10 Secrets to get the most money for your trade

Ok, so a lot of people can relate to dating. So I am going to use that as a comparison to get you in the mindset of selling your car. Imagine you are online dating. You search around until you find someone you are interested in talking to. You see things on their profile that intrigue you, and you feel like this could be a good match. So you set up a "date" and plan to meet.

*ok so I have never dated online, but I am assuming this is how it works?

Anyways, think of this trade transaction as bringing your car to meet a new date! One of the first things you probably notice is someones shoes. Are they fashionable, are they clean or yucky? So step one:

1. Tires. Make sure your tires are clean, new and /or polished. Honestly, one of the biggest and most common expenses to the dealer is tires. It happens to be one of the biggest buying motives for customers! If your tires are looking good, the dealer won't deduct that expense from their bid to buy your car. Plus it sets the transaction off on a good "foot". (pun intended)

2. Give your car a bath. You would never show up for a first date dirty, right? Polish your car, use wax, clean the glass, dust, vacuum and take out the trash. Make sure your car is looking at its best when taking it to meet its potential new owner. The number one reason someone decides to buy a car is.....the way it looks! Hopefully, the dating world is not quite that shallow. Haha.

3. Fix dings/scratches if you can. If you have a blemish on your face, you would probably use a good concealer or foundation to cover it up. So try to fix, polish, paintless dent remove or buff those noticeable imperfections on your car.

4. Don't stink. You would probably shower, wear perfume & deodorant when heading to a date. I think we could all agree that a stinky person is one of THE biggest turnoffs. A car is no different. If your car smells like smoke, mildew, food or just overall yucky, then clean it. You can get most of the smells out by cleaning, but you could also try a car freshener. Diva by Tyler Candles makes a really yummy one! Sometimes just a strong candle left open in your car will help. I have also used dryer sheets under the seats. You can try shampooing carpets, seats and headliners. If its really bad, you can have your car ionized. Most detail shops can help you with that. Just make sure it doesn't stink.

5. Is it hot in here? Make sure your AC works!! One of the first things we check on an appraisal is if the AC blows cold. If it doesn't we usually deduct at least $1000 from our bid.

6. Check engine lights are like huge red flags. I have seen people put black electrical tape over them. I would not recommend that. Haha. Make sure you have those fixed along with maintenance lights. At the bare minimum, get a diagnostic on what it would take to fix it & let your appraiser know.

7. Bring your cars immunization records! I guess you probably wouldn't bring those on a date, but they do help the value of your car! It is so much easier to sell a car that is up to date on their maintenance and it is recorded. People feel like they are getting a better, more cared for car. That obviously makes it worth more to a dealer! My Dad always says, "its cheaper to maintain your car than it is to fix it."

8. Don't bring your birth certificate on a date. But do grab your title if you have it when you are heading to the dealership! First it shows how serious you are, and if we know we have a serious buyer we always step up! Secondly, it makes the paperwork faster and more efficient. If the bank has the title, just be sure you know your payoff and per diem (usually 10 day payoff).

9. Do your homework. I would recommend checking websites and searching other cars similar to yours. Get a basic idea of what you think your car would bring retail. Thats how we bid them! We deduct our projected profit & reconditioning and then come to a number that we feel is realistic. We also use auction values and book values. We always say a car is worth what it will bring. Makes sense, right? But bear in mind that values of cars drop very fast!! Even a week can drastically reduce values. So be sure your information is current, and consider all of the sources when you decide to trade.

10. When you go out on a date, you gotta sell yourself a little bit right? So when you sell your trade to a dealer, don't hesitate to sell you car! Tell your cars story, like how you always garage it or how your miles are all highway. Tell them how you take it to the detail shop once a month and you have all of your maintenance done in their factory shop. Trust me, nobody will buy a sales pitch quicker than a salesman!!

To land the perfect new home for your trade in, just remember to have your car ready to sell and have fun! You will find the perfect "match" for both you and your trade.