togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Will a full professional detail increase the resale value?
Go to Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds and check out the difference in the trade-in and resale values of an Excellent condition versus Good or Fair condition; it’s usually several hundred, if not thousands of dollars.
Choosing and trusting a professional auto detailer can be a tough decision; when you look for a detailer you want a person you can trust with your vehicle, one with experience, knowledge and specialized training, one who provides the best possible workmanship and products for a fair price.
It is said that the highest art is simplicity; usually experts in their field make what they do look simple, this is due to their technique and extensive experience
For many, the thought of spending over $300 for cleaning and applying protection to - $450 - 1000 plus for pint surface correction / renovation seems faintly ludicrous, especially when an automatic car-wash charges less than $30, and there are many products available from high street retailers that claim to shine your car to perfection. The reality is that to detail a vehicle correctly takes time (typically 6-8 hours) and the better detailing products are not usually available at a local auto superstore. Professionalism and the overall customer experience are also very important...
There no standard of what a detail consists of in this industry; detailers from different locations charge a wide spectrum of fees depending on their experience, geographical location, scope of work (i.e. their interpretation of what a detail should consist of) and the type of products used and cars they're working on.
It is in your best interests to ask question about what actual work is involved. The most significant costs involved are labour; products are not a huge component of a details cost, although using premium car care products will make some difference to a details quality.
Things like detailer's experience, marketing the company, insurance; taxes, overheads, etc. will be the larger factors in a price of a detail. Even if you're not that astute about detailing, if you ask questions on the process common sense will enable you to make an informed decision
Paint Renovation
I would also add that paint renovation (the removal of serious paint surface scratches is normally charged on an hourly rate, an experienced paint renovation detailer will have a good idea of how long this should take, so do ask for an estimated time and cost before giving the go-ahead as this could cost between $450 - 1000 dependent upon paint condition.
Selecting a Professional Detailer
If you are considering having someone detail your car, I would urge you to use the same judgement you would in any other area of your car's maintenance, and treat with suspicion anybody offering a really low price. It may well be in your best interest to talk to a detailer who has proven track record of satisfied customers as well as the relevant insurances, and someone offering a lower quote might not.
Request a reputable detailer’s name (s) on one of the detailing forums. Once you’ve selected a detailer be specific about what services you require (i.e. full vehicle detail, exterior paint renovation, interior detailing, etc) It requires an exchange of information between the consumer and the shop so that the extent of each detail and the estimated cost, a vehicle drop-off and collection time are clearly established before work commences.
A successful outcome will rely on good communication between you and the chosen professional. You want someone that makes you feel at ease with the process, someone that you can easily trust. They should be able to answer your questions in simple easy to understand terms, not techno speak, so that you understand what needs to be done, and the benefits. Listen to their suggestions. The more that things can be explained and agreed upon, the more at ease that they can make you feel, and the more confident that you can be in their ability to meet or exceed your expectations.
An accurate estimate can only be given when the professional is able to see the vehicle and ascertain your expectations, a phone-quote can only be a ball-park figure. Many professionals will need 10+ hours of work to transform your vehicle back to like-new condition
Some things you may want to consider
• Professional Detailer should have been in (full-time) business for at least one year
• Should have business licensed and be state registered
• Ensure they have adequate insurance cover (including Public Liability) and that they are a registered business
• Obtain (telephone number) references from three recent clients and check them
• How long they have been in business
• Check with the local Better Business Bureau
• Ask them where they received their training and what products they use.
• Ask the prospective detailer for photographs of vehicles they have done recently (most detailers have a portfolio)
• Ask them their detailing ‘steps’ this will indicate exactly what you are paying for
• Ask them what detailing products they use (known brand names are preferable)
• Do they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee?
• Do they take major credit cards and / or Pay Pal?
• Discuss a price and if satisfied set-up an appointment
• If they quote a very low price it could reflect the quality of service offered.
Detailing Pricing Guide
As with most other things, the price of automotive detailing varies by quite a wide margin. Many more people are concerned with perceived value (a cheap price) as opposed to quality; the secret is to sell quality over price, while keeping in mind client needs. The cost of having a professional perform a detailing job on your vehicle will vary by geographical region, the experience and reputation of the detailer, and the condition of your vehicle, and your expectations of the finished detail, among other factors. Most detailers will offer a specified package of services that are included in their standard prices, and generally will provide additional services on request for an additional fee.
Check to see what your direct competition is charging. This is far more relevant than what others are charging hundreds of miles away in an entirely different demographic. What people will pay you in your market depends on the demographics in your area, i.e. amount of disposal income, types of automobiles, area house pricing, if local people consider their time valuable and are prepared to pay for a professional detail as opposed to DIY, as well as your reputation.
It takes us about 8-10 hours to do a 1-2 step paint detail ($45-60 per hour) so depending on location / skill level / /reputation, to transform your vehicle back to ‘like-new condition’. A Professional using high quality products may spend over $40 in product use alone; so expect to pay a fair price for the amount of work involved.
Approx Detailing Costs
Exterior (8 hours)
• Wash and dry exterior paint – 1.5
• Detailer’s clay – 1.0
• Tyres and Wheel surfaces – 0.5
• Clean exterior glass – 0.5
• Clean and lightly polish paint – 1.5
• Wax or seal paint -1.0
• Clean and protect rubber seals – 0.5
• Exhaust, tyres and trim etc 1.5 hours
Interior (4.5 hours)
• Brush and Vacuum carpets – 0.5
• Shampoo mats – 0.5
• Shampoo / extract carpet – 1.0
• Clean upholstery – 1.0
• Apply protection to vinyl and leather – 0.5
• Clean interior glass -0.5
• Deodorize interior - 10 min
• Protect carpet and upholstery – 0.5
This level of detail on an average sized and condition vehicle would take approx 13 hours, a larger vehicle will obviously take more time, most professional detailers will charge between $400 and $550 to do this level of work.
Depending on location / skill level / /reputation, to transform a vehicle back to ‘like-new condition’. A Professional using high quality products may spend over $20 - 30 in product use alone; so expect to pay a fair price for the amount of work involved.
Paint Renovation / Restoration
Surface preparation for polish / compounding
• Wash 1 – 1.5 hours
• Paint surface decontamination 2 -2.5 hours
• Detailer’s clay 1.5 hours
• Rinse and dry surface 2 -2.5
Paint correction details- as a basic guide for each stage
• Test panel – 2-3 hours
• Compound 8 – 10 hours
• Polishing 10 – 12 hours per stage
• Wipe down process 2 -3 hours
• Finishing 8 – 10 hours
• Wet-sanding 3 – 4 hours per panel.
Sanding a paint surface is a very labour intensive way to eliminate orange peel or other paint surface problems; this method can take an entire day to sand and polish a vehicle properly.
Typical detailing and additional services charge as follows:
• Interior vacuum and hand wash $30 - $50
• Full detail, $450 - $650 (excluding major paint correction)
• Engine detail, $50- $75
• Pant decontamination $ 200
• Windshield polishing $50-$75
• Paint touch-up, $50 minor - $200 major
• Headlight restoration $45- $85
• Paint overspray or cement splatter removal, $250
• Black trim restoration, $50 - $150
• AC system cleaning and cabin air filter replacement, $100-$125
• Carpet dyeing, $100 - $250
• Windshield repair, $50 - $100
• Paintless dent repair (PDR) $55 - $125 per dent
• Wheel surface (cosmetic damage) repair / repaint- $125 per wheel
The above (US $) figures are only estimated costs and should be used for guidance only as they will vary by location and size and condition of vehicle
Go to Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds and check out the difference in the trade-in and resale values of an Excellent condition versus Good or Fair condition; it’s usually several hundred, if not thousands of dollars.
Choosing and trusting a professional auto detailer can be a tough decision; when you look for a detailer you want a person you can trust with your vehicle, one with experience, knowledge and specialized training, one who provides the best possible workmanship and products for a fair price.
It is said that the highest art is simplicity; usually experts in their field make what they do look simple, this is due to their technique and extensive experience
For many, the thought of spending over $300 for cleaning and applying protection to - $450 - 1000 plus for pint surface correction / renovation seems faintly ludicrous, especially when an automatic car-wash charges less than $30, and there are many products available from high street retailers that claim to shine your car to perfection. The reality is that to detail a vehicle correctly takes time (typically 6-8 hours) and the better detailing products are not usually available at a local auto superstore. Professionalism and the overall customer experience are also very important...
There no standard of what a detail consists of in this industry; detailers from different locations charge a wide spectrum of fees depending on their experience, geographical location, scope of work (i.e. their interpretation of what a detail should consist of) and the type of products used and cars they're working on.
It is in your best interests to ask question about what actual work is involved. The most significant costs involved are labour; products are not a huge component of a details cost, although using premium car care products will make some difference to a details quality.
Things like detailer's experience, marketing the company, insurance; taxes, overheads, etc. will be the larger factors in a price of a detail. Even if you're not that astute about detailing, if you ask questions on the process common sense will enable you to make an informed decision
Paint Renovation
I would also add that paint renovation (the removal of serious paint surface scratches is normally charged on an hourly rate, an experienced paint renovation detailer will have a good idea of how long this should take, so do ask for an estimated time and cost before giving the go-ahead as this could cost between $450 - 1000 dependent upon paint condition.
Selecting a Professional Detailer
If you are considering having someone detail your car, I would urge you to use the same judgement you would in any other area of your car's maintenance, and treat with suspicion anybody offering a really low price. It may well be in your best interest to talk to a detailer who has proven track record of satisfied customers as well as the relevant insurances, and someone offering a lower quote might not.
Request a reputable detailer’s name (s) on one of the detailing forums. Once you’ve selected a detailer be specific about what services you require (i.e. full vehicle detail, exterior paint renovation, interior detailing, etc) It requires an exchange of information between the consumer and the shop so that the extent of each detail and the estimated cost, a vehicle drop-off and collection time are clearly established before work commences.
A successful outcome will rely on good communication between you and the chosen professional. You want someone that makes you feel at ease with the process, someone that you can easily trust. They should be able to answer your questions in simple easy to understand terms, not techno speak, so that you understand what needs to be done, and the benefits. Listen to their suggestions. The more that things can be explained and agreed upon, the more at ease that they can make you feel, and the more confident that you can be in their ability to meet or exceed your expectations.
An accurate estimate can only be given when the professional is able to see the vehicle and ascertain your expectations, a phone-quote can only be a ball-park figure. Many professionals will need 10+ hours of work to transform your vehicle back to like-new condition
Some things you may want to consider
• Professional Detailer should have been in (full-time) business for at least one year
• Should have business licensed and be state registered
• Ensure they have adequate insurance cover (including Public Liability) and that they are a registered business
• Obtain (telephone number) references from three recent clients and check them
• How long they have been in business
• Check with the local Better Business Bureau
• Ask them where they received their training and what products they use.
• Ask the prospective detailer for photographs of vehicles they have done recently (most detailers have a portfolio)
• Ask them their detailing ‘steps’ this will indicate exactly what you are paying for
• Ask them what detailing products they use (known brand names are preferable)
• Do they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee?
• Do they take major credit cards and / or Pay Pal?
• Discuss a price and if satisfied set-up an appointment
• If they quote a very low price it could reflect the quality of service offered.
Detailing Pricing Guide
As with most other things, the price of automotive detailing varies by quite a wide margin. Many more people are concerned with perceived value (a cheap price) as opposed to quality; the secret is to sell quality over price, while keeping in mind client needs. The cost of having a professional perform a detailing job on your vehicle will vary by geographical region, the experience and reputation of the detailer, and the condition of your vehicle, and your expectations of the finished detail, among other factors. Most detailers will offer a specified package of services that are included in their standard prices, and generally will provide additional services on request for an additional fee.
Check to see what your direct competition is charging. This is far more relevant than what others are charging hundreds of miles away in an entirely different demographic. What people will pay you in your market depends on the demographics in your area, i.e. amount of disposal income, types of automobiles, area house pricing, if local people consider their time valuable and are prepared to pay for a professional detail as opposed to DIY, as well as your reputation.
It takes us about 8-10 hours to do a 1-2 step paint detail ($45-60 per hour) so depending on location / skill level / /reputation, to transform your vehicle back to ‘like-new condition’. A Professional using high quality products may spend over $40 in product use alone; so expect to pay a fair price for the amount of work involved.
Approx Detailing Costs
Exterior (8 hours)
• Wash and dry exterior paint – 1.5
• Detailer’s clay – 1.0
• Tyres and Wheel surfaces – 0.5
• Clean exterior glass – 0.5
• Clean and lightly polish paint – 1.5
• Wax or seal paint -1.0
• Clean and protect rubber seals – 0.5
• Exhaust, tyres and trim etc 1.5 hours
Interior (4.5 hours)
• Brush and Vacuum carpets – 0.5
• Shampoo mats – 0.5
• Shampoo / extract carpet – 1.0
• Clean upholstery – 1.0
• Apply protection to vinyl and leather – 0.5
• Clean interior glass -0.5
• Deodorize interior - 10 min
• Protect carpet and upholstery – 0.5
This level of detail on an average sized and condition vehicle would take approx 13 hours, a larger vehicle will obviously take more time, most professional detailers will charge between $400 and $550 to do this level of work.
Depending on location / skill level / /reputation, to transform a vehicle back to ‘like-new condition’. A Professional using high quality products may spend over $20 - 30 in product use alone; so expect to pay a fair price for the amount of work involved.
Paint Renovation / Restoration
Surface preparation for polish / compounding
• Wash 1 – 1.5 hours
• Paint surface decontamination 2 -2.5 hours
• Detailer’s clay 1.5 hours
• Rinse and dry surface 2 -2.5
Paint correction details- as a basic guide for each stage
• Test panel – 2-3 hours
• Compound 8 – 10 hours
• Polishing 10 – 12 hours per stage
• Wipe down process 2 -3 hours
• Finishing 8 – 10 hours
• Wet-sanding 3 – 4 hours per panel.
Sanding a paint surface is a very labour intensive way to eliminate orange peel or other paint surface problems; this method can take an entire day to sand and polish a vehicle properly.
Typical detailing and additional services charge as follows:
• Interior vacuum and hand wash $30 - $50
• Full detail, $450 - $650 (excluding major paint correction)
• Engine detail, $50- $75
• Pant decontamination $ 200
• Windshield polishing $50-$75
• Paint touch-up, $50 minor - $200 major
• Headlight restoration $45- $85
• Paint overspray or cement splatter removal, $250
• Black trim restoration, $50 - $150
• AC system cleaning and cabin air filter replacement, $100-$125
• Carpet dyeing, $100 - $250
• Windshield repair, $50 - $100
• Paintless dent repair (PDR) $55 - $125 per dent
• Wheel surface (cosmetic damage) repair / repaint- $125 per wheel
The above (US $) figures are only estimated costs and should be used for guidance only as they will vary by location and size and condition of vehicle