Using the Golden Rule to Sell My RV

December 4th, 2009

Most of us have been learning the Golden Rule ever since preschool, if not longer:  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  Would you believe me if I told you that I used something that basic, that elementary, to sell my RV?  Well, you better!

First comes some visualization.  If you’ve had your RV for many years, it may be hard to remember when you were looking to buy it, but try.  Once you’ve achieved an image of yourself as a buyer, adjust the scenario to see through the eyes of someone looking to buy a used RV.

What are some of the concerns prospective buyers will have, and how can you make the process go as smoothly as possible for both of you?  Buying or selling a used RV, especially for the first time, can be a tedious experience.  If your prospective buyer has never owned an RV before, they might feel pretty overwhelmed.

Think of how you would feel.  Don’t bombard them with facts, figures, or terms with which they may not be familiar.  Don’t confuse them further.  Calmly outline your vehicle’s condition and features, and provide more information as they ask for it.  If they live some distance from you and can’t come over right away to see the RV, e-mail photos taken with a digital camera and contained in reasonably sized files.

You still may have to talk to a lot of prospective buyers before you find the right one, but if you just put yourself in their shoes and treat them accordingly, it will be a much more pleasant experience for everyone—I promise!

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Thinking Like a Buyer to Sell My RV

December 3rd, 2009

It’s funny how many situations there are in which putting yourself in another person’s shoes can actually help both of you out.  As I try to sell my RV, I’ve come to realize that this is yet another of those situations.

To sell anything, really, you have to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes to some extent.  See it from their point of view so that you can modify your sales pitch in accordance with whatever is going to persuade them.  RVs are such large investments that this is especially true, and particularly if you’re trying to sell a used RV to someone who’s never owned one.

In my experience, for inexperienced RVers, anecdotal information works the best.  Everyone likes a story; it makes the experience more human.  Explain the RV’s water tank system by telling about the time the toilet kept backing up, when you weren’t even using that much water, and how you determined and fixed the problem.  Things like that to which they can relate whether they’ve ever owned an RV or not.

Also, show them you’re on their side.  You don’t want them to buy your RV unless you’re sure they really want it; you’re not going to pressure them into it.  Insist that they test drive it thoroughly, up and down hills and through plenty of turns, checking out the braking system in particular, to make sure they feel comfortable with it.  Advise them that everyone who will be driving the rig needs to test-drive it—spouses, grown children, whoever.

Show them you’re there to help, and you’ll be amazed at the positive response.

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To Sell My Motorhome in the Winter

December 2nd, 2009

It’s that time of year; temperatures are dropping, water and plants are starting to freeze if left outside overnight.  Even down here in the southern states, some of us have got the heat on.  You want to know, “Will I be able to sell my motorhome if it’s cold?”  Will anyone be looking for a motorhome in the winter?

Sure, they will!  But you want to make sure your motorhome is winter-ready.  The obvious thing is to make sure the engine oil is the appropriate weight, but you also need to check the electrical system.

In cold weather, engine lubricants don’t flow as freely as when it’s warm, so starting the engine becomes more difficult.  Also, lead-acid storage batteries become less efficient when they’re colder, so it’s important to make sure they’re fully charged.  Using a “smart” charger is a good idea, since normal battery chargers can overcharge and evaporate the battery electrolyte.  A smart charger will stop when the battery is charged and keep it at a maintenance level.

Also, be on the alert for sulfate crystal buildup on the battery’s lead plates.  You can buy smart chargers that have the added benefit of preventing sulfate crystal buildup.

However, no kind of charger will help you out if your battery hasn’t been maintained in other ways.  Battery terminal claps need to be tight and free of corrosion.  Cell caps should be removed if possible to check on the electrolyte level; it should be up to the split ring.  If it’s not, refill with distilled water.

Attending to these basic wintertime maintenance issues will make the process of selling your motorhome in the winter go that much smoother!

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Flat Tires Won’t Sell My Motorhome

December 1st, 2009

It’s true; selling my motorhome would be pretty tough if it came complete with fat tires.  To avoid that deflating situation, I’m going to take steps to ensure that my tire maintenance is all up to date—if you too are trying to sell your motorhome, you should check out the following tips too—especially if your RV has been out of service for a while.

Tires should really be checked once a month, whether you’re planning to use the vehicle soon or not.  You should check inflation when the tires are cold, since the heat generated while driving will raise the air pressure, temporarily, up higher than the advisable cold inflation pressure.  Don’t ever bleed air from a hot tire—this could cause hazardously low tire pressure.

Due to the likely inaccuracy of gas station air towers, you should always have your own tire gauge, calibrated to 120 psi.

You probably know this, but it’s not bad information to pass on to the new owner:  never overload your motorhome, as that is a primary cause of tire failure.  The maximum inflation and load capacity information can be found molded into the sidewall.  If your motorhome was built after 1972, it will also have a certification label that will tell you Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) for each of your vehicle’s axles, tire size, and the recommended cold air inflation pressure.

This information can also be located in the owner’s manual, or you can consult a tire dealer.  Even if you don’t need this information right now, it could be a question that will come up as you’re going through the selling process, and it’s always good to know as much as possible to answer questions of potential buyers!

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Unlocking the Doors to Sell My RV

November 30th, 2009

If you’re in “sell my RV” mode, you should make sure all routine maintenance is up to date, including making sure locks are lubricated and all work properly.  RVs by nature have a lot of locks in them…doors, compartments, hitches, toolboxes.  How embarrassing if you or a prospective buyer were to get locked inside…or outside…or can’t get the padlock off the spare tire carrier on a nightmarish test drive in the middle of nowhere…

Choosing the Best Lubricant

People used to use graphite powder to lubricate locks.  Don’t do that; due to its powdery nature, it absorbs moisture and can consequently gum up the lock works.  What’s best to use, then?  Some suggest WD-40, some gun oil.  While even locksmiths disagree on what is best, Teflon seems to be an overall favorite.  You can buy spray lubricants with added Teflon.  Teflon is good because it doesn’t attract as much dirt and lasts longer.

Assuming you decide on Teflon, find a can with a long nose nozzle that will allow insertion of the nozzle assembly into the lock.  Once that’s done, just a brief squirt is sufficient.  Under lubing is preferable to over-lubing; you can always add more later if it seems called for.

Once you’ve wiped off any excess, put your key in the lock and work it back and forth multiple times to ensure good functionality.  This routine should typically be performed every six months or so.  You can then pass your RV on to the next owner with a clear conscience, knowing it’s unlikely that they’ll be locked in or out of anything in the vehicle they got from you—at least for another six months or so.

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The Paperwork to Sell My RV

November 29th, 2009

Does the thought of paperwork make your skin crawl?  You’re thinking, I just want to sell my RV, and the thought of all of the legalities, red tape, and paperwork are almost more than you can handle.  I know the feeling.

Let’s look at what type of paperwork may be involved.  First, you’ll want to have a clean title available when you close the deal.  If you owe money, you will need to get the documents prepared by an escrow company or a lawyer.  An escrow company is a good idea if the price is over $50,000.

If you own the vehicle free and clear, make sure you have the bill of sale ready.  You’ll also want to have read up on your state’s laws concerning the transfer of a vehicle, particularly if the buyer is in a different state.

The most important thing is to not hand over your vehicle until you have either secured funds or cash in your hand. Bank wire transfers are probably the safest way to go, with cashier’s checks running a relatively close second.  If you choose to accept a personal check, make sure you let it clear the banking system, with verification from your bank that the funds are in your account and available to you, before you give the buyer the keys.

If this all seems a little tedious, look into an online company that will buy your RV, guide you through all of that pesky paperwork, and be guaranteed to pay you with certified, easily verifiable funds.  That sounds better.

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Getting Ready to Sell RV

November 28th, 2009

Whether you want to buy a new and improved model, or are just over the RV culture in general, “Sell RV” is on your list of things to do, but you’re not completely sure how to go about it.

Determining the Worth of Your RV

First things first:  you need to find out what it’s worth.  Like anything for sale, what it’s worth only means what someone is willing to pay for it, not what it’s worth to you.  But there are general guidelines; the NADA Web site, for example, will ask you some questions about your vehicle’s features, year, model, etc., and then give you a high and low retail price based on the information you provide.

The Loan Value of Your RV

NADA and Kelly Blue Book printed price guides are also available at banks, libraries, insurance companies, and RV dealerships.  These books typically give you a loan value and a wholesale value, so after doing this small amount of research you should have a reasonable range of prices now at your disposal.

The Negotiation Price of Your RV

You don’t want to go lower than the wholesale price, and if you feel the condition of your RV merits it, you should probably start higher—just not quite as high as the NADA high retail amount.

Obviously, you will then want to get your RV in tip-top shape—cleaned, any problems fixed, and all maintenance up to date.

Once that’s done, you have a few options for how to go about the actual selling:  consignment to a dealer, parking it in a well-trafficked area, putting an ad in the classifieds, or selling to an online company.

The last is my favorite, but you decide what’s right for you!

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Sell RV: Making the Decision

November 27th, 2009

You jot the words on scraps of paper, mutter them to yourself, type them experimentally into Google, wake up repeating them over and over in a singsong:  “Sell RV, sell RV.”  Clearly, the idea is nagging at you, and your subconscious is positively obsessing over it.  Still, consciously deciding to sell, once and for all, can be hard.

The reasons you decide to sell should ideally mirror the reasons you decided to buy—the home away from home, good investment, whatever it may have been—because hopefully you want others to experience the same pleasures you did, or maybe even get more out of it than you did.  You already feel guilty that you’re not using it anymore, I’m sure.  Think how much of a relief it would be to assuage that guilt!

Maybe you’re not able to go camping anymore, for example, for whatever reason—time, health, or lack of desire.  That doesn’t change the fact that camping in RVs is currently one of the top vacation choices throughout the country.  Don’t let that valuable resource in your driveway go to waste!

It wouldn’t be entirely an unselfish act, selling your RV.  There would be something in it for you—money and no more responsibility for it!  No more insistent messages from your conscience or subconscious.

Best of all, it’s actually fairly easy to sell your RV online.  There are even companies that will buy it from you without your ever having to mess with classifieds or consignment.  The time is ripe; take the opportunity to cash in on current trends while they’re still trendy!

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I’ve Decided to Sell My RV Online—Now What?

November 26th, 2009

First of all, good for you!  Deciding to sell your RV online was a step in the direction of successfully finding a buyer who will pay you fairly, without hassle.  But let’s clarify:  when you say, “I’m going to sell my RV online,” you don’t mean online classifieds, right?

Selling your RV online through classifieds

If you’re going to do that, you should stock up on the aspirin—you’ve got a major headache in store.  Online, you’ll reach more people than you would if you were running an ad in the local paper. Is that a good thing?  Most people possess some degree of craziness, and you want to open yourself up to more of them?

Sure, a degree of zaniness makes the world a more interesting place.  Those same people who would have you in stitches if you were just hanging out can make you want to rip your hair out if you’re trying to do business with them.  That’s not even getting into the certifiables out there.

A simpler solution to selling your RV online

My solution?  Find an online company that will buy your RV rather than trying to go through an individual.  Do the necessary legwork to make sure the company is reputable.  Mostly, you need to make sure that you will be paid using certified funds.

A good company will walk you through the whole process, helping to deal with banks, loans, etc.  They’ll make sure the process is as smooth and easy for you as possible.  Doesn’t that sound nice?  Aren’t you glad you decided to sell your RV online?

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Why Would I Want to Sell My RV Online?

November 25th, 2009

Selling your RV is likely a little emotional for you.  The nature of RVs tends to make them the vessels of cherished memories of happy times.  The decision to sell your RV probably was already a little hard, and you might think, “Sell my RV online?  But that’s so impersonal!”

It’s true that selling anything online can seem a little impersonal.  Particularly when you’re selling a thing that has probably been intensely personal.  So you could stick it in your front yard with a sign on it or put an ad in the classified section of the local paper.

Placing an ad in the paper could be dangerous

Either of those approaches would likely be guaranteed to give you that face-to-face experience—but what is the likelihood of that experience turning out well?  I’m not trying to be cynical, but let’s face it:  this world has some psychos in it.  I don’t just mean mass murderers.  In fact, I’m mainly talking about everyday eccentricities and neuroses that may not be dangerous but can still make business dealings pretty tedious.

Or, they may be dangerous.  You’re going to give those people your phone number, or, heaven forbid, your address?  Or invite them to come knock on your front door?  Sure, you could get lucky, but what are the odds?

Online RV ads are quick and safe

There are reputable online companies that will buy your RV for you without all of the fuss, muss, or stranger danger, whose job is to ensure that the process of parting with your old fun-time friend is as painless as it can possibly be.  Taking all of this into consideration, now do you want to sell your RV online?

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