About Me

What You Should and Shouldn't Fix Before Selling Your Car

After raising seven children through their teenage years, I've had my fair share of experiences with selling used cars that have body damage. As a child saved up to buy a newer car, I was relied on to find a way to sell their old one for the most money possible. I have learned that fixing small dents and other aesthetic issues with your vehicle is a great way to significantly increase the sales price you ask when you put it on the market. But not all dents are worth paying to have fixed because it won't affect the value much. Whether you are just trying to make the money back that you've put into your vehicle or you're trying to make a profit, hopefully the pages on this website will give you some insight into what's worth putting your time and effort into fixing and what's best left untouched.

Tips And Tricks For Touching Up Your Car's Paint

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If you have any scratches on your vehicle, the best way to cover them up to ensure that your car appears like new again is to touch up the paint job in that area, especially if the plastic or metal underneath the paint is exposed. Here are some tips and tricks for doing this:

  • Hire Professionals if Nervous: If you are nervous about touching up the paint on your vehicle yourself, then it's always a good idea to let professionals handle it. You will need to use sandpaper and have a steady hand, especially if painting over really small scratches and these things can definitely make you nervous if you don't have any experience. 
  • Buy the Right Supplies: If you decide that you want to take on the paint touch up on your own, then the first thing you are going to have to do is buy the right supplies. You need fine grit sandpaper, the perfectly matched auto paint, and primer if the metal or plastic of the vehicle is exposed. You can find the right paint color match by looking at the paint color code in your owners manual for your vehicle. Take this code to your local auto body shop to purchase the right paint. 
  • Wash the Area: Once you have the right supplies, you are probably going to want to get started right away. However, before you apply the primer, it's important that you wash the area first. If there is dirt that you begin to paint over, it's not going to leave a smooth surface once you are finished with the paint job. 
  • Let the Primer Dry: After you have applied the primer, it's important that you wait for it to dry before you apply the paint. If you apply the paint too soon, it can mix with the primer, leaving a slightly off color that won't match with the rest of your vehicle. 
  • Use a Toothpick for Small Scratches: If you are only dealing with a really small scratch, you can apply the paint with a toothpick just to get into the area that is scratched and no where else. This can leave a more even paint job that won't take too much work to sand and finish. 
  • Sand: Once the paint has dried, you will want to use the sandpaper to remove any bumpiness that the paint has left behind. 
  • Repeat: If you are not completely happy with the outcome, you can repeat the process until the color is matched completely and leaves a perfectly smooth surface. 

By following these tips and tricks, you are sure to have the best possible outcome for retouching the auto paint on your vehicle.

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17 January 2016