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Cleaning a car adds £600 to value

Wednesday, 07 May 2008 09:06
A bit of a clean and even this car could be sold for a decent price
According to used car experts EurotaxGlass, cleaning a car before putting it up for private sale could add £600 to its value. By presenting a car in prime condition, a private seller can increase the chance of securing a sale at the desired price, removing the need to haggle.

"Private buyers are easily put off by a dirty car – they think it is unloved and poorly maintained, and will feel justified in offering a lower price than the seller would like,” says Jeff Paterson, chief car editor at EurotaxGlass.

"A thorough wash and polish and a comprehensive interior clean can really improve a vehicle’s appearance and add hundreds to its value in the private market," Mr Paterson added.

"A very well presented, three-year-old, lower-medium-sized car like a Ford Focus or a Vauxhall Astra might realise an additional £300, while a six-year-old example would still be worth at least £150 more. For a one-year-old, upper-medium prestige car – a BMW 3-Series, for example – the premium could be as much as £600."

"The introduction of the new 08 registration plate in March brought a considerable number of part-exchanged vehicles on to dealer forecourts ... With a significant volume of cars now available on the second-hand market, private sellers are urged to do all they can to make their own vehicle stand out from the crowd.

"A clean car will create a good first impression, which can be vitally important in winning over potential buyers," Mr Paterson concluded.

£40 would secure the services of a professional valet and, in the long term, a substantial increase in car value. If the car is being sold by a smoker, cleaning it thoroughly is even more important. For older vehicles, the addition of cosmetic features (new wheel trims, for example) could also help. New floor mats, for instance, would achieve a similar thing for the interior.

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