Selling Your Older Car: Why a New Paint Job Matters
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Selling Your Older Car: Why a New Paint Job Matters

Last year, I bought a new car. Rather than trade in my old one, I decided to sell it myself. Before I put it in the market, I took the car to a local shop and got my old baby a new paint job. The new paint made all the difference with the car. While operationally it was sound, the outside was not all that great. After the fresh coat of paint, the car generated a lot of attention from prospective buyers. I even had a bidding war going on between two parties who really wanted it. If you have an older vehicle to sell, it pays to invest in a new paint job. Let me tell you more about why this strategy works. Follow my tips for selecting the color and the paint type, and you'll get a great price for the old jalopy.

Selling Your Older Car: Why a New Paint Job Matters

How To Keep Your Car Clean With Kids

Nora Boyd

Kids can make huge messes, especially in the car. If you are a parent who is always on the go, you know how hard it can be to keep your car clean. Here are a few tips to help keep the car clean when you're on the go with kids:

Designated Garbage Bag

Having a designated space for the garbage can be crucial to keeping trash off the floor and out of all the little compartments. Showing each member of the family where you expect their trash to go is a process, but with persistence, it can be taught! Start with a simple disposable grocery sack and get used to throwing it out daily and replacing it with another. You don't want a giant bag of trash in the car at all times. Get in the habit of taking all the trash out of the car each night. 

Keep a Bag of Wipes in the Car

Having a bag of wipes in the car is a great way to wipe hands after food and wiping sticky messes off of all hard surfaces. Giving the dash and steering wheel a quick wipedown while you're waiting for kids to get in the car can be a great way to keep things looking clean. You never know when someone is going to get a bloody nose or put a muddy footprint on your leather seats, so it's great to be prepared. 

Use All-Weather Mats

Having all-weather mats in the car is a great way to make cleanup quick. All-weather mats are waterproof and have a solid surface that can be scrubbed or even power-washed clean. You don't have to worry about those muddy puddles the kids splashed in when they hop back into the car. It protects your carpet and the overall value of your vehicle!

Invest in Professional Auto Detailing

Having a professional auto detailing performed annually is a great way to stay on top of the mess. Auto detailing will get your car looking the absolute best and is a great help for you to keep up with all the maintenance. Conditioning leather seats or shampooing carpets and cloth seats will allow the car to smell its best and give the materials in the vehicle the attention they need. Getting a clean car fresh back from the auto shop after the detailing is a wonderful feeling. Look at it as an investment in the vehicle. 

If you do these things and invest in some routine auto detailing, your car will look great for years to come!


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