How to Maximize the Value of Your RV When Selling

Thinking about selling your RV? Maximizing its resale value starts long before you actually create a listing. Whether you are ready to upgrade to a new model or simply taking a step away from the RV life for a while, you can protect your investment from damage through routine maintenance to get the best value when you are ready sell. Simple habits like checking tires and seals, parking on level ground, and driving your motorhome regularly will help keep your RV in top shape.

Protect your RV from Damage

Regular maintenance goes a long way in maximizing the resale value for when you are ready to sale. Smart RV ownership prevents damage to your vehicle, so working to maximize your value starts long before you actually make a listing.

Make it a habit to check your vehicle’s tires, seals, roof, and engine. Leaks often cause water damage that will decrease your resale value or require expensive repairs before you can list the vehicle. Make a habit out of checking these seemingly small things, so that they don’t create bigger problems for you later.

Parking on uneven or soft terrain can hurt your suspension. You can protect your vehicle by using levelers and parking on firm, even ground. Protect your indoor features by securing all loose items inside the motorhome before you start driving—sliding or falling items can damage appliances, furniture, or floors. Some furniture or woodwork will take sun damage as well. Consider investing in some good covers for your windows. If you are planning to resell your RV someday, use command hooks to decorate instead of making holes in the walls.

External Care

Another way to maximize your resale value is by taking routine care of the external parts of your motorhome. Wash the RV regularly to remove dirt and salt before they corrode your exterior. Research and use gentle cleaning products that will not damage your paint or decals. RVs need a good quality wax or sealant applied every few months to protect the exterior from sun damage or the elements—and to stay looking new and shiny. You can invest in an RV cover for another layer of protection, especially if you live in a climate with weather on the harsh side.

If you have cold winters, there are a lot of good options for winterizing your RV that will help prevent wear and tear to your vehicle. Look for a place where you can store your RV overwinter that can keep it inside out of the cold and ice. While indoor storage is an immediate cost, keeping your motorhome out of the elements can save you repairs down the line. Before storing, make sure your RV is prepared to sit for the winter. Clear all the water out of your pipes and tanks, to avoid freezing or mold.

Disconnect the batteries. Make sure things like awnings are dry, so they will not grow mildew while in storage. Clean out all food items from the cabinets and the fridge—not to mention from the floors and under appliances. The last thing you or your buyer need is food being left to mold in the RV!

Even if you live in a temperate place, you can follow this process if you know you will not be driving your RV for a while. This kind of cleaning and upkeep is always helpful! You should also regularly inspect your tires. Driving on low tires slowly wears them out. Good quality, well-maintained tires look better to potential buyers than flattening, beat up, or cracked ones—you might consider getting your tires replaced before you sell.

By staying on top of these routine maintenance tasks, you can preserve your RV’s condition and get a boost in resale value when it comes time to sell.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Once you are actively preparing to get your motorhome on the market, you need to make sure your RV is clean and in its most appealing condition. Before you take pictures for your listing or show your RV to potential buyers, take some time for cleaning and maintenance. You will want to use this time to deep clean. Scrub kitchen and bathroom areas, wipe out storage compartments, and sweep and mop all the floors. It would also be beneficial to clean the carpets and upholstery and use some air fresheners—especially if there are any smells from smoke or pets.

This is a good time to do some extra maintenance, so your RV is in top condition for buyers. A well-maintained RV will go for a better price. Maintaining small repairs can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive the value of your motorhome. Check for leaks or cracks; get them repaired if you find any and be sure to deal with any water damage they may have caused.

Also check your plumbing system and water heater for leaks or wear. Service the engine and generator to ensure the mechanics are working properly. Test the lights, outlets, and any kitchen appliances to make sure everything is working. Be prepared to replace light bulbs or get new appliances. These may feel like inconvenient upfront costs, but keeping your RV up to date makes a big difference in the price you can get for it.

Keep records of all the maintenance you have done on your RV, for the entire time you own it. When you are ready to sell, you will want to have the title, registration, warranty, maintenance records, owner’s manual, and any other documentation you have received. Potential buyers will value the well-documented service history and the care that it shows for the vehicle.

Declutter and Stage 

The next step in selling is to stage your RV (the way you would when selling a house). A tidy, well-staged motorhome can increase its perceived value and lead to a quicker sale. Buyers will want to make the RV feel like their own, so give them a clean slate for their imagination!

Start by decluttering your RV. All personal items should be removed, including excess kitchenware, toiletries, cleaning supplies, extra bedding or decorative pillows, clothes, and shoes. Remove most of the décor as well, since you want the appearance to be simple. While your personal touches and add-ons are appealing to you, someone else might have a different style. Moving unnecessary furniture (and anything that did not come with the RV) will make the space seem bigger. Clearing out storage areas is also helpful—the more things you have crowded in a space, the smaller it looks.

Finally, spot clean everything inside, so there are no visible spots, stains, crumbs, or dust. Add minimal touches for decoration, like putting clean sheets on the beds, to emphasize the functionality of the spaces without making them cluttered or overwhelming.

You can also stage the outside of your vehicle by keeping it clean, freshly waxed, and well-maintained. Taking these steps to brighten up the appearances of your RV will make it look better, both in pictures and in person if buyers want to see it. A clean, staged RV that looks functional and easy to move into will attract more buyers and potentially sell for a higher price.

Craft a Compelling Listing

Once your RV is clean and staged, it is time to advertise it. Take high quality, well-lit photos so potential buyers can actually see all the details. Natural light will help the space look more open and inviting and show off the cleanliness you worked so hard to achieve! Consider taking your motorhome to a park for pictures of the exterior, to help buyers imagine being out on the road with it. Just remember that your RV itself needs to be visible and avoid cluttered backgrounds that will distract from it too much. Make sure you have close-up shots of key systems or features you want to highlight.

Write a listing that includes important details without being overly wordy. Year, make, model, mileage, and condition are always important. Mention things like awnings, solar panels, generators, and unique upgrades or tech. It is always important to be honest and upfront about your vehicle when selling. However, you can highlight its strengths while you do so—emphasize certain features like low mileage, new tires, or a smoke free RV. You want to include all your add-ons or upgrades that increase value. Your online listing is a buyer’s first look at your vehicle, so help them see everything they need to.

Invite your readers to take action by including phrases like “Schedule a viewing today!” or “Reach out with serious inquiries.” A clean, detailed, and engaging listing will attract more serious buyers and increase the value of your RV with buyers.

Research the Market to Price Competitively

When you have to decide on a listing price for your motorhome, doing some good research on the current, local RV market is a crucial first step. There are many online marketplaces that make it easy to see how other RVs are selling and for how much. Try to find listings with the same make, model, year, mileage, and condition as your vehicle.

Note the asking prices on them and watch for how long these listings stay up, to give you an idea of what buyers in the current market are willing to pay. You should also consider your specific area. Are there many people near you who are interested in buying an RV? Are your local buyers willing to pay less or more for a motorhome? If you get stuck on pricing your RV, you can use the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) guides or the RV Trader website for reference as well. And National Vehicle will give you a free valuation of your RV to help you determine its value.

While you want to get the best price possible for your RV, remember to be one hundred percent honest. Include upgrades and maintenance records to justify your price and show off the value of your RV. Competitive pricing does not necessarily mean the lowest price on the market; it all depends on the resale value of your individual vehicle. Pricing competitively helps attract serious buyers and increases your chances of making the deal quickly.

Advertise Widely

Once you have crafted a solid listing, you need to get it in front of potential buyers. Getting your listing up on RV-specific websites is helpful, since it attracts your target audience. You can utilize more general classifieds too, like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, to get more exposure and reach your local audience. You can also consider placing an ad in your local newspaper if you think that will get you more visibility. Advertising to friends and family by word of mouth is another way to spread the news that you have a vehicle to sell. Some sellers use their personal social media to advertise as well.

If this process sounds overwhelming, National Vehicle is here to take some of the pressure off your plate! We offer services to help you with pricing, listing, and advertising, and we can get you premium ad placement and exposure. Maximizing your RV’s resale value is not something you have to do alone.

Smart and Reasonable Negotiating

With your RV in good shape and listed for sale, it’s time prepare for inquiries and negotiations. Remember that you and your potential buyers both want the best deal possible. Be upfront and honest with everyone. This keeps the sale fair and helps build trust as you navigate the negotiations. Be open to letting people see the vehicle or try a test drive. Get it inspected or serviced if you are requested to do so. Buyers are willing to pay more for a vehicle if they feel confident it is in good shape.

However, you also need to be smart about the negotiations if you want to maximize your RV’s resale value. Do your research beforehand so you know the fair market value of the motorhome you are selling. Go into the conversation prepared and decide beforehand what the bottom line is that you will accept.

Keep Driving it Occasionally

If you find yourself waiting for your RV to sell, keep track of the time and continue to drive the vehicle occasionally. While you want it to stay clean and staged for potential buyers, letting it sit unused for too long can cause damage. Running all of its functions periodically helps keep the engine, transmission, and brakes in good shape.

Fluids can settle and corrode your engine, and unused brakes can seize up and malfunction. The generator also needs to run sometimes to stay in working order, and batteries can get drained if they go unused. Tires can develop flat spots if the RV is not moved for a long period of time. A simple drive every month or so can prevent issues from cropping up that will decrease your resale value, require costly repairs, and/or slow down your selling process. As long as the RV remains in your care, you can continue to maximize your resale value by giving it the best possible care.

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