This article is about how and when to sell your RV. And how to get the most money when you do.

Now we’re not going to be covering the subject of trading in your RV at a dealer.

No, this article is really just about selling it as a private seller instead.

Table of Contents

• Is This A Seller's Market Right Now?
• What Is The Best Time Of Year To Sell An RV?
• How To Sell An RV – Where?
• Selling RVs On Facebook
• How To Sell An RV – Prep It For Sale
• How Important Is Appearance When you Sell An RV?
• How To Sell An RV – Establishing The Sale Price
• Websites That Can Help you Set Your Sale Price
• How Quickly Can You Sell Your RV?
• How To Sell Your RV Using Maintenance Records
• How To Write The Ad For Selling Your RV
• What Is The Best Way To Show Your RV To Prospective Buyers?
• What About RV Inspectors?
• Should You Pay For An RV Inspection Yourself?
• How To Sell And RV – The Paperwork
• What About The Loan You Have On Your RV?
• How To Sell Your RV – Avoiding Fraud
• Conclusion

Is This A Seller’s Market Right Now?

Now first of all, what kind of market are you facing at this point? Well, the seller’s market of the Covid pandemic years has come and gone.

And right now we are back to a more normal selling market for RVs. Maybe a little slower than normal.

The years between 2020 – 2022 were not normal by any means. And we definitely aren’t going to see that kind of high interest in buying RVs of all types again anytime soon.

At least not unless we see another major upheaval like the pandemic caused.

So the question is, given the market for used RVs now, when should you put it up for sale?

What Is The Best Time Of Year To Sell An RV?

In other words, what are the best times of the year to sell an RV?

Well it’s usually during the run up to, and during, the year’s RVing season.

And the RVing season usually begins around April and runs pretty strong through the month of September.

This is when more RVs are bought and sold than any other time of year by far.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to sell an RV outside those months.

Because the truth is that people buy RVs year round. And that’s why RV dealer sales departments stay open throughout the year.

But if you sell in the months leading up to, during, and right after RVing season, the odds are more in your favor.

How To Sell An RV – Where?

Now the next question we want to answer is where you should try to sell an RV.

Of course, in the old days people just put a an ad in the newspaper. As that was the most common way to advertise things for sale then.

And actually it worked really well then, and still can produce results today too.

The next way to sell an RV is you could always put a “for sale” sign on your RV. And then try to put it in a visible area where lots of people can see it.

Once again, that works really well for some people these days too. Especially if you put your RV in a spot that will get a lot of traffic going by.

But most RV sellers want to have a bigger reach than just the area where the RV is located.

So here are some places where you can do that. RVTrader.com is a very good place to start. And also RVT.com as well.

Both of those websites have nationwide reach as a forum for selling RVs. And lots of RV sellers get good results advertising there.

But these days another good place to sell an RV is on the Facebook Marketplace. It has increasingly become more popular now.

And believe it or not, Craigslist works for a lot of people too. You just may have to wade through a lot of low ballers to get to the better buyers.

And don’t forget EBay.com either. They have a very active RV sales section that gets a large audience too.

Selling RVs On Facebook

But a method that’s working very well right now is selling through Facebook groups.

Yes, if you belong to Facebook just go to the groups section. Then search for the RV type that you want to sell.

In other words, if you have a Class A, search for that. If it’s Class C, a fifth wheel or travel trailer, put in a search for that kind of RV.

And most likely you’re going to find some groups that are specifically set up for people to sell those kinds of RVs.

And the great part is that advertising your RV for sale in these groups is not considered spam.

Finally though, these days a lot of folks are having good results by trying to advertise their RV in as many spots as possible.

OK, so now we’ve covered when to sell and where to sell an RV. Now let’s talk about how to sell your RV.

And I’m going to give you 10 steps that will really do the job right if you follow them.

How To Sell An RV – Prep It For Sale

Let’s start with number one. And that is to prepare your RV for sale. Don’t just put your RV out there and hope for the best.

Instead, do some preparation before putting it up for sale. And what do I mean by that?

Well, first of all make sure that everything works in your RV before you sell it.

And if you’ve been using the RV you should know what works and doesn’t work. And maybe there’s certain other things that need some attention too.

So it’s a good idea to take a list and go in and around your RV. And try to look at it with fresh eyes as if you were a buyer.

If so, what would you be looking for? And what would catch your attention?

What would impress you about your RV and what would not impress you?

Then make a list of all of the things that need repair and adjustment. And get them fixed.

Do your best to get your RV in the best shape that you possibly can. And why is that?

Well if you do, it’s going to pay you back handsomely for all of that effort.

Because when buyers see an RV and think “this is really nice, I like it”, what happens to the price?

In most cases, the price in their mind is going to go higher. The more they like that RV, typically the more they are willing to pay for it.

And if they can see that your RV is in tip-top shape, it eases their mind about buying a used RV. So make sure everything works on your RV!

How Important Is Appearance When you Sell An RV?

Now, the next thing to do is to thoroughly clean that RV inside and out.

And I have to say that I see a lot of people that really mess up on this selling stage.

Quite often, they don’t clean their RV hardly at all. Especially on the outside.

And that’s because it seems to be a lot of work for people to do. So they just try to sell the RV without all that effort.

But what I recommend is to get it clean inside and out. Make it shine and make it look nice.

That’s because the first impression a buyer has of an RV will mean a lot!

And the appearance of an RV is one of the major factors that will influence the price you get.

How To Sell An RV – Establishing The Sale Price

Next up is to establish your sale price. And how do you do that with RVs?

Well if it was a car or a truck you’d just go to NADA or Kelly Blue Book, right?

Because they produce listings of accepted prices for most passenger vehicles.

And in the RV industry we do have NADA as a guide. But my personal experience with it has been that it’s not really all that reliable.

Certainly not as trustworthy as the passenger vehicle guides they produce.

So to find out how the market values your RV, here’s what I do.

Websites That Can Help you Set Your Sale Price

I go to RVTrader.com and RVT.com because they’re both nationwide forums for selling RVs.

Then search nationwide for your year, brand and model of RV. Don’t just search in your little area, or even just in your state.

Instead, search all across the country and bring up a list of all the RVs that are like yours.

And I usually go maybe a year newer and a year older as well just to make sure I’ve got a good rounded out representation of prices.

Now what you’re going to find is a whole range of prices. From the highest price that somebody wants for it to the lowest price.

And this is very valuable information to have. Because now what you want to do is check those ads out to see what they are selling and for what price.

Then try to determine where your RV falls in that price range. How does it compare to the ones you find listed on those sites?

If it’s truly in better shape than what you’re seeing, then add a little extra to it. That gives you more room for negotiating the price too.

The main reason for doing this kind of price research is you start to get a feel for RV prices.

You start to learn what the market says that RVs like yours, in the shape it’s in, is really worth.

Also now that you have your selling price in mind, you know that it’s a fair price too.

And it’s easy to prove that it’s worth that kind of money as well. Because you have done your research like you should.

How Quickly Can You Sell Your RV?

Now let me say one more thing about price here. And that is that the price you set for your RV will definitely affect how soon you sell it in most cases.

So if you want to sell it quickly, you need to lower the price some.

That way buyers are going to consider it a good enough deal that they just can’t pass by.

But on the other hand, what if you’re going to try to get every nickel out of that RV? Well, expect to have it a bit longer to sell.

So your motivation to sell and your timeline for selling will affect the price as well.

How To Sell Your RV Using Maintenance Records

OK let’s move on to the next point about selling your RV. And that is to assemble all the service records and maintenance records for that RV.

Get the records for whatever you’ve done on that RV in the past while you owned it.

Put them together and then organize them. Maybe put them in a folder that makes it easy for a buyer to look over.

Then when a prospective buyer looks over the RV hand them that folder to consider.

That way they can see what you have done. How you have cared for that RV and looked after it while you have owned it.

It proves that you’ve done the things necessary to keep the RV in good shape.

And when you do that, automatically in the mind of a buyer the price is going up.

Because most buyers appreciate the value of a well maintained RV. And they will be willing to pay more when they see proof of that.

How To Write The Ad For Selling Your RV

OK, now it’s time to write the ad for the RV. And my advice is to write that ad honestly!

Please don’t do like some RV sellers do and try to hide problems and get away with things. Why?

Well, here is what often happens when you do that. Someone comes to look at your RV and they’re a very serious buyer.

And you’ve told them that everything works on this RV, that everything’s wonderful.

And then they start finding things that aren’t so good. Problems and issues.

So what happens to their thought process then? Well, they’re immediately thinking, “if you didn’t tell me about this then what else do I not know about”?

So at this point, what happens to the price? Well, in their mind the price is going down rapidly.

And that’s because they’re thinking “what else am I going to have to pay for to get this RV in good shape”?

Especially because they feel that they can’t trust what you have to say about the RV.

However, what if you write the ad honestly? And you’re up front with buyers about the true condition of the RV?

Well, that usually makes them have more confidence in you and what you say. And therefore more confidence that they are getting a good RV.

What Is The Best Way To Show Your RV To Prospective Buyers?

The next thing to do is have the RV ready for interested buyers to inspect it.

And what do I mean by that? Well have it in a place that’s easily accessible. A place that people can get into and look it over easily.

In fact, it’s a good idea to have all the hookups already connected too. So it makes it easy for them to go through the RV and try things out.

They can check the plumbing, the lights, and so on very easily. Once again, this helps them have confidence in you as a seller.

It helps them feel that you are not trying to hide something that could be a problem.

What About RV Inspectors?

Next up is to allow an RV inspector to go through the RV if the buyer chooses to do that.

Now I know some private sellers just refuse to have an RV inspector come in and go through their RV.

But what happens when you deny the buyer the opportunity to use an RV inspector?

For many people it makes them think “what are they trying to hide about this RV”?

I know that is what goes through my mind when a seller refuses an RV inspection.

In fact, in cases like that I just leave and rule out that RV for consideration altogether.

So if you want to establish trust and get a good sale for your RV, that’s a very bad way to do it.

Also what does it say if a buyer is serious enough that they’re willing to pay for an RV inspection?

Well, you better believe that they’re a serious buyer. Because they are willing to invest their own money in this transaction.

And that is the kind of buyer that you don’t want to let go. They are the serious buyers you want.

Should You Pay For An RV Inspection Yourself?

Now one more suggestion I have for you here. And that is that you might even consider paying for an RV inspection yourself before you put it up for sale.

Because what happens if a buyer comes to look at the RV and you hand them maintenance records on that RV? It instills confidence.

Then what if you also hand them an inspection report that shows the condition of the RV too? From a third party inspector?

Wow, that’s really impressive to a buyer! And well worth the investment on your part to have those records and report on hand.

Because once again, that often brings the price they are willing to pay higher.

They’re willing to pay more if they feel they can trust this is a good deal. And you are giving them everything they need to establish that kind of trust.

How To Sell And RV – The Paperwork

OK, the next point to consider when selling an RV is to have a bill of sale ready.

Yes, have your paperwork ready for the sale. Don’t be having to run around and try to get it at the last minute.

Instead, have all of that set up and have an approved bill of sale for your state that’s ready to be signed.

Now the bill of sale doesn’t have to be anything special. In fact, it can be very simple.

Just have it ready so that you can get the sale done without hassle.

Also know what taxes are going to be required for the sale of that RV.

Again, don’t be running around at the last minute trying to figure out what the taxes are. That’s not good for the buyer.

So know what the taxes are in your state to help them complete the sale quickly.

What About The Loan You Have On Your RV?

While I’m on the subject of financial matters, you should also know what your loan payoff is going to be. That is, if you have a loan on the RV.

It will be good to know what the amount is that will pay it off for the sale.

Don’t wait on getting that information. It’s good to know before you sell the RV.

And that way you know exactly what you can and cannot afford to get for the sale.

Of course, the best thing to do with an RV loan is pay it off before you sell the RV.

That will make the sale go so much faster and easier. But that’s not always possible.

Now the last point that I want to cover in this article is a very important one.

How To Sell Your RV – Avoiding Fraud

And that is to decide how you’re going to accept payment for the RV’s sale.

This is so important. Because you have to be very careful these days with fraud.

There are lots of people out there looking to deceive someone in an RV sale.

So my recommendation is this. Most people have a bank that they do business with, or a credit union.

Then get hold of them and tell them what you want to do. That you want to sell your RV.

And ask about their advice on how to sell that RV while protecting yourself from fraud.

In fact, try to involve them in the sale as much as you possibly can. Most of these kind of institutions are happy to help you in the sales process.

Conclusion

OK, I think you can see that there’s clearly a lot of work that goes in to selling your own RV.

And that is exactly why so many people choose to trade in their RV at a dealer instead. Or maybe put it on consignment at a dealer.

It’s true that it is much easier that way. However if you follow the guidelines I’ve given you today, I believe that you can make quite a bit more money from the sale of your RV if you do it yourself.

And that’s it for now. Have safe and happy RV travels!

This article is going to be about RV depreciation. About what it is, and how you can minimize it and save money on the purchase of an RV.

So what is depreciation anyway? I mean, we hear that term used a lot. So what is it exactly?

Well, it’s simply what happens when something you buy loses value over time.

Now it often happens with vehicles, like cars and trucks. And of course with RVs as well.

So why do they depreciate so fast? Mainly because, especially with RVs, new ones are coming out every single year.

And they have new features and capabilities with every new model year.

So that means that the older ones are not quite as valuable anymore to the buying public.

Also, from year to year there’s going to be wear and tear on the RV too. And that’s going to lessen the value as well.

So the thing I want you to keep in mind is that RVs should not be considered an investment in any way!

They’re all going to lose value somehow over time. But the question many RV owners want to know is, how fast do they lose value? And how much?

Table of Contents

• RV Depreciation – How Much Does It Affect The RV's Price?
• RV Depreciation Doesn't Affect All RVs The Same Way
• The Number One Way To Tame RV Depreciation
• The Second Way You Can Keep The Value Of Your RV High
• The Third Way To Keep High Value In Your RV
• When Is The Best Time To Buy An RV?
• Should You Never Buy A New RV To Prevent The Big Depreciation Hit?
• A Major Reason Why RV Depreciation Doesn't Always Affect New RVs

RV Depreciation – How Much Does It Affect The RV’s Price?

Well, most new RVs that you buy are going to lose about 20 percent of their value within the very first year or so of your ownership.

And then after that they will lose more from year to year. But it’s not going to be nearly as much as that first couple of years.

Now here’s the good news though. Depreciation does affect the RV’s price quite a bit in the first five years.

But after five years it tends to slow down a lot in its drop in value from there on.

In fact, by year 5 most RVs have depreciated somewhere around 35 percent on the average. But by year 10 it’s only dropped to 50 or 60 percent.

So I think you can see that RV depreciation starts to level out a little bit between year 5 and 10.

RV Depreciation Doesn’t Affect All RVs The Same Way

But different brands and different manufacturers lose value at different rates. And why is that?

Well, that’s because some brands are better known for quality. They have a great reputation with RV buyers and so their value holds longer.

These are brands like Airstream, Casita, Newmar, Tiffin. And there’s others as well. I can’t go down the whole list here in this article.

But there’s quite a few high quality brands that just hold their value better than others do.

And on the other side of the equation there are the typical high production RV builders.

You know, the ones that you see everywhere at almost any dealer you visit.

And they’ve got tons and tons of models and various price ranges and so on. Typically, they are the ones that often lose their value quicker than other quality built RVs. So just keep that in mind.

Now how can you slow down this loss of value in an RV that you have bought?

Well, I’m going to share three ways that you can do that. And number one is something we’ve actually already covered.

The Number One Way To Tame RV Depreciation

That is to try your best to buy a quality RV brand from a quality RV manufacturer.

Now how can you spot quality in an RV? Or what are the brands that have the best reputation?

Well, I know it’s a challenge for many buyers! And that’s why I created several guidebooks to help you in the quest to identify quality RV brands. I’m sure they can be a big help for you in the buying process.

But now let’s move along to our second point on keeping the depreciation loss as low as possible.

The Second Way You Can Keep The Value Of Your RV High

And that is to maintain your RV as well as you possibly can while you own it.

Unfortunately, this is something that I’ve got to say a lot of RV owners don’t really do very well.

They buy the RV, and then they kind of treat it like a new home that will never have issues. Or at least it will be a long time before they’ve got to do anything to it.

But the truth is are that RVs constantly need maintaining. And it doesn’t take an awful lot to learn what to do. Also it’s not difficult to do for most people.

In fact, roughly 80% of the things that need to be maintained or repaired around an RV can be done by the average RV owner.

All they need is just a little guidance and know-how that is usually easy to find online.

So try to maintain your RV and keep it in really good shape. And keep a record of what you are doing as you maintain and repair it too.

Record any maintenance you do or any repairs that you make to that RV. Keep very good records of the care that you have put into it.

And let me tell you, that impresses a buyer a lot when you go to sell that RV.

When you hand over the records that show exactly what you’ve been doing to keep that RV in excellent shape.

Well, automatically in the buyer’s mind, the value of that RV has increased immediately.

The Third Way To Keep High Value In Your RV

OK, let’s go to number three on our list of slowing RV depreciation loss.

And that is to keep your RV updated as you go with newer technology. Also with newer styles and appearance.

Now this is important. Because a lot of times people are looking for the latest gadgets and the latest technology.

It’s the things that make RVing easier and more pleasant for them. Also, if you look at older RVs, you’re going to see colors that just aren’t anything near what we are into these days.

You will see things like carpet used everywhere all through the RV, instead of hardwood floors.

And you’ll often see things that clearly date that RV by the appearance alone.

Well, try to keep your RV updated as much as you possibly can. And then when you do, the money you put into it isn’t wasted.

Because that way the investment is not only beneficial for you and your use of the RV.

But it’s also a big plus in the mind of a prospective buyer who’s looking at purchasing that RV too.

And that’s an important point! So keeping the RV modern in appearance increases the value of the RV to them too.

When Is The Best Time To Buy An RV?

OK, so then now the question is, when is the best time to buy an RV to prevent value loss?

In other words what’s the sweet spot in depreciation loss where you should be buying an RV?

Honestly it’s somewhere between year 5 and 7 in my opinion. Because up to then, like we discussed earlier, price depreciation has been pretty rapid.

But then it just sort of starts to level out a little bit at that point. And you can get a great RV for a great price that’s depreciation stable at that point.

Should You Never Buy A New RV To Prevent The Big Depreciation Hit?

So here’s another question, should you never buy a new RV then? Because of that big depreciation hit that you take right off the bat.

Well I’m not saying that at all! There’s actually several very good reasons that people buy new RVs.

For instance, they may just want that bumper-to-bumper warranty that comes with it for the first year or so.

That way they don’t have to worry about paying for any major repairs during that time.

Also, a lot of people like new RVs because nobody’s used it before them. So they know how that RV has been treated, since it’s brand new.

That means that nobody has had it before and done some bad things to it. Especially things that may not be obvious to the next RV buyer. So they like that!

They also like the idea that there’s not been anybody who smoked in it. Or had pets in it, or things like that.

And that’s especially important to folks that have allergies to those kinds of things.

Also people like to buy new RVs for the latest features, like this article mentioned before. They just want the latest technology available.

And there is nothing wrong with any of those reasons for buying a new RV at all. But here is another important point in favor of buying new RVs.

A Major Reason Why RV Depreciation Doesn’t Always Affect New RVs

And that is if you plan on keeping your RV. And I’m talking about keeping it for many years, maybe 10 years or longer.

Well then honestly, depreciation doesn’t really factor into the equation very much at that point.

Because during all those years of RV depreciation, you are keeping that RV instead of selling it.

But what if you think that you may sell your RV within the next few years or so?

Well then, it’s important for you to factor in the depreciation loss of value in the cost of that RV.

And then try to minimize it as much as possible in the ways I’ve covered in this article.

Well that’s it for now. Have safe and happy RV travels!