Many people have recently decided to check out RV life for vacationing. Whether this means full-time RV life or part-time RV life, many people are seeing the benefits of RV travel as an alternative to flight and international travel.
Traveling by RV is super fun and it’s no surprise that so many people have decided to buy an RV this year. With all of the RV purchasing this year (2020), we are also seeing that many people who are considering the need to winterize or store their RV for the fall and winter are deciding to sell instead. Here are some tips on buying and selling RVs to help you avoid any pitfalls.
Why People Sell Their RVs
Many times people buy their first RV to get their feet wet with the RV lifestyle and then learn what it is they REALLY want in an RV by trial and error. Living in an RV full-time for any period of time – you learn quickly what works and what does not.
We did this very thing and our first Motorhome was just that – our first stab at the RV Lifestyle. The lifestyle definitely was for us, but we quickly realized that our first RV (a 2000 Fleetwood Pace Arrow Class A) wasn’t very feasible for our family. We needed more space, a better floor plan, and overall, something easier to drive on long travel days. We renovated the interior to make it more comfortable and workable for us in the short term and then sold it to be able to get a different RV that met our needs better.
First Time RV purchaser? Read This First…
So maybe you are considering purchasing an RV for the first time – and we have some tips to share with you. (Keep reading)!
Or maybe you are considering selling your RV and we have some tips for you too!
First of all, let’s talk about BUYING an RV. This is a big decision and depending on what you choose, it can be a large investment.
A few things to consider when looking for an RV to purchase.
- How often will you use it? – Will you be a weekender with some extended trips?
- Are you going full-time or most of the time? How MUCH RV (space needed, etc) you need will depend on how often you will use it.
- Visit dealerships to get an idea of floor plans, options available, etc. This can help you better understand the options available.
- Should you buy used or new? There are pros and cons to both and you have to decide what makes sense for you and your situation.
- Consider Renting an RV first to find out what rig would best fit your family and travel style.
- Are you going to want a driveable or towable RV? Check out our Motorhome vs Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer video highlighting some of the differences and pros and cons of both.
- Count the cost – call your insurance company to get quotes – maintenance costs, fuel costs, and licensing costs.
- Has your prospective purchase been inspected by a certified RV inspector? This will help to eliminate any chance of buying a headache of an RV BUT even with an inspection things can (and do) go wrong -even with NEW rigs – so be prepared to need to make some repairs from time to time.
Tips for Selling Your RV – Get Top Dollar!
- Utilize online platforms – people are willing to drive or fly a long distance to find that perfect rig for them. Utilizing platforms like RVtrader.com, RVT.com, and Facebook groups with RVs for sale is a great way to market your RV. We ended up with our RV for a really great price. The people we bought from did not know how to market it for sale beyond the local area on the Facebook marketplace.
- Quality photos – this is a HUGE thing. We’ve seen so many RVs listed with blurry photos, little to no photos, photos with clutter everywhere, etc. Think of Instagram’s quality photos. People looking online do NOT have the advantage of being in person to see the rig. So you have to do the best you can with pics. Take as many pictures as you can. Add text to call out features such as a washer-dryer unit or hidden unique storage options.
- Maintenance records are a great way to show you’ve been maintaining your RV. Whether you are a DIYer or not, keeping a logbook and receipts for supplies purchased can be a great selling point when it comes time to sell.
- Disclose what you know. Don’t try to hide anything you know might be a potential concern. This is really common courtesy and honesty is always the best policy.
- Consider consignment. There are many dealerships that will consign RVs and take care of everything with the selling process on your behalf. Check with your local dealership. A really great place to work with for consignments is PPL Motorhomes in Texas and we will link to them in the comments section.
What other tips do you have for those considering buying or selling? Drop us a comment below! We’d love to hear from you! Our goal is to let others know about things to be aware of in the buying and selling process when it comes to RVs.
