How To Sell Your RV

As the camping season for most of the country gets ready to really kick into gear, some of us face a dilemma: how do you sell your RV. Perhaps you are thinking it’s time for an upgrade to a newer model, or maybe your family has grown up and now you no longer need as big of an RV as you have? Maybe you’re selling it for the terrible reason that you just don’t have the time to use it as much as you expected? Making the decision to sell your RV can be tough, especially if you don’t know where to start. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of selling your RV.

Expectations

This is always the hardest part about selling your RV. What can you actually expect to get out of it? It is so hard to answer that question because you often think it’s worth more than a buyer. I’m not trying to be mean when I say that, but camping memories are almost always good memories, so sentimental attachment needs to be placed aside when determining the worth of your used RV. You also need to set aside what you paid for it, especially if you bought it new. Everything depreciates, and usually faster than you expect.

So, how can you determine what you can honestly expect to get from selling your RV? You can start by going over classified listings to see what similar RVs are selling for. You can also check sites like Craigslist and the Facebook Marketplace for ads, as well as your local paper.

Online resources, such as the NADA guide, can give you a decent idea of the current fair-market value for your used RV. Kelley Blue Book has RV listings as well. Other good sources for fair value are your local bank, and or your local RV dealer, who may offer to sell it for you on commission. Be aware that if you agree to do so, you should demand a full contract for the agreement with the details of how it will go so you’re covered.

Prep Time

Unless you sign a commission deal with a dealership and they agree to detail your RV for you, the next step in how to sell your RV is to completely clean it. I would strongly recommend you start by taking everything out of the RV, including any cushions or furniture. Pick a nice dry day to do this as moisture is the enemy of everything. Do a complete and thorough cleaning and try to make things as clean as they were when it was new. This really helps make a solid impression and helps you get your asking price.

If there are minor repairs that need to be made, this is also the time to make them. Repair any broken latches or handles. Tighten up loose knobs, screws, bolts and nuts. If there are more costly repairs, such as the need to replace a furnace or stove, you might want to consider making the repair before you list it. A good rule of thumb is any repairs that are obvious will lower the price you’ll get from the buyer 2-3 times as much as the actual cost of the repair.

Once you’ve got everything cleaned and repaired, put everything back in the RV that is going with it in the sale. Resist the urge to stage, or arrange things in the RV like they do with houses that are for sale. Let people see how well-kept your RV is and let them imagine themselves using it for their own adventures.

Post It

It may be just as easy as throwing a “For Sale” sign in the window and having someone passing by stop in and offering you full price. That is pretty rare these days, however. Your best bet it is use those same local online classified listing sites (Craigslist, FB Marketplace, etc.) to list your RV locally. The RVGuide.com Classified page will help you reach a broader audience. Remember that people are often willing to travel to buy an RV.

When I was a kid, my mother bought us a used RV from a co-worker. All we had to do was go to the other side of the country to get it. We camped and explored the whole way back and even though I was very young at the time, I still remember a lot of the amazing experiences from that adventure.

Sell It!

Once you’ve done everything else and you get a potential buyer, you need to have not only the idea of what it is worth, but what you’re willing to sell it for. A lot of people are looking for deals and expect that they can get one. Once you establish a “bottom dollar” in your head, stick to it. If you have a potential buyer walk away, don’t worry. There will be more as long as you have a reasonable expectation. Once you have made the deal and have it sold, wish it well as it takes new owners on adventures of their own making. Hopefully you can then move on to a new one of your own as well.