale value, which is why you should avoid driving it beyond the point of need.

If you're going on a long road trip, bring another car with you to save gas! If you're selling the car shortly after buying it (which is not recommended), consider adding a warranty that will protect your investment.

Be sure to do your research when deciding on the car's warranty. Try getting one with an unlimited mileage plan so you can drive all around town without worrying about being charged for it!

6. Oil Spray the Undercarriage to Avoid Rust

Rust can easily form under your car's wheel wells, but this doesn't mean you should avoid taking care of the wheel well.

Use an oil sprayer to coat the wheel well with motor oil before and after a winter snowfall. This will protect it from snowplows that typically hit this area of the car.

Having some rust on your car can lower its value, so keep this in mind when maintaining the car.

Also, if you're shopping around for a new set of tires, consider buying aluminum alloy wheels. These aren't prevalent these days, but they do increase the resale value of your vehicle!

7. Store Your Vehicle Properly

For those of you who park outside, consider investing in a good car cover. These are typically made out of waterproof fabric, so you don't have to worry about harsh weather conditions hurting your vehicle!

If you want to protect the interior leather seats, pick up seat covers that can easily be removed and washed.

Park cars in a garage instead of outside because this is where they are most likely to be kept safe from weather conditions like snow or rain! However, make sure it doesn't get too hot inside the garage, as this can damage the car's engine.

If you're not driving your car very often, consider getting it into an auto care center every few months for a safety check-up!

8. Don't Smoke, Drink or Eat in Your Car

Hygiene is essential when it comes to resale value. Even if you don't drink much in your car, make sure you do a quick cleanse before showing it to a potential buyer.

The last thing you want is any remnants of your morning coffee on the seat or, even worse: gum stuck beneath the seats! Keep this in mind and never eat or drink in your car.

Don't be a smoker if you have a car because smoking will leave its mark on your vehicle's interior. Keep cigarette burns and other tobacco residues to a minimum if you want to receive top dollar when selling your car!

9. Fix the Car Exterior Before Selling It

If you have a scratch or dent on your car, fix it right away before selling it. This is because buyers will be expecting the car to be in perfect condition no matter what shape it's in.

If the buyer detects even one flaw with the exterior of your car, they can ask for a lower price or not purchase at all. Fixing up your car's body can save you time and money in the long run, which is why it is recommended.

The best way to sell a car with an inexpensive dent would be to add a few photos of the dent before taking them down. If they like what they see, it will make your car seem more valuable.

Not only will it make your car look better & maintain resale value, but it'll also protect the exterior from more damage due to weather conditions like sun and rain.

10. Get Your Car Serviced Regularly

Your car's resale value must have it serviced at a maintenance shop every few months.

If you don't, you could risk driving around with faulty parts that are not doing your vehicle any good! Keep this in mind and plan on getting your car serviced so it can run smoothly for as long as possible.

Doing this will ensure you maintain your vehicle's resale value because it will be running in tip-top shape for any potential buyer to purchase. 

If you are the car owner and maybe your making some mistake before detailing your car, so keep away from all those mistakes by reading our guide on “Top 19 Mistakes People Make When Detailing Their Car”

11. Maintain the Fluids and Tire Pressure

Obeying the recommended levels of oil and tire pressure in your car is important for maintaining resale value. Not only will this keep you and other drivers safe, but it'll also ensure your car doesn't develop any issues that would require costly repairs.

If you maintain these fluid levels early on, you can easily save yourself a lot of money over time, as you'll be able to fix any problems before they get out of control.

Keeping the correct tire pressure is extremely important for maintaining your vehicle's resale value. Not only will low tire pressure cause problems with your car's overall performance, but it could also develop issues down the road that require costly repairs!

So if you have time, check your car's tire pressure at least once a week to save money in the long run. When you do, your vehicle will be running smoothly and efficiently with no problems!

12. Polish Faded Headlights

If you have faded headlights, take time to polish them out before selling your car to give it a better appearance.

Potential car buyers will expect the exterior of your vehicle to be pristine, even if you bought it used. Proving this is simple while caring for the exterior: buff out any faded areas and watch as its resale value increases.

13. Avoid Damage to the Wheels

The wheels on your car are what makes it move, and if they're damaged or distorted, then your car is not worth as much.

If you damage the tires and rims and don't do anything about it, there's a good chance you'll be stuck paying for repairs yourself. So make sure to check your wheels before selling your car to make sure they aren't damaged!

If your wheels are scratched, the best thing you can do is buff them out. If they're bent or broken, it will be a good idea to get new ones before selling your car; otherwise, it'll decrease their resale value.

14. Avoid Repairing Your Car by Yourself

Yes, it may be cheaper to do some car repairs yourself, but repairing your car before selling it could decrease its resale value. But how?

When you sell your car, the buyer will likely want to know why you had it repaired and what was wrong with it. If you tell them that there were some things bad with the vehicle and you fixed it up themselves instead of bringing it to a mechanic or any of the car dealers, they'll most likely be turned off by this because most consumers would never want to buy a used vehicle if it's been previously repaired. So keep this in mind when repairing your car!

Therefore, when you need work done on your car, always take it to a professional shop with skilled mechanics and avoid doing the repairs yourself. Doing them incorrectly or using poor-quality parts will lower the resale value of your vehicle.

15. Use Floor Mats

Always use floor mats when driving your car.

If you choose to drive without them, it will cause the carpet inside of your car to become dirty, stained, and worn out. When you finally decide to sell your vehicle, this would be a great indicator for any potential buyer that the previous owner didn't keep good care of it.

16. Keep the Records of Maintenance

Last but not least, keep all of your vehicle records.

When you buy a car, it'll come with all the documentation of who did routine maintenance on it. It's essential to keep these records or receipts for yourself so that when you're ready to sell your vehicle, whoever purchases your car will see that you did everything to take care of it, and they can trust that everything is in good working order.

Moreover, this can help both you and the next owner determine when an oil change or other types of work need to be done.

Want to Maintain Your Car Resale Value? Start Shining It Now as New!

It doesn't matter if your car is just dirty or stained; restoring its finish to what it was before it got dirty makes your vehicle more valuable. That gives you peace of mind that your vehicle will be worth more than just the price you paid for it.

With the best car detailing service in Sacramento, CA, you get a vehicle that's spick and span. There's no need to worry about scratches, dents, pet hair, or anything else that might have been hiding from sight.

Udetailers has all the tools necessary to get your vehicle looking great, so it raises its resale or car trade-in value.

Don't let small and large damages make you lose money when you sell your vehicle in the future!

Call/text University Mobile Detailers at (916) 538-9718 or send a request here to schedule an appointment today.