Author Archives: Rick Nercesian

Exterior Detail on a White Fiat Sedan

Exterior Detailing on a Fiat Sedan No matter what type of vehicle you have, Rick’s Auto Detailing can wash all the dirt and grim away and make your car, truck, or SUV look just as good as the day you purchased it. Some paint colors and finishes can tend to be unforgiving when it comes to looking dull and dingy, so maintaining them and keeping the exterior clean and protected is well worth the effort. We see it all the time with white cars like this Fiat sedan that we recently worked on. They come to us looking discolored and dull, but once we work our magic on them, that white and glossy paint really shines!

To work our exterior detailing magic, we first had to hand wash the car and remove all visible dirt and debris. Then we used a solvent to decontaminate the surface of any iron particles that are less visible. To ensure all contaminants are fully removed, we finished the washing process by using a lubricant spray and clay bar that gets rid of lingering pollutants.

Moving on to the waxing process, we wiped down all painted surfaces with an alcohol-based prep solvent. Once that was applied, we went in with our specialized polishing machine and used a compound with a high-speed buffer to remove all oxidized paint and scratch marks. Then we were ready to seal everything in with our hand-applied protective wax.

With the main body of the car complete, we then focused on cleaning, polishing, and waxing the chrome parts of the car, including the exhaust pipes. For the finishing touches, we wiped down the exterior glass, giving it a streak-free shine, and we cleaned and dressed all tires.

Check out the before and after difference:

Exterior Detailing on a Fiat Sedan Exterior Detailing on a Fiat Sedan

The owner was very pleased with their freshly cleaned bright white car!

If you want to see how good your car could look with a professional exterior detail, book an appointment at Rick’s today.

The owner and staff are kind and professional

This place is great! The pricing is reasonable. The owner and staff are kind and professional. I will definitely be recommending their services to anyone in need of them. I am so very happy with their work! I had a hole in the seating repaired and it looks like it was never there.

– Be S.

Is Detailing Your Car Worth It Before Selling It or Trading It In?

Honda after detailWhether you’re planning on selling your old car privately or trading it in at a dealership, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to give your vehicle a deep cleaning beforehand. After all, the cleanliness of your car won’t change the mileage or objective condition, and a proper detail can cost several hundreds of dollars if you go to a reputable detailer.

So should you detail your car before selling it? Yes, absolutely! Keep reading to understand why.

A Clean Car Looks & Rides Better

The reality is, first impressions matter. A vehicle’s worth can greatly increase if the buyer thinks its previous owner took care of it. It also gives the buyer or dealer peace of mind knowing that they won’t have to clean up someone else’s mess after purchasing your vehicle.

You may know your car, truck, or SUV is in great condition, but potential buyers could get the wrong impression if the exterior or interior of your vehicle has noticeable flaws. A few scuffs on the paint job or stains on the seat may not send the right message, and they could even make your vehicle appear to be worth less than it actually is.

Alternatively, if your vehicle does have some minor mechanical issues or a lot of miles on it, presenting it at its best gives you more bargaining power than if you were to sell it as-is.

The difference a full detail can make really speaks for itself:

Before & after exterior

 

Detailing Your Car Can Increase Its Resale Value

A squeaky clean car doesn’t just make a great impression—it can actually sell faster and at a higher price. Especially when trading in, you may think detailing your vehicle is unnecessary because dealers will probably clean it themselves anyway and they’ll be able to tell what your car’s actual value is beneath the shiny exterior and freshly vacuumed seats.

Though both of those things are true, a thorough detailing job can be what increases your car’s value from good to very good. This can translate to being offered hundreds or thousands of dollars more than you were expecting. In fact, most used car sellers can expect to see a 200% or more return on investment for the cost of a complete detail.

With those odds, detailing your car before selling or trading in is really a no-brainer!

Get Your Used Car Detailed Today

If you’re looking to increase the resale value of your car and sell it as quickly as possible, get it professionally detailed at Rick’s. We offer a full range of detailing services and convenient online scheduling. Book an appointment with our team today!

Car was shining in places I didn’t know could shine

I called in for an appointment for an interior and exterior detailing and Rick set me up the next day, first thing in the morning. I came in at 7:45 AM and Rick was already there working and ready to greet me and get my car set up. He asked me for any special requests for the job and told me when it’d be done by. Job was done in a few hours, earlier than the estimated time, and it was fantastic. Car was shining in places I didn’t know could shine. Rick and his crew work fast but are meticulous, you can tell they enjoy what they do. Professional, friendly and overall excellent service.

– Andy T.

Rick and his staff brought back the “brand new / showroom” car look

I want to thank Rick’s Profesional Auto Detailing and Rick personally for the high quality of service and attention to detail that they performed on my 2015 Challenger Hellcat. The complete detail included several minor dent repairs, exterior detail including ceramic sealant, and a complete interior detail and engine compartment detail. Although my car is going to be 8 years old Rick and his staff brought back the “brand new / showroom” car look and it actually felt as if I was driving off the showroom floor when leaving his shop. I highly recommend Rick’s Profesional Auto Detailing to anyone who wants to restore their car back to its original showroom finish.

– Michael B.

Rick got our Acura RDX back to looking like new

Rick & his crew did an amazing job cleaning the interior of our Acura RDX. My wife was a dog walker as a side gig, so the interior was full of caked mud, dust, and dog hair. Rick got it back to looking like new, carpets and headliner were spotless and the leather seats looked brand new. All door trim, console, and steering wheel looked amazing. Also, Rick’s did not use any scented cleaners which is great because my wife is sensitive to perfumes / artificial scents. Also liked how Rick’s let you select if you want to have only the interior or exterior (or both) detailed.

– Jeff E.

Gift a Clean Car This Father’s Day

Blue Wrangler Jeep after detailing There’s nothing quite as refreshing and satisfying as getting into a professionally detailed car. If you’ve been stuck with what to get Dad for Father’s Day, a gift card for Rick’s could be the perfect answer!

From start to finish, our gift certificates are easy and convenient to use. They are instantly delivered to the recipient’s email (or yours) so there’s no need to go to the store or wait for shipping. You can order your gift card with a custom dollar amount, or you can choose the type of service you want to give that’s tailored to the type of car, truck, or SUV your dad drives. Our detailing services include:

  • Complete Detail
  • Full Exterior
  • Full Interior
  • Engine Detail
  • Leather & Fabric Protection
  • Hand Wash and Wax

Gift card recipients are able to schedule their appointment online for a future date using our online scheduling feature. Order your Rick’s gift card today to give your dad the gift of a clean and shiny car!

Detailing the Exterior on a Lincoln Town Car

Detailing a Lincoln At Rick’s Auto Detailing, we work on all types of vehicles—sedans, SUVs, sports cars, trucks, and more—as well as both newer and older models. We recently cleaned up this older green Lincoln Town Car that belonged to a member of the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association.

To begin the exterior detailing process, our team gave the car an initial wash to remove the layer of dirt and debris on the surface. Then we went in with an iron-removing solvent to make sure any contaminating particles were completely gone. To finish the basic exterior washing, we used a spray lubricant and clay bar to get rid of lingering stubborn pollutants that didn’t get washed away with soap and water alone.

Next up was polishing! To prep for the machine polish and hand wax, we used an alcohol-based solvent to wipe down all surfaces on the Lincoln. Afterward, we went in with a specialized machine that polishes the exterior using a high-speed buffer and polish/compound combo. This helps remove any oxidized paint and scratch marks without damaging the car. We then continued by sealing all painted surfaces with a hand-applied wax.

For the finishing touches, we cleaned, polished, and waxed all chrome parts of the car, including the grille and exhaust pipes. We also cleaned and dressed all four tires and wiped down the exterior glass, leaving it with a nice streak-free shine.

The end result really helped bring out the Lincoln Town Car’s unique green color if we do say so ourselves! Now the exterior is looking fresh and like new.

To book an auto detailing appointment with the team at Rick’s, fill out our online scheduling form today.

Well worth the investment to go to Rick’s

Rick’s guys did an outstanding job on my quite dirty Kia Sportage. Interior detailing was my priority and Rick’s guys were on their game. Well worth the investment to go to Rick’s.

– Harvey L.

Will definitely return

Had an exterior detail done on my 12 year old car, and it came out great. The paint had been dull and worn, and now it looks shiny and refreshed. Will definitely return. Thanks, Rick!

– Brian D.