All of the experts Business Insider spoke with recommended washing a car before putting it up for sale. Cleaning a car thoroughly signals that your car is well cared for and shows buyers it's worth their time.
Sellers should, at the very least, wash the car, but they should also consider putting in a bit of extra work in certain areas.
"For example, shining the wheels and wiping down the vehicle's interior are two low-cost ways to make a big impression in photos," Matt Smith, senior editor at Cargurus.com, told Business Insider in an email.
Both Moody and Ronald Montoya, senior consumer-advice editor at Edmunds, said sellers should consider getting their car detailed. Montoya also recommends cleaning a car a second time when buyers come to look.
"Depending on how long it's been — and especially if it's a serious buyer — you'd want to get it washed for them so it can put its best foot forward," Montoya said.