How to increase/maintain the value of a vehicle.

It’s very difficult to predict the value of a vehicle especially post covid when the world is completely upside-down. Everything is completely unpredictable and it’s a scary thing! But however, there are a few principals and patterns that i’ve noticed and if you’re trying to sell your car, this should give you your best chance.

Cleaning

Cleaning a car is the easiest way make more out of your car. It so surprising how easy it is yet people don’t do it. Preferably you would want to go to a detailer to sort out your car before it is sold. When your car is clean, you have more bargaining power because the car will automatically look in better condition.

A good way to make sure your car remains clean a-lot of the time is to apply a ceramic coat or paint protection film after its been throrally washed. These will keep the vehicle’s paint looking excellent and because paint protection film has healing properties, small scratches from washing and road grime will self heal in about a day.

A good way to also maintain a clean look on the inside is to correctly maintain the interior. If its leather you will want to do a leather treatment process which is clean, condition and protect. Leather cleaning soaps are available and even the ones in shoe shops can work. Then you will want to apply a conditioner of some sort. Specific leather conditioners are available and will help maintain the oils in the leather to keep it looking shiny. Wax is cumbersome but it can work as a protector and ceramic coats are optional.

A ceramic coat is also useful on the plastic and vinyl trims because it restores that glamour look. Avoid overly smelly products like that Dior Sauvage car spray because that will de-value your car faster than a negative car-wow review. Instead, if you do want to increase the appeal by smell then get something that would smell like a car such as a leather based scent like Ombre Leather by Tom Ford and spray it in the lower carpet areas so incase it does stain, its not that obvious.

Vacuuming the carpets is essential too to remove sand particles and dust that came from shoes. If its vacuumed like a well trimmed lawn then it will look even better to a buyer.

Tires are often neglected and even i’m guilty of that but tires being polished and clean make a car look like its come straight from the show room.

The engine bay also needs to be clean. Soapy water and a spray bottle can be used with a microfibre cloth to rejuvenate the engine bay but avoid using excessive amounts of water because engines do not love this at all.

Repair work

All the necessary repair work has to be carried out especially if its mechanical or electrical. Electrical damage is far scarier than cosmetic or mechanical damage to a buyer.

Dealing with electrical damage is like dealing with emotional damage, It can stress you out and its sometimes easier to ignore it and that’s why people fear it a-lot. A car with electrical faults can easily be written off even if the issue is minor because if that fear.

Wheels

Wheels are some of the easiest ways to elevate your car and its so surprising. Avove is a Porsche Panamera with upgraded wheels vs smaller wheels. The difference in the price will be substancial just because it looks that much different!

A good trend that i’ve seen picking up are mono-block dish wheels made popular by AMG and Maybach. They have such grandeur and If your car has a boxy appearance then i recommend that you look for some mono-block wheels to elevate the look but be warned because on some rounded looking cars, they can look weird.

Multi-spoke wheels are also picking up recently. They also look really good and expensive.

Bronze wheels are a little bit more shouty but its one of the easiest ways to increase the value of a car. Thats why the Cayenne Turbo GT looks so much more expressive than the Turbo S, simply the bronze wheels.

The weirdest i’ve seen pick up are steel wheels but surprisingly black steel wheels look really good on an off-roader so if you want your car to look like a purposeful off-roader then steel wheels could be a good investment.

Tires

Tires are also a surprising way to raise the value of a vehicle. A Jeep with Goodyear Mud-terrains is a very appealing looking vehicle just because of the excessive tires. Of-course not tires that compromise the usage of the car but enhance it for its particular purpose. E.g a Porsche Cayenne on racing slicks is not going to be as appealing as a 911 GT3 RS on slicks.

The reason i use Porsche as an example a-lot is because no company does it better than Porsche. Very minor differences can make big profit.

Do not’s….

Do not get the information wrong because the buyer will immediately realise that you’re unsure about what you’re talking about and then you have less bargaining power. It is very difficult to negotiate down with someone that knows their facts. Its more intimidating for the buyer and thats why negotiating at a dealership is difficult. Negotiating with a nerd Is almost like going to a supermarket and negotiating at the counter. People will just feel more pressured to pay your set price. Get your facts right and you’ll get more money.

Avoid adding superficial expressions of wealth and un-professional looking modifications

Utility has a greater residual value than luxury. Superficial expressions of wealth on a vehicle are a waste of money if you’re trying to sell a car. If your car has unnecessary chrome or rims that are so big and shiny that you can be pin pointed in a crowd of 2000 then it’s lowering the value of your vehicle. Standing out is always good but standing out too much is not. You ever noticed that red cars sell for a lower value than other colours? Same thing goes for cars with excessive expressions. If your car has tacky pieces like excessively extended body kits and unprofessional looking work done to it then it’s time to get rid of it.

Excessive lift-kits can also lower the value of the vehicle because doing this can compromise safety. If it must be done, 3″ lifts are the maximum that should realistically be considered.

I know that black trim became ‘trendy’ but even excessive black trim destroys the value of a car because it labels it. If you see a black on black car on black BMW 4 series, your mind begins to build assumptions just by looking at it. For the sake of your fun you can add those mods but if you wanted to get the most out of your car in monetary terms then keep it looking as stock as possible.

Avoid Spinners

For heavens sake, i will never write this again so read carefully. Spinners and Gold wheels are to be sprinted from because you’re better off being mugged on the streets than buying spinners for a Bentley. You’d lose less money by being mugged and i don’t mean it just metaphorically, i literally mean it.

Avoid Race Inspired cosmetic enhancements

This one is quite obvious. A Honda Civic with 3 spoilers on the back is a bad idea not just because of image but also because it screams no value. If you even manage to sell it then be happy with that because that will de-value you and your car faster than a scorned ex-lover with a stone, a major tantrum and a location of your beloved vehicle parked outside your office.

Avoid Fake Badges

If your Mercedes has an AMG badge on the back and its not, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. They didn’t forget to put the badge there, it just never had any AMG work. If a car is misrepresented, it’s not just morally wrong, its also illegal. You’re not legally allowed to change the 430d to an M4 for example. It’s fraudulent and if not disclosed can land you in legal disputes. Doing this will lower the value of your car so you’re better off monetarily by replacing with the original badges or de-badging.

With these tips you should be able to make the most out of your vehicle. Make sure you take the best pictures before you put your vehicle online and you should be good to go. Rule of thirds in photography is essential when taking good pictures of the vehicles to further entice buyers.

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