sell or trade?

When its time to trade for a new a RV I first see what the big discounters are pricing the model I want. This typically is way below "retail". I then check average wholesale book and above average book. I offer the dealer the cash difference between my high book and their coach at the discounters price. If that doesn't work I offer the cash difference between my coach's average book value vs the discounted price. With no need to finance the cash offer, its really hard for a dealer to say no. The last time, 2 days after I left, the dealers sales manager made one more try over the phone to get more, and when I said no again, he said bring your money we have a deal. The dealers often have "hidden money" in the form of factory incentives to play with. It pays not accept their first "deal". But you also have to be realistic about the depreciated value of your trade in. I focus more on the cash difference than what my trade is worth or what the new coach list price is. I don't care if the actual sales contract shows list price vs an inflated trade in allowance because I have done my homework in advance. Most of us probably got hammered on our first new car or rv but it shouldn't happen twice!

If you can take the time to drive your RV to Houston, put it on consignment at PPL. They move RVs fast. We sold ours in October after one month. A party flew in from Florida to buy it. We named the price, not PPL. We sold it at our price, not PPLs. All they do is to give it a home and do the paperwork. It was so easy.

Consignment would seem the best option, assuming you can afford to buy the new one before the old one sells (I couldn't, not many could)

Being without a motorhome while mine sits in a consignment lot would not be an option.

I've no problem with private sales, do a lot of craiglist for cars and household items in both directions. Biggest was a car I sold for 25k. Getting the money (from a Canadian buyer!) was tricky, but not terrible. He had no problem delaying pickup until I was certain I had been paid.

The hundred K from a motorhome like ours, moving that kinda money boggles the mind. Much easier to drive to the dealer and swap keys!

I always suggest selling the previous one before buying the next one. Unfortunately I don't practice what I preach. I had 2 boats for a year before selling the first one and now I have done it again for the 4th. time on another motorhome. I have my Newmar and also a Roadtrek. My daughter calls me a "slow learner".

Here's a strange one...I actually received $1,000 more on my trade-in of my old coach then I was planning on asking for the coach trying to sell it myself. I'd never mentioned to the dealer that that I was going to try to sell the coach on my own, nor what price I would be asking for it, nor did we previously discuss what I might be looking to get for it on trade. Go figure?!

(BTW: The price for my old coach that I was planning on asking was mid to high NADA book at that time.)

I bought both my motor homes on Craigs List. I just sold one on CL as well. It was on for a month and I got a good price because the previous owner and I both kept it in good condition and private buyers appreciate that. Dealers don't really care that you babied the coach until they go to price it to sell. They're going to give you somewhere between high and low blue book. Don't be fooled by a high trade-in value; they'll make up the difference somewhere.

We also didn't want to sell our previous coach privately dealing with looky-loo's. So, we consigned it and it took 90 days to sell.

We received WAY more than trade-in value, it was worth the percentage paid to the consignment dealer to sell the coach.

Surprisingly, we were members of the 'two-bus-club' for only two weeks. :D

MM.

I traded mine in for a price that I would have been very uncomfortable selling to another human. It had so much wrong with it that I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night knowing I dumped it on someone. By trading it in the problem became the dealers. I did not feel bad for them they knew what they were getting.

I put my 1994 PaceArrow on craigslist on a Sunday night. Got three calls, the first guy that came purchased it without even driving it. Had cash and no rv on Wendsday. Shopping for a new coach without a trade seemed so much easier. Especially when you are flying here and there to look at coaches you are interstied in.

Depends on the seller's patience and level of effort they are willing to put into selling a coach.

A private sale has the potential for a substantial increase is the sale price but the seller will be doing all the work of a dealer. Advertising, scheduling viewings, dealing with potential buyers and such. Also the coach will need to maintain in a ready for sale state. Cleaned and shinny with most if not all personal items removed.

With a trade in you will take a hit in the dealer's offer against the perceived value of the coach. Dealers need to buy low and sell high otherwise they go out of business. You won't get an offer based on what NADA or what other guides might list as the retail value since you are negotiating at the wholesale level. The up side is you're done with the coach and it really doesn't matter how may bugs are splattered on the windshield. Plus if you still owe on the coach the dealer will take care of the pay off and title transfer.

Probably the biggest down side of selling on your own is if you find your next coach today and need to pull the trigger quickly. Selling your current coach privately can take time which can result in you owning two rigs. On the other side if you can live without a coach selling privately first will give you a bit more in funds for the next purchase.