When to buy...when to sell

It all depends on what part of the country you're in. In TX (Houston area) people buy RV's all year (reason PPL is so popular on the forum.) Northern WI it would be May-Sept.

jerseyjim wrote:
Many believe that the best prices (buying) is at RV shows.

When is the best time to sell ?

Buy when prices are low.
Sell when prices are high.

I also do not think there is any "good time" to buy or sell. We've purchased NEW in the Spring and the Fall and the Summer, over 30 years, and in my opinion, there's not any noticeable difference. Times have changed. Dealerships will not negotiate below a certain price, at any time.

Well selling, it's really a gamble. Remember, the value of your camper has more value to you than it does to the potential buyer. Far too often, individuals sell their wares based on sentimental value, when the buyer has no investment. Just like selling a house, you have to disassociate yourself from the item being sold and price it reasonable. And then, it may not sell for a long-long time because someone else just doesn't enjoy your similar style.

When we sold a house once, we have a pretty smart realtor (after going through 4 of them. She was #5). She said, "Everything eventually sells. Everything!" The problem is, sellers overprice their own idea of the house's worth. When they finally realize the house doesn't REALLY have that value, reality finally sets in and the price is lowered to a better expectation, and then things sell. Same is true with your RV. Eventually it will sell, but to get rid of it, it might not sell for what YOU think it's worth. If it's priced low enough, it will sell. So, really... time of year has some impact, but not as much as it use to. It's really all about the selling price now a days. Folks are RV searching 365 days a year these days. Not like it use to be in ages past. Throw it up for sale, put a price on it, and see what happens.

Now, if you simply want to get rid of it, sell it to a dealer. They'll take anything. But you'll never get the price YOU think it's worth.

This partly depends on where one lives, if in the great frozen north then the best time to sell is in the spring when people are interested in using an RV, and not thinking about the cost of winter storage, driving on ice, etc. If in Florida or Southern California then this is much less of an issue, though it does seem highest prices are seen in the Spring, though likely not enough higher to justify the cost of ownership and depreciation hit of waiting for that time of year to come around again.

jerseyjim wrote:
Many believe that the best prices (buying) is at RV shows.

When is the best time to sell ?

I don't believe there is ever a best time to sell. Buyers are out there all of the time and all you have to do is advertise your RV in hopes of attracting the right buyer. I just sold my current coach, at full asking price(well above the bogus NADA BS values), after advertising it over the Christmas Holidays. I advertised it in the local Craigslist and got a lot of inquiries. The first couple traveled down from Pennsylvania and bought it.
A previous Class A was also sold with Craigslist and people traveled down from North Carolina to see it, and they bought it. Again, the first people to see it bought it.
In both cases, I had people wanting to be second/third in line if the first buyers did not follow through.
I don't believe all of the BS about pricing your coach according to what NADA says is the average or low average value. NADA is so far off on their values as to be totally useless.
If your coach is in exceptional condition, say so and price it accordingly. List everything and be sure to mention any EXTRAS that go with the coach. Remember, you are trying to SELL your RV, not give it away.
I have sold many Classic cars, airplanes, motor homes, boats, and homes, and I know what serious buyers are looking for and how to compose an ad that will attract attention. My RV's have all sold in less than 2 weeks.
If JerseyJim is interested in seeing my latest Craigslist ad, for the RV I just sold, I'll be glad to forward it to him.

The dealership I drive for has RV shows monthly at the fair grounds. They are not demo models but our normal inventory and they are deeply discounted both at the dealership and at the show. As far as a best time to buy, it is when a buyer sets their mind to buying an RV as good deals can be had year round.

I would never buy a RV show demo model. I have always bought new, don't want to buy somebody else's problems. a search will show lots of folks that saw the way out from under a lemon was to dump it. the best time to sell is when and if you get a willing buyer. don't let a couple of hundred $$$ and your greed pass on an acceptable offer.
bumpy

Buy in the Winter, sell in the Summer. Buy used, never new.