So, when it comes to preparing your car for sale, the initial glance is more important than you think. Here are five tips to get your ride ready for its newest, potential owner.

Before reading on, press play for advice from RAA Future Mobility Specialist Simon Halford.

1. Get that showroom appeal

Make potential buyers feel as though they’re inspecting a shiny, new car. A thorough scrub might sound like the obvious first step when preparing your car for sale but a bit more effort will help get that showroom-look.

Clean the windows inside and out, so they have an extra sparkle. Give the dashboard a wipe down with a microfibre cloth, as it’s usually the first area a prospective buyer will look when they sit in the driver’s seat.

Don’t forget to clean the door jams, as they’re also easily visible when the door opens. Also make sure the storage areas in the centre console and on the door are empty and cleaned. One glance at mine and you’d think you’ve entered the beauty aisle at the supermarket. Note: avoid storing lipstick here on hot days.

2. Oh-dour – that’s not good

Now that your car’s sparkly, it looks like a breath of fresh… Oh, dear – what’s that smell? I’m guilty of leaving things in my car that should be housed elsewhere, from sweaty boxing gloves to sweaty bags of spuds. In my defence, the potatoes were too heavy to carry – I guess I need to go to more boxing classes.

Common causes of car odour include spilled liquids, food crumbs, pet hair and mouldy food. If you struggle to identify the odour, the smell could be coming from mould and mildew on carpet and upholstery. This is particularly common in older vehicles, which may have had water leak in due to poor weather sealing.

Get odours under control before prospective owners get a whiff and close the door on the deal. Try leaving a bowl of bicarb soda, coffee grounds, citrus peel or cinnamon sticks in your car overnight to help mask any smells.

3. Glovebox essentials

You’ve removed the loose paper, chips packets and coffee mug your boss gave you last Christmas (how’d that get there?) to prepare your car for sale, but there are items that should remain in your vehicle.

Ensure the owner’s manual and up-to-date service book are stored in the glovebox. Have receipts for repairs or parts that have been bought to show the buyer.

Don’t forget to check the boot to make sure it’s empty. Items stowed here can be distracting when taking the vehicle for a test drive.

4. The key to sealing the deal

We get it: you have a hard time remembering where you placed your car keys, let alone the spare set. However, a second pair of car keys is an attractive selling point for buyers. Why? It’s always convenient to have a backup if you lock your keys in your vehicle or lose your fob.

It’s always a nice surprise for prospective used-car buyers when they’re handed a second pair at the sale. That said, you’re under no obligation to provide more than one key to the buyer. That’s up to the sole discretion of the dealer. In fact, some older cars don’t have spare keys.

If you’ve turned the house upside down looking for the spare fob with no success, you can get an additional set made. It can be pricey though (starting from $100), so have a good look around before heading to the locksmith.

5. A picture is worth a thousand words

Time for the money shot. Taking photos of your vehicle to post on a car sale website should be more than just a quick snap of the exterior.

Firstly, find a neutral background. I wouldn’t recommended taking a photo with your dying front garden plants in the background. Surprisingly, my husband still managed to sell his car in a matter of hours.

To give the buyer an idea of the car’s silhouette and design, crouch down and take photos from headlight height for all external shots (i.e. the front, rear and side of the vehicle).

Now that you’ve got the basics covered, it’s time to snap away. Besides the exterior, take photos of the front dashboard, speed-o, steering wheel, rear seats, boot space, engine and any features or accessories your car have may, including sunroof and infotainment system.

Lastly, the big question: should you photograph any dents or scratches? Honesty is the best policy. The potential buyer will most likely see any imperfections in person so it’s best to be up-front with them. Good luck!