One of the hardest things about selling your RV can be deciding on a listing price. You want to sell it as quickly as you can, but also want to get as much profit from it as possible. If you set your initial price too high, you probably won’t get many interested buyers. If you set the price too low, you’ll get a ton of interest, but won’t make as much money as might have been possible. Fortunately, RVT has resources to help you figure out a good starting point for selling your RV.
Use RVT’s Price Checker
It’s possible your specific model may only have a few current listings, so it’s a good idea to get a broader scope of the market from similar vehicles. Using RVT’s Price Checker allows you to do that with the advanced options feature. In addition, the J.D. Power RV Value feature adds another reference point to check against the prices currently listed on RVT.
Watch Similar Models
Once you find a few models that are similar to yours, you can opt to “watch” them to see how quickly they sell at their current prices, or if the sellers reduce the listed prices. To access this feature, visit any listing and click the “watch” button below the listing photos. RVT also allows you to add listings that come up in your Price Checker search to your watchlist, and set alerts when similar vehicles are added.
Using these features can give you a sense of how competitive the market—or your particular model—might be. If vehicles are selling quickly and without much new inventory being added, you’ll likely be in a seller’s market and can opt for a higher price. If vehicles are selling a bit slower than the rate at which new ones are being added, it could signal that it’s a buyer’s market and you might need to adjust your price and expectations accordingly. When it comes to listing a specific type of RV, like selling your toy hauler, compare it to other models on the market to get a better idea on pricing your unit.
Use Impartial Judgment
Using online tools is only helpful if you’ve objectively judged the current condition of your rig. Even if it’s been well maintained and kept clean, it likely has some dents, dings, or other imperfections that seem minor to you, but could give other buyers pause. Ultimately, you have to be objective and put yourself in the shoes of a buyer. How would they judge the condition of your RV? How would they feel about the list price? If you have connections in the RV community, ask for their opinions on the list price you’re thinking of and encourage their full and honest opinion. It may not be what you want to hear, but it could be what gets you a sale.
Test the Market
If you’re not in a hurry to close a deal, try listing your pre-owned Class B camper van or other used RV for slightly higher than the market and see what happens. You might find a buyer who loves a particular feature your RV has that makes it stand out. If you need to sell quickly, then perhaps list it slightly below market value. You would be more likely to get a fast response from interested buyers. It’s also possible that by listing slightly below market, you might be able to push a bidding competition between buyers to get an even higher price.
Get a Dealer Quote
Even if you know you want to sell your RV privately, getting a quote from a dealer can help give you a rock bottom price. They’ll usually give you a quote that would be good for several days. So if you need to sell fast, you can list it privately first and always come back to the dealer if you don’t get a higher price quickly. If you take it to a local dealer, you might even be able to get some tips for how to increase the value of your sale.
Be Flexible
Even the most exhaustive research might not quite get the right valuation for your Class A diesel motorhome or other RV. If you find it sitting on the market for a bit longer than you’d like, it’s always easy to reduce your listed price. After a few days from the initial listing, you might have several potential buyers “watching” it. Any reduction in price would trigger RVT to then send an automatic email to all your “watchers” notifying them of your price reduction and hopefully this will help drive some interest for you and your “watchers” will reach out to you.
Setting the initial price when selling your RV can be a difficult decision, but using the resources available on RVT.com can help ease the stress and give you confidence in your listing. Keeping an eye on other listings to spot trends, using your best judgment, and knowing how to negotiate with shoppers are helpful when it comes to selling. By following these tips, you’ll get the most for your RV on RVT in less time.
By Audrey Somero
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