Selling, what needs repair or replacement?

[BigCanoe]

Hi, we are getting ready to sell our 2008 Keystone Outback 23RS. Do we need to replace the tires? Battery? How about the caulking? What should be done to the roof? The awning has some peeling as well, I assume that's expensive to replace? I'm trying to find the sweet spot between investment in repair and return on sale.

[Lantley]

westend wrote:

Apple and apples, buddy.

And then there's oranges (but it may not apply to the OP).
In my circumstance, I was looking for a trailer that needed some work. I knew I wouldn't have the heart to tear apart something that was in good shape and road-ready.

When I found the Starcraft that had a wall area I could put my arm through, I knew I had what I wanted. :B

Now those are oranges! You were looking for parts. Turn key is not a valid term at the RV junk yard.

[westend]

Apple and apples, buddy.

And then there's oranges (but it may not apply to the OP).
In my circumstance, I was looking for a trailer that needed some work. I knew I wouldn't have the heart to tear apart something that was in good shape and road-ready.

When I found the Starcraft that had a wall area I could put my arm through, I knew I had what I wanted. :B

[_1nobby]

Lantley wrote:

#1nobby wrote:
I my mind there are 2 types of buyers when it comes to used anything.

The buyer that wants "turn-key" and the buyer that doesn't mind a small project at the right price....that would be me.:)

So.....it's a judgment call...fix EVERYTHING and charge accordingly....or fix nothing and price accordingly.

Of course....clean and tidy in BOTH cases.

Just my opinion.

I think there is only 1 type.
The one that will buy if it is priced right.
I understand you maybe a DIY project kind of guy, however if the turn key unit is priced right, I imagine you will make the deal.
I don't think you would not buy because there is nothing wrong with the unit, even if you are willing to take on a project.
If the unit is priced right it will sell to any serious buyer.

Apple and apples, buddy.

[Lantley]

#1nobby wrote:
I my mind there are 2 types of buyers when it comes to used anything.

The buyer that wants "turn-key" and the buyer that doesn't mind a small project at the right price....that would be me.:)

So.....it's a judgment call...fix EVERYTHING and charge accordingly....or fix nothing and price accordingly.

Of course....clean and tidy in BOTH cases.

Just my opinion.

I think there is only 1 type.
The one that will buy if it is priced right.
I understand you maybe a DIY project kind of guy, however if the turn key unit is priced right, I imagine you will make the deal.
I don't think you would not buy because there is nothing wrong with the unit, even if you are willing to take on a project.
If the unit is priced right it will sell to any serious buyer.

[_1nobby]

I my mind there are 2 types of buyers when it comes to used anything.

The buyer that wants "turn-key" and the buyer that doesn't mind a small project at the right price....that would be me.:)

So.....it's a judgment call...fix EVERYTHING and charge accordingly....or fix nothing and price accordingly.

Of course....clean and tidy in BOTH cases.

Just my opinion.

[korbe]

Boon Docker wrote:
😛 :B

:B

[Boon_Docker]

😛 :B

[Gdetrailer]

Boon Docker wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:


I can't wrap my head around the obsession about new batteries and tires here.

Took 6 months for me to sell a trailer and lots of tire kickers.

You should have put on some new tires and a battery, maybe it would have sold quicker.

Let me see, it was a 20 yr old trailer that I bought for $1800.

I spent $1500 repairing the rot.

I used it for 5 yrs.

I was only asking $1800 for it and it was 25 yrs old at that time.

Tires were only 3 yrs old and battery was only 2 yrs old, BOTH items had plenty of life left in them.

It would have been down right STUPID to put $500 in NEW tires and $70 for a NEW battery and sell it for $1800 just to "make it sell faster"..

Hate to tell you, new tires and battery will not have made ANY difference in selling it faster, but if YOU love throwing YOUR money out the door go ahead.

Selling things depends on a lot of variables like timing, weather and the overall market and saturation of used trailers in the market.

There IS an excess of USED trailers in the market all the time (IE less buyers looking for used than used trailers).. I have been camping since 2000 and can easily find a dozen used trailers in yards for sale at any given time within a 20 mile area..

People around this website have really gotten down right stupid lately.

Current trailer I have I paid $700, no battery and the tires were severally weather checked.. The thought of "bargaining" with the seller for new tires and battery NEVER, EVER came across my mind.

It is a USED trailer being sold "as is"..

The BUYER is responsible to ensure the trailer can be safely moved, not the seller.

[Boon_Docker]

Gdetrailer wrote:


I can't wrap my head around the obsession about new batteries and tires here.

Took 6 months for me to sell a trailer and lots of tire kickers.

You should have put on some new tires and a battery, maybe it would have sold quicker.

[Lantley]

Gdetrailer wrote:

Tyler0215 wrote:
Clean it, Shine it, and price it above what you will be willing to sell it for. If the buyer balks at the tires, tell him you will put new ones on if he meets your asking price, or you will take $500 less and he buys his own new tires.
AS far as caulking goes, do you have any leaks? If not leave it alone. If so caulking will only highlight the leaks.
If you are offering a clean RV with no leaks it will sell.

I can't wrap my head around the obsession about new batteries and tires here.

When I was shopping for USED trailers to ME it WAS A GIVEN that I (AS IN MYSELF) would most likely HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES AND BATTERY.. I never expected to find or require a seller to put new tires or battery into the deal..

Quite the opposite, I did not want to pay more than needed and I WANTED TO CONTROL WHAT BATTERIES AND TIRES I BOUGHT.

If YOU the seller has a potential "buyer" balking at the deal with no new tires or battery then kindly tell them that there ARE other potential buyers WAITING to view your trailer..

You the SELLER HAVE the option to either lower the price (IE haggle) or stand firm on price and be patient provided you did not over price it in the first place.

You do not have to take the first buyer/offer, there WILL be others, it does take time and patience when selling. Took 6 months for me to sell a trailer and lots of tire kickers.

How long and patience are the key points.
When I was selling maybe I lacked the patience required and I took the easy route and traded it in. I imagine I left money on the table however it was December when I made the deal.
December is not the best month to sell however I think I got a really good deal on the buying end as the dealer was willing to sacrifice margin for cash flow.
Selling yourself is not for everyone and it does require patience and fair pricing from the start.

[korbe]

Gdetrailer wrote:

Tyler0215 wrote:
Clean it, Shine it, and price it above what you will be willing to sell it for. If the buyer balks at the tires, tell him you will put new ones on if he meets your asking price, or you will take $500 less and he buys his own new tires.
AS far as caulking goes, do you have any leaks? If not leave it alone. If so caulking will only highlight the leaks.
If you are offering a clean RV with no leaks it will sell.

I can't wrap my head around the obsession about new batteries and tires here.

When I was shopping for USED trailers to ME it WAS A GIVEN that I (AS IN MYSELF) would most likely HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES AND BATTERY.. I never expected to find or require a seller to put new tires or battery into the deal..

Quite the opposite, I did not want to pay more than needed and I WANTED TO CONTROL WHAT BATTERIES AND TIRES I BOUGHT.

If YOU the seller has a potential "buyer" balking at the deal with no new tires or battery then kindly tell them that there ARE other potential buyers WAITING to view your trailer..

You the SELLER HAVE the option to either lower the price (IE haggle) or stand firm on price and be patient provided you did not over price it in the first place.

You do not have to take the first buyer/offer, there WILL be others, it does take time and patience when selling. Took 6 months for me to sell a trailer and lots of tire kickers.

When I sold my last trailer, the buyer told me that what sold him on it and at my price was that he saw new tires, and he could give it to his dad as is. I didn't plan on selling it when I put on the new tires, but that was what was told to me.

[Gdetrailer]

Tyler0215 wrote:
Clean it, Shine it, and price it above what you will be willing to sell it for. If the buyer balks at the tires, tell him you will put new ones on if he meets your asking price, or you will take $500 less and he buys his own new tires.
AS far as caulking goes, do you have any leaks? If not leave it alone. If so caulking will only highlight the leaks.
If you are offering a clean RV with no leaks it will sell.

I can't wrap my head around the obsession about new batteries and tires here.

When I was shopping for USED trailers to ME it WAS A GIVEN that I (AS IN MYSELF) would most likely HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES AND BATTERY.. I never expected to find or require a seller to put new tires or battery into the deal..

Quite the opposite, I did not want to pay more than needed and I WANTED TO CONTROL WHAT BATTERIES AND TIRES I BOUGHT.

If YOU the seller has a potential "buyer" balking at the deal with no new tires or battery then kindly tell them that there ARE other potential buyers WAITING to view your trailer..

You the SELLER HAVE the option to either lower the price (IE haggle) or stand firm on price and be patient provided you did not over price it in the first place.

You do not have to take the first buyer/offer, there WILL be others, it does take time and patience when selling. Took 6 months for me to sell a trailer and lots of tire kickers.

[GrandpaKip]

I've sold a popup and a cargo trailer conversion on Craigslist. Each went in less than 2 weeks.
Got less than 1/2 of what the popup was worth, but I sold it to a former student with 2 kids. He was going to get a loan and I asked him how much cash did he have to spend, so I knocked a couple hundred off that amount and he toted it off.
Got what I had in the conversion.
Good luck.

[BigCanoe]

Great advice and very eye opening. I am going to give it a closer going over tomorrow and take some pictures. I will make a list of all defects so I can at least know about them in case asked so I am prepared. I will research some comparable models for sale to see if the NADA price seems legit. I assume a dealership will offer me much less than I would get selling it myself, just like with a trade in car? Anyone done consignment or RV trader vs craigslist?