Boost Your Resale: Quick Detailing Tips for the Summer Market

Never, ever wash your car in the direct midday sun in February. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore years ago, the water dried so fast it left mineral spots that took me hours to polish out. Wash it first thing in the morning or late in the arvo. If the metal is too hot to touch comfortably, don't put water on it. You'll just end up with a streaky mess that's harder to fix than the original dirt.

If you've been out west or even just parked near a construction site, that red dust gets into every seal. A customer once brought me a Prado that looked clean, but as soon as the buyer opened the fuel door and the boot jams, it was bright orange. Use a soft detailing brush (even a cheap one from Bunnings will do) and some All-Purpose Cleaner to get into the door shuts, fuel cap, and under the wiper cowl. It makes the car look like it's lived a pampered life in the burbs.

Don't go nuts with a pressure washer under the hood, you'll fry a sensor and then you're really in the doghouse. Just a light spray of degreaser (I reckon Bowden's Own Agent Orange is a cracker), a quick agitated brush, and a gentle rinse. Finish it with some plastic trim restorer. When a buyer pops the hood and sees a clean engine instead of a greasy mess, they immediately trust the mechanicals more. Truth be told, it's a huge psychological win.

Cloudy, yellowed headlights make a car look ten years older than it is. If yours are looking a bit sad, don't bother with the toothpaste 'hack', it lasts about a week. Grab a proper restoration kit like Meguiar's Headlight Restoration Kit. It'll take you 20 minutes and can honestly add $500 to the perceived value of the car. I do this on almost every pre-sale job I get.