Clean versus Dirty Trade-in

At least a few times a month I am asked, "Do I really need to clean my car before I come in there to have you appraise it?" I believe most Used Car Managers would say that having your trade-in detailed before having it appraised is not necessary. They are the experts and know the value of a vehicle whether it be clean or dirty. I beg to differ. It is purely psychological, but when an appraiser is presented with an absolutely clean vehicle, he/she, by human nature, will subconsciously think that the vehicle was well maintained. All in all, depending on age and mileage, having a freshly detailed, clean trade-in could get you anywhere from $200-$1500 more in actual cash value.