No one can deny that a car is a liability; a depreciating asset. Unless a car you have bought for some reason becomes an instant classic with massive collector value and you find yourself with one of the few remaining pristine models, then you might call it a real asset like your home.

This means that we are typically destined to lose money when we sell our cars. However, there are certainly things you can do to ensure that your losses are minimised. If you do the following things, you might find that your own resale value might be higher than others you encounter selling the same car.

1. Invest in Powerful Paint Protection

Just as we say “the first bite is with the eye” when eating, the first assessment of the value of a used car for sale is in how it looks. If you have a pristine, protected paint job that shines like it did on the showroom floor, you can expect a better sale price. To get that, you’ll need really good paint protection, like that you’d get at a professional ceramic coating service in Sydney.

The condition of the paint is the very first thing that forms a buyer’s overall first impression. Other factors quickly follow, but a perfect and well-protected and cared-for paint job is the perfect hook.

2. Wax the Car Regularly

If a ceramic coating is out of the question, then you could at least take the time to wax the car every 2-3 months to keep the paint looking its best. Products like carnauba wax are ideal for maintaining a rich and appealing colour in the paint. If you use synthetic waxes, they are also effective, but may not offer the same shine. These synthetic products and sealants are designed to be more functional and protective, but of course that’s very useful, too.

Wax according to the recommendations of whatever product you eventually choose, and don’t feel like waxing in excess amounts, or with excess frequency will add more protection. It won’t, it will just make more work for you!

3. Fix Problems Immediately

If you’re hoping to sell a car in a few years’ time, then you should be both vigilant and diligent when it comes to car maintenance and repair. Any small problems should be dealt with swiftly before they turn into more serious problems, and you should service the vehicle exactly according to the OEM-recommended schedule.

If you do so, and can prove that you have, then you have a water-tight case for requesting a greater asking price from buyers. It’s rarer than you think to be able to provide such clear and unambiguous service history.

4. Drive it Less!

Understandably, this tip isn’t always possible for every car and car owner. If you’re buying a daily runaround for commuting, school runs and anything else that comes up, you’re going to run up a fair amount of mileage on it.

However, if you’ve purchased a luxury or high end car, then limiting its use as much as possible has huge benefits when it comes to reselling. Those who maintain their cars well and keep a lower odometer reading can attract better offers from buyers who are always looking for that perfect combination of older model year with lower mileage.

5. Store it Safely Overnight and During the Day

So much of the wear, tear and other damage that happens to cars does so when the car is parked or otherwise not being used. It could be other people bumping into it accidentally, birds or other animals doing their business on it, tree sap or runoff getting onto the paint, extreme heat or other weather conditions, or even vandals and criminals --- there’s so much out there to ruin that resale price.

Storing your car safely in a garage overnight whenever possible will always help keep that resale price up by cutting the other risks out. Even a carport or just a protective cover when parked on the street can help!