Selling your car? Don�t do this

Are you planning to sell your Ford cars car in the near future?

If yes, you should be taking care to maintain your Ford Escape, Ford Expedition or Ford Mustang�s resale value.

Kelley Blue Book, known as a resource for used car values, offered this list of things drivers often do that damage their cars' value.

Toss maintenance records - the best way to ensure a buyer that your vehicle is properly maintained and cared for is through documentation. Sure, you religiously follow your oil change schedule or have your 50,000 mile check up � but without proof (receipts, your dealership�s initial on your service manual), all that work won't be worth much at trade-in time.

Pick a wild color � that hot pink color may seem to make your Ford Mustang a true stand-out on the road, but many times car owners find it harder to sell those exotic-colored cars later on. Instead, KBB recommends to stick with more popular colors such as black, silver or white.

Get unpopular options - be sure to include equipment that other buyers will want such as anti-lock brakes (ABS), alloy wheels, a CD player or leather-upholstered seats.

Eat and go � sure, you take care not to spill ketchup on the seats when eating your favorite burger. But before making that drive-thru purchase, consider the mess potential it will make to your car.

Personalize permanently - KBB also recommends passing on the vehicle personalizations for your new car or at least keeping them to a minimum. Sure, it�s easy to add spoilers or bumpers these days with auto parts readily available from online stores like Ford Parts Online. Make sure not to overdo it though.

Let the interior go - make sure the upholstery and mats in your car are in good shape. If your floor mats need replacements, you can also find them at Ford Parts Online.

Pump up the volume � Not everyone will find it hip having parts of a car carved away to make way for extra subwoofers or upgraded speakers to replace the factory stereo. Go easy on the upgrading and make sure it won�t jeopardize your vehicle's resale value.

Mix and match tires - Buying mismatched tires and forgetting to have them checked and rotated regularly is another trap many car owners fall into. Buy a complete set of the same brand for both safety and to maintain your car's resale value, KBB suggests.

Ignore those door dings - That scratch or ding may not look like a big deal from the outside, but they could easily have a lasting impact on your car's value if not fixed on time. Often those blemishes are the first step toward rust and could result in expensive damage to your car over time.

Choose poorly from the start - Make sure you pick a vehicle that has a good projected resale value right from the start. KBB says if you do your research ahead of time, it could save you money down the road.