Fix and flip - should fluids be done before selling?

[Fordiesel69]

So again not to bore y'all to death, but I personally despise dealers or resellers in general that buy a vehicle at auction, do practically nothing and make a mountain of profit. I sleep knowing that I have done a good job yet still make a low / acceptable profit (and know the vehicle has a chance to give the next owner a solid lifespan).

I am doing a complete cut a buff on the paint, as well as an interior clean in full.

 

[TheOilWizard]

So again not to bore y'all to death, but I personally despise dealers or resellers in general that buy a vehicle at auction, do practically nothing and make a mountain of profit. I sleep knowing that I have done a good job yet still make a low / acceptable profit (and know the vehicle has a chance to give the next owner a solid lifespan).

I am doing a complete cut a buff on the paint, as well as an interior clean in full.

I'm with you on that. I couldn't sell a vehicle knowing it's way behind on important services. Unfortunately, people with our mentality will never really compete against the "good enough" dealers.

 

[We're Metals]

So again not to bore y'all to death, but I personally despise dealers or resellers in general that buy a vehicle at auction, do practically nothing and make a mountain of profit. I sleep knowing that I have done a good job yet still make a low / acceptable profit (and know the vehicle has a chance to give the next owner a solid lifespan).

I am doing a complete cut a buff on the paint, as well as an interior clean in full.

I doubt the OP is making a mountain of profit on a $3,000 vehicle.

Look at it this way, people like the OP are keeping a $3,000 vehicle on the road, at their own financial risk, for somebody who can likely only afford a $3,000 car. I think we need these people.

 

[Hootbro]

Unless there is immediate drive-ability issues requiring it, I would not waste the time or money on fresh fluids of a flip. I know when buying used, I just assume it has not been done and take care of it accordingly.

 

[KrisZ]

There is no moral high ground on how much vs how little profit one makes, unless it is done though lying, cheating and misrepresenting the vehicle for what it really is.

 

[AZjeff]

The car will be listed for high 3k.

Don't bother.

 

[Shel_B]

My question to you, is with this car having 138k on it, would doing all this maint help sell the car faster and / or would it help to acheive the slightly higher asking price? Or am I just wasting my time trying to be nice?

A friend once gave me some advice, albeit in a totally different scenario. He said to always take the high road and do the best you can. I've followed that advice for decades and it's served me well.

Do you just want to make a few bucks or would you like to provide good product and service. It ain't always just about the $$$. It's never a waste of time to be nice.

 

[camrydriver111]

In my experience they will think something is wrong with the car since it needed so many services done if you list them all.

So most people don't think cars need to be maintained at all?

Maybe they are trying to use it as a negotiating strategy?

I haven't sold cars, but in other negotiations some people latch onto something and use it to try to bring down the price regardless whether it's right or wrong. They fully know they are BSing.

 

[97prizm]

I got a car at auction for the purpose of a fix and flip. Not to bore you to death but it was sitting since 2022 so there were mechanicals things that needed to be addressed that I took care of, and I am now working on the cosmetics. Once done with the cosmetics I was thinking of doing coolant, tranny fluid and filter, power steering fluid, and axle fluid. To my horror, this will cost me about $175 as prices have really gone up. In 2019 when I did this exact job, I had about $85 ~ $90 into this this service.

My question to you, is with this car having 138k on it, would doing all this maint help sell the car faster and / or would it help to acheive the slightly higher asking price? Or am I just wasting my time trying to be nice?

I think if you post that all of the fluids have been changed and that it's all ready to go, and peace of mind for the buyer they'll go for it. I saw this when I worked for a dealership. 99% of the time if a customer buys something they want it "ready to go" vs saving some and then messing around with replacing worn parts

 

[KrisZ]

So most people don't think cars need to be maintained at all?

Maybe they are trying to use it as a negotiating strategy?

I haven't sold cars, but in other negotiations some people latch onto something and use it to try to bring down the price regardless whether it's right or wrong. They fully know they are BSing.

What they think is irrelevant.
All I'm trying to say is that having fresh fluids all around is not the bargaining chip people think it is. The exception is engine oil.

 

[KrisZ]

I think if you post that all of the fluids have been changed and that it's all ready to go, and peace of mind for the buyer they'll go for it. I saw this when I worked for a dealership. 99% of the time if a customer buys something they want it "ready to go" vs saving some and then messing around with replacing worn parts

Yes, saying the vehicle has been recently serviced or that maintenance is up to date, and the vehicle is ready to go works quite well. I do it with my motorcycle adds all the time since motorcycle services are quite expensive, so people pay attention to it. But I never list al of the stuff I have done. I will gladly explain it, if asked.

 

[Hall]

There is no moral high ground on how much vs how little profit one makes

Yeap, the market decides, no one else. If I sell a '99 Accord with 250k miles for $8000 to someone that doesn't hesitate in agreeing to that price and they are happy, that's all that matters. If someone's moral high ground thinks they overpaid (they did NOT get ripped off based on my scenario here), feel free to reimburse them XX thousand dollars.

 

[IndyIan]

Yeap, the market decides, no one else. If I sell a '99 Accord with 250k miles for $8000 to someone that doesn't hesitate in agreeing to that price and they are happy, that's all that matters. If someone's moral high ground thinks they overpaid (they did NOT get ripped off based on my scenario here), feel free to reimburse them XX thousand dollars.

In some cases, sure buyer beware, but I'm not a fan of used car salesmen tactics and ethics so I won't act like one... I like to charge a fair price for what I think the market is for what I'm selling. I won't pretend I've got a pristine example and price it that way and then try to hide the faults.

 

[andrew_j]

For $3k car change the oil and potentially transmission oil if a disaster and you feel generous.

Majority of buyers in this space care it starts and runs for next X months.

 

[Lubener]

I would do and say nothing. It is understood when buying a used car, it is usually sold as-is.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Change: Oil, CAF, engine air filter.
Top off Coolant
Inspect brake fluid.
Do not touch the transmission.

 

[supton]

I would do and say nothing. It is understood when buying a used car, it is usually sold as-is.

Ditto.

If anything, I'd be worried about finding something that I would feel bad disclosing. Or would otherwise hurt my profit if I knew and had to disclose. Or break something in the process of changing a fluid that up until now was doing just fine--and be worse off.

Let sleeping dogs lie. Lots of cars on the road are undermaintained yet manage to eek out another year or three.

 

[walterjay]

At 3K I would just change the oil.

 

[AZjeff]

A friend once gave me some advice, albeit in a totally different scenario. He said to always take the high road and do the best you can. I've followed that advice for decades and it's served me well.

Do you just want to make a few bucks or would you like to provide good product and service. It ain't always just about the $$$. It's never a waste of time to be nice.

Good advice from friend but highly doubt OP went to the trouble to provide the best car he can to be nice. If he doesn't put at least $500 in his pocket not worth it. Who expects a sub $4k car to be fully baselined? Topped off yes.

Speaking of flipping cars where's our resident expert??

 

[javacontour]

I'd probably change the oil, make sure other fluids are topped up, etc.

I did when I sold my 2012 Mazda3 because I had a filter on hand and it was as much hassle to exchange the filter as it would be to exchange the oil.

I'd just do it, make no fanfare. If asked, tell them you just changed the oil when you put it up for sale and call it a day.