Should I fix these two things before I sell my truck?

[corn18]

Two things that I am thinking about repairing before putting my truck up for sale.

First is a dent in the roof from the basketball hoop blowing over and hitting the truck. $444 is the quote from the paintless dent repair guy.

Second is a dent in the rear bumper from backing into a light pole. $656 for a new OEM chrome insert thingy and I can put it on myself.

Autotrader research indicates I can ask $24k for the truck if these are fixed. Not sure what the actual sell price might be. I would be happy to get $22k without the repairs.

Question: would it help if I get these two things fixed? Either in speed of sale or proceeds?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[MGD1961]

Two things that I am thinking about repairing before putting my truck up for sale.

First is a dent in the roof from the basketball hoop blowing over and hitting the truck. $444 is the quote from the paintless dent repair guy.

Second is a dent in the rear bumper from backing into a light pole. $656 for a new OEM chrome insert thingy and I can put it on myself.

Autotrader research indicates I can ask $24k for the truck if these are fixed. Not sure what the actual sell price might be. I would be happy to get $22k without the repairs.

Question: would it help if I get these two things fixed? Either in speed of sale or proceeds?

Thanks,

Tom

Nope. Don’t do a thing. The way the truck market is someone out there isn’t going to care about the minor cosmetics

 

[mmartin_tdc]

If I was buying, the cab dent may be a put off. The bumper, not so much as I know I could deal with that myself.

 

[kenandterry]

The roof dent doesn’t look like it broke the paint, and maybe the bumper hasn’t broken the chrome finish either. If I’m right…..neither should promote rusting.

I’d leave both. The focus will probably be mileage, maintenance and mechanical operations.

Good luck.

 

[itat]

I might think about repairing the dented cab but I'd leave the dent in the bumper. That's totally normal on a truck. Honestly, I bought my first F-150 with a dent in the cab like that. It was a 5'5" bed and the previous owner had rails in the bed for a fifth wheel so it had obviously contacted the cab. It didn't really phase me since there was no damage to the paint. Several years later when I had to have the lower cab corners done (they were rusting out), I had that dent repaired at the same time just to make it look cleaner for sale.

 

[moose074]

Correct me if I’m wrong but it wasn’t to long ago you were asking if you should fix them when you were having other work done for insurance. List truck a little higher than you want. When they use the dent as reason show quote for repairs offer $1k off each of the two repairs only if they mention both. They will feel like they got good deal so will you they most likely will never repair

 

[corn18]

Correct me if I’m wrong but it wasn’t to long ago you were asking if you should fix them when you were having other work done for insurance. List truck a little higher than you want. When they use the dent as reason show quote for repairs offer $1k off each of the two repairs only if they mention both. They will feel like they got good deal so will you they most likely will never repair

You are correct. The new truck window was sealed shut, nailed, taped and covered with plywood and hurricane shutters. I found an opening about two weeks ago and broached the subject and was met with much fury. I persisted, listing the issues we have with the current truck (maxed on weight, low on power, going to hit the truck cab with the 5er) and she softened a bit. I did not hesitate because I knew the shields would be back up shortly.

 

[Oaklevel]

If it is your 2015 2500 and has well over 200K it should not affect the price that much. Someone will want it for a work truck.......................if nothing else. It would not turn anyone off or very few. The cab is the worst .... The bumper is like 80% of the trucks out there.

If it were newer I might fix the cab..............Maybe (but doubt it)

I would not fix it.

 

[PhilFromMaine]

Nope. Don’t do a thing. The way the truck market is someone out there isn’t going to care about the minor cosmetics

2X

My first reaction is that those estimates are way too low! You will end up paying much more to get the work accomplished correctly.

Anyhow, it has always been my opinion that dents like that give a pickup "class".

 

[Oaklevel]

My BIL needed to replace his farm truck due to a frame issue....... So he bought a new to him 2008 F250 XLT 4x4 Diesel with only 150K miles ........ After getting it home he has decided that it was to nice of truck to use on the farm so he is selling it and back to looking for a not perfect truck (body wise) to use on the farm. I think he is crazy but.................

 

[ppine]

It will definitely be easier to sell if you fix the cab. The bumper is unimportant.
You will get the $500 back.

 

[Chuck_S]

What's the "only get one chance to make a first impression" expression? Yeah, I'd fix both.

The fact you've been driving around with this unimpaired damage can give the impression of a lack of care or pride and would cause me to suspect more damage or lack of maintenance.

If this was a 250,000 mile rust bucket truck in salted roads NE Ohio it wouldn't matter but you're in Cincinnati.

-- Chuck

 

[Boomerweps]

Great price on the cab fix. I’d get that fixed. Most anybody can fix or replace the bumper. I’d leave that since dented truck bumpers are pretty common.

 

[Tlmgcamp]

It's all in the presentation. Instead of calling it "damage", call it "patina" and charge extra.

 

[Larry-NC]

I priced a new bumper for the 2015 Sierra 2500 last month. (Same thing--I backed into a parking sign standard that was out of view of the backup cam.) Under $100 with free shipping from eBay. Does that change your mind?

 

[corn18]

I priced a new bumper for the 2015 Sierra 2500 last month. (Same thing--I backed into a parking sign standard that was out of view of the backup cam.) Under $100 with free shipping from eBay. Does that change your mind?

Nope. Was told to stick with OEM bumper because the Ebay ones are junk. If I were buying my truck and had a choice between the OEM bumper with a dent or a new $100 Fleabay speacial, I would take the OEM bumper with a dent.

 

[5picker]

As long as you are prepared to get haggled on the price because of the issues, I'd do nothing.

 

[Larry-NC]

Overprice it

As long as you are prepared to get haggled on the price because of the issues, I'd do nothing.

Always overprice it. I live on a street with 7200 cars a day, at the head of a T-intersection with traffic lights. Plenty of visibility. I have sold several cars for myself, my kids, and friends, usually in 24 hours and always within 48.

My advice to them is captured in this dialog from about 15-20 years ago.
Me: "How much do you want to get for it?"
Son: "$800"
Me: "Okay," making sign reading $1000.
Son: "I only want $800."
Me: "Right. When you get a lower offer or they point out defects, you have room to negotiate. You know it's a good deal when both buyer and seller are happy."

He was also surprised when I made the sign on a sheet of letter paper, 8-1/2 x 11". All it contained was "$1000". I explained that with no price easily visible, people would drive by, assuming it was too highly priced. And with a visible price it was obvious that the car was for sale.

 

[Larry-NC]

Interesting...

Nope. Was told to stick with OEM bumper because the Ebay ones are junk. If I were buying my truck and had a choice between the OEM bumper with a dent or a new $100 Fleabay special, I would take the OEM bumper with a dent.

Interesting that you would say that. I would have said the same thing...except that maybe 10 years ago my son borrowed my Tahoe and used it to bring home a car he had just bought on a dolly. He made the 100 mile journey back and a mile from our homes made a sharp right turn in a driving rain storm. The toad kept going straight and jack-knifed. The dolly put a baseball-sized dent in the bumper.

He bought one from eBay and I was expecting low quality, but after a decade it looks like new.