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!

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.