New to Rv'ing...Is this an okay buy?

Adventure2014 wrote:
I DO get it...I need to run away from this motorhome. But just because I ask what a reasonable price for it would be doesn't mean that I am a moron, idiot or deserve the words that you all intended for me.
I came here to ask for advice on a specific situation- which I got and I am grateful for. However, please don't feel the need to bash someone you don't know for asking questions in hopes of adding to their knowledge of the RV/Motorhome world. You are putting a pretty sour taste in my mouth with comments like "There is one born...",etc.

PS-I'm a "she".

Sabrena

Don't mind them - there are a few people here that might pick on you for considering it but I am a firm believer that if there is money to be made then it might be a viable option.

I obviously don't know what the exact condition of this MH is. I don't know what kind of book values are associated with that MH or what it would take to recondition it would be. So I'm not going to tell you what you should offer - rather a simple formula used in the car business on evaluating trade vehicles.

How I would come up with a price to offer is to take a private party book value say (Kelly or NADA) and then start subtracting the costs of what it would take to make it retail ready condition. Be sure to leave yourself with enough margin to account for the unexpected and your time (capital) to get it ready. If what you end up with is in the positive side then negotiate from there. For example:

Motorhome has an average value (trade-in, whole sale etc...) of 10,000.00.

MH VALUE 10,000
-1500 ENGINE WORK
-1000 AWNING
-500 GENERATOR REPAIR
-800 NEW APPLIANCES
-2000 NEW TIRES
-600 NEW BATTERIES
-800 NEW WINDSHIELD
-600 NEW SIDE WINDOW
ETC...
-1500 PROFIT MARGIN / UNEXPECTED COSTS / TIME TO RECONDITION / USE OF CAPITAL ETC.

= 700.00

If that was the case ( I know it isn't and I know some things would cost more or less but that is an example) but if that was the case the reasonable offer would then be $700.00. I would offer half that up front and when the guy goes screaming I could come up from there. I would even show that math on a piece of paper as a negotiating tool so he can see how I came up with the number.

If you're really interested in a project than maybe that's a way to go for you and if you do it that way then you're not going to have a lot of unexpected expenses.

Best of luck to you but just be careful on this purchase. It could hurt the pocket book more than you realize OR less likely but still possible that you come out with a GEM that needs minor tune-ups, new batteries and a windshield.

Let us know how it turns out please. I am interested in your outcome.