How to Blitz a Pre-Sale Detail and Pocket Extra Cash

If you've parked under a gum tree or a carport near the coast, your paint is probably gritty. Give it a good wash, then run your hand over the bonnet. If it feels like sandpaper, use a clay bar. I learned this the hard way when I tried to wax a black Commodore without claying first, it just looked greasy and dull. Use something like Bowden’s Own Fine Clay Bar and some Boss Gloss. It makes the paint feel smooth as glass, which literally everyone does when they walk up to inspect a car. (Trust me, they always touch the bonnet.)

A customer once brought in a Prado they were selling. Outside was mint, but the door jambs and fuel flap were caked in red dust. It screams 'I haven't looked after this.' Grab an All-Purpose Cleaner (APC) and a soft brush, and hit those jambs, the boot shut, and the engine bay plastics. It takes ten minutes but makes the car look five years younger. (Your partner will thank you when they don't get mud on their clothes getting in.)

If your headlights are yellow and foggy, you're losing money. It makes a car look ready for the wreckers. Don't bother with those 'toothpaste hacks' you see on TikTok, they don't last. Grab a proper restoration kit like the Meguiar's one. Clear eyes make the whole car look 'fresh' and safe for the road. While you're at it, chuck some decent tyre shine on. Not the cheap greasy stuff that flings off, but a nice water-based dressing like Autoglym High Gloss. It's the 'suit and tie' for your car.

People overdo the air fresheners. If I open a car door and get hit with a wall of 'Vanilla Sky', I immediately think you're hiding a smoking habit or wet dog smell. Instead, deep clean the floor mats and use a dedicated odour neutraliser. If you've got leather, hit it with a dedicated cleaner and conditioner. I reckon Gtechniq L1 is the go-to here; it leaves a natural matte finish rather than that cheap, slippery shine that makes people slide off the seat.