Not all repairs are worth doing before a sale. Here's a practical guide to what you should fix — and what's better left for the buyer.
The test for any pre-sale repair: does the fix cost less than the price uplift it creates?
**Generally worth doing:**
Cosmetic dents and scratches. Unless severe, smart repair costs $300–$800 and rarely returns full cost in price uplift. Buyers expect minor wear on used cars.
Major mechanical work. If your car needs a clutch, gearbox, or engine work costing $2,000+, the repair cost rarely adds equivalent value.
Windscreen chips. Unless expanding toward the driver's sightline, most buyers can address it themselves cheaply.
Air conditioning regas. Worth doing ($150) if the system works but blows warm. Skip it if the compressor itself has failed — that's a much larger job.
Yes, if you're selling privately and the car is overdue. It removes the 'hasn't been serviced in ages' objection and gives you a current invoice to show buyers.
Generally no. Professional repainting is expensive ($500–$2,000 per panel) and rarely returns its cost.
What should you actually do before selling your car in Australia? This practical checklist covers what's worth doing — and what's a waste of time and money when selling to a professional buyer.
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