New to Rv'ing...Is this an okay buy?
Thank you for helping us get started in the RV world! We are going to do a 6 month tour of the US starting next September and are beginning our search for a motorhome. We found this one on craigsl...
Forum Discussion
Sabrena,
Just ignore the negative posts. Some folks just don't know how to work a deal.
I've bought and fixed a few motorhomes/trailers in the past and usually made money when I sold. Here's how I approach the deal:
You may have a motivated seller, didn't his ad say " throw an offer at me"?
Your first job is to determine what this motor home is really worth on the open market. The best way is to check the completed listings in ebay for similar size/year/option motorhomes.
Then check Craigslist to see what asking prices are for similar units in ready to go condition (discount those asking prices by about 20% to get a realistic price)
And here comes the part about how you make your money...."the Deducts".
After I establish the real value for this year motor home, for your purposes lets use the number $16,000.00.
Then I examine the motor home and start the "deducts".
If it needs tires....(find the real cost) and deduct.
If it needs cleaning....deduct.
If it needs fluid changes.....deduct.
Batteries....deduct,
get the idea?
After reasonable deductions, you have a real figure to make your offer.
Show the seller your deduct list, be exact, then tell him this is what you'll pay, and make the offer. Your offer may be only $9,000, but make it. He might take it, but just be sure your offer and the "deducts" don't exceed the real value of the motor home.
Also, don't fall in love with the motor home, if the seller says no to your offer and counters with another price, just walk away. At that point it's not a good deal for you.
Good luck, and if this one doesn't work, keep looking, there are a lot of good motor homes for sale. And if you find one that's 500 miles from home...take a "Road Trip"!
Just ignore the negative posts. Some folks just don't know how to work a deal.
I've bought and fixed a few motorhomes/trailers in the past and usually made money when I sold. Here's how I approach the deal:
You may have a motivated seller, didn't his ad say " throw an offer at me"?
Your first job is to determine what this motor home is really worth on the open market. The best way is to check the completed listings in ebay for similar size/year/option motorhomes.
Then check Craigslist to see what asking prices are for similar units in ready to go condition (discount those asking prices by about 20% to get a realistic price)
And here comes the part about how you make your money...."the Deducts".
After I establish the real value for this year motor home, for your purposes lets use the number $16,000.00.
Then I examine the motor home and start the "deducts".
If it needs tires....(find the real cost) and deduct.
If it needs cleaning....deduct.
If it needs fluid changes.....deduct.
Batteries....deduct,
get the idea?
After reasonable deductions, you have a real figure to make your offer.
Show the seller your deduct list, be exact, then tell him this is what you'll pay, and make the offer. Your offer may be only $9,000, but make it. He might take it, but just be sure your offer and the "deducts" don't exceed the real value of the motor home.
Also, don't fall in love with the motor home, if the seller says no to your offer and counters with another price, just walk away. At that point it's not a good deal for you.
Good luck, and if this one doesn't work, keep looking, there are a lot of good motor homes for sale. And if you find one that's 500 miles from home...take a "Road Trip"!
