Tell us if you’ve ever experienced this situation before: you’ve gone to a car dealership to trade in your vehicle, and the dealer offers you an amount that is far beneath what you thought it was worth. Ever happened to you? If so, you might have then received some explanation of what drove the value down, leaving you thinking of all the times that, if you’d just done something a little differently, the value of your vehicle might have remained high. So, how do you help keep the value of your vehicle? Let’s break this down into three categories.
Under the hood.
Since this is essentially where it all begins, let’s kick it off here. It’s crucial that you maintain a regular service schedule for your vehicle, taking great pains to be faithful with oil changes and small fixes. Equally important–and this is where many drivers falter–is that you keep a record of these fixes. Whether you keep an online record or a hanging file at home, make certain that records are kept. Of course, we can help you with this at Avondale Nissan in our service department!
Outside the car.
Many of the things that happen the exterior of your vehicle aren’t your fault, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to keep things moving in the right direction. When you park at a mall or grocery store, select a spot that is far away from other vehicles to avoid the door dings and scrapes that can make your vehicle’s value plummet. It’s also important to wash and wax your vehicle regularly, which allows your car’s paint to remain fresh, uncracked and rust-free.
Inside the car.
Back to where you park your car–you don’t want to park in direct sunshine, because this can easily dry out your surfaces and leather upholstery. It also helps to regularly condition the surfaces on your vehicle, retaining the vital moisture that makes them look their best. Finally, if you aren’t against seat covers, they help save your upholstery and are reasonably inexpensive.
Overall, the ability to keep a car’s value comes down to the care you give it. If you’d like to learn more about a car’s value or get an assessment on your current vehicle, visit Avondale Nissan today!
