Getting Your Car Ready For Sale
If you have ever been set up on a blind date, your first thought is, "What does my date look like?" Selling a used car is no different. Since you only have one chance to make a positive first impression on your potential buyer, make it count. Your car has to look its best if you wish to sell it. You wouldn't show up for a job interview to sell yourself looking poorly would you?
A lot of the appearance things that need to be addressed you have the skill to work on: washing and waxing, cleaning and organizing the inside, vacuuming and detailing, replacing burnt fuses, filling fluid levels, and don't forget to clean your windows.
For more in-depth items, you can either pay a mechanic or an independent service company to inspect and assess your car. They will identify problems that will better give you an idea of what your car is worth, and give you a chance to correct them if you wish to before a buyer looks at it.
Once you have addressed your car's mechanical issues, turn to your paperwork. Print out a copy of your car's history through carfax.com, which shows "good faith." If you can put together a service and inspection file with receipts on your car, this will suggest to buyers that you took care of your car. Finally, you should make a copy of your car's title. If you do not have it you can call the company that held the loan and ask them to send you a copy with a lien release (if you still owe money on the loan see the next section). If the lending company is out of business and you do not have the title, you can start looking for a replacement by calling the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation at 888-206-4662 for assistance.