Purchasing a MH using an escrow service & insurance ques

[Melissa_-_Gary]

Hello,
We are interested in purchasing a motorhome that's located in another state. The coach is currently being repaired at a body shop because the exterior was vandalized with rocks. Window, body, and paint repairs could take 5-6 weeks. The seller said he would take a $5,000 deposit to hold it. We aren't comfortable with giving the seller deposit money though we are considering using an online escrow service like Paysafe Escrow if the seller agreed. We would have the coach inspected and make that part of the purchase agreement. We'd like to hear from anyone who has purchased an RV or motorhome under similar circumstances whether they used an escrow service or not. Also hear from anyone who purchased a damaged RV/MH and had a difficult time obtaining insurance. If so, did your insurer allow you to raise the ACV 'actual cash value' or 'agreed value' of the coach after completion of repairs and getting an appraisal.
Gary

[Mich_F]

It sounds like you've done your homework, and it's on the up and up. I hope everything works out for you.

[Melissa_-_Gary]

Thanks for warnings and advice. I contacted the body shop and they sent several pics of the damage and repairs being made. I contacted the retired sales manager, (he was well known in the industry) that sold him the coach. I spoke to him for over an hour. I did a vin check. I checked out who the seller was. I googled the owner's name and address and it checked out. Google map shows the coach parked in front of his house. He's owned a business in the same city for 50 years. I googled the business and it checked out. You are all correct in that you should never hand over money to anyone without seeing it at the least. We are interested in this coach because it was a one owner, garaged, well cared for coach and we like this particular make, model, and floor plan. We don't want to wait 5-6 weeks but not many of these coaches were made and finding one that is in all probability in exceptional condition is time consuming and difficult. As scams go anything is possible, but one can only do so much without being there in person. If we do end up purchasing it, I'll post a few pics with the details.

[stickdog]

Many scams to remove dollars from your pocket. How did you find this bargain? EBay, Craigslist, some other online sales. There are many cases of high priced merchandise, cars, RV's being offered at bargain prices that don't exist, at least by the person offering it for sale. It's easy to copy a picture of a vehicle and offer it for sale. Best to find a buyer out of state and ask for a deposit to hold it till they can come and check it out. Once the money is transferred it's gone, gone gone.

You feeling lucky?

[Mich_F]

I agree with the "sounds like an internet scam" crowd. Why the interest in this motor home? Is it one of those deals that sounds too good to be true? 5-6 weeks in a body shop to repair vandalism from rocks to windows,body and paint by itself sounds "fishy". I imagine it can happen, but I've never heard of it happening.
With all the motor homes for sale, I'd certainly pass on something that sounds so way out of the ordinary.

[Homer1]

My advice would also be do not commit funds to purchase anything you have not seen. Then if you are still interested, set up an escrow account whereby the release of funds is dependent on your final acceptance. I would also lock in the price up front.

[midnightsadie]

I bought a mh in texas ,I,m in ohio over the phone .$500. down on inspection I get it ALL back. not a problem with a good dealer.those rocks could be HALE DAMAGE . spend couple bucks fly out. our dealer picked us up at the airport bought a great lunch .and filled the tank on the mh as we left .now thats a good dealer

[GoPackGo]

I would want to see how it looks after the completed repairs. So I would want to write into the purchase agreement that you want to inspect the coach after all repairs are completed and could cancel the deal at that time if you are not satisfied - and get 100% of your down payment back.

[Melissa_-_Gary]

We haven't seen it but I plan on flying out to see it and have it inspected by a very respected inspector. You make a good point in that we shouldn't consider using the escrow service until we've at least seen it.

[okgc]

sch911 wrote:
Have you actually seen this MH or touched it yourself? If not I recommend you do, before giving up any money. Too many things could go wrong here....

X2 !

My first thought was internet scam.

[sch911]

Have you actually seen this MH or touched it yourself? If not I recommend you do, before giving up any money. Too many things could go wrong here....