It could be a trade-in or a sale, car sales are continuing to be a common feature with car-selling yards appearing at the sides of major roads.
In the tough economic times, some people are considering selling their assets such as cars to stay afloat.
According to Kenya Motor Industry Association (KMI), 13,352 vehicles were sold in 2022 alone and the number was higher in 2020 and 2021 at the height of the pandemic.
However, there are crucial features that may lead to a second-hand seller attracting top shilling or giving it away at a throwaway price.
Car sellers should, therefore, be careful about these 7 car features before putting their cars on the market;
Lights
Make sure all lights in the front and the rear work well, especially, hazard lights and reverse lights should be in tip-top shape.
Car indoor lights should be in good working condition. If there is a minor problem such as a faulty bulb, the car seller is advised to fix it before sale.
However, if there is a complex problem, the car seller should engage the services of a professional mechanic to fix them.
Fluids
The AA, an automobile insurance company, advises, “Top up all fluid reservoirs where needed – that means oil, brake fluid and screen wash.”
This will be critical for buyers who want to start using the car as fast as possible.
Check for cracks
Cracks could be on windows, wipers, and the body. This may require the help of a professional such as in a garage.
Cracks make the car look old and ugly, thus fixing them improves the appearance of the car greatly.
Tyres
Check if the treads are deep enough. If they are not, consider retreading them. Retreading tyres is cheaper than buying new tyres.
Additionally, retreading one tyre is more environmentally friendly than buying a new tyre.
“Make sure the rubber isn’t cracking. Replace any tyres that are damaged,” notes the motor insurer, the AA.
Seats
Make sure seats and upholsteries are clean and the material on them is intact.
Due to normal wear and tear, heat, and dust, seats may be tattered and left in bad shape. This may turn off potential customers.
It is advisable to seek the services of a professional detailer who can fix the seats and any other upholstery in the car before putting up the car for sale.
Electric equipment
Electric faults may be small inconveniences such as a faulty radio to faulty fuse which leads to a risk of a fire.
If the faults are discovered by potential customers, they may lead to drastic devaluation in the car’s value to totally shunning the car and not closing the sale.
“You will find the information on replacing fuses in your owner’s manual. Anything beyond this needs to be checked by a mechanic. It could be a wiring fault within the system,” explain LMC Birchwood, a car service company.
Dashboard Warning Lights
Make sure there are dashboard warning lights are off. This means the engine is working well.
Using the car’s manual and online resources, car owners should pinpoint the specific problem and solve them.
There are three categories of warning lights with different colour codes.
Red warning lights mean the car should be stopped as soon as it is possible, yellow warning lights mean there needs to be action taken to sort out a problem, and green warning lights are for information purposes only.
