End of Summer, Peak Interest: How to Price Your RV for the Fall Buyer Rush

The end of summer might feel like the ideal time to winterize your RV and stick it in storage for the next several months, and really, if you plan to use the rig next year, this is probably the case. That said, if you’ve been thinking about selling, you may want to reconsider that decision, and price your RV for sale.

Believe it or not, late summer can actually be an excellent time to put an RV on the market. Not only will selling now save you the hassle of winterizing and the money you’d normally spend on storage, but it also means many people are still in vacation mode. This means they may be looking ahead to next year and are in the market for an RV. Additionally, there are the snowbirds out there who are planning their winter escape and may want a new-to-them rig to escape in. 

There may not be as much interest as there is in spring, but there are still plenty of people looking to buy an RV, and by listing at the right time and pricing your rig right, you might find the perfect buyer. 

Start With the Actual Value of Your RV

But how do you price your RV right to make sure it sells before the cold weather sets in? The first thing you’ll want to do is figure out the actual value of your trailer or motorhome. 

Many RV owners try to base their listing price on the price they paid for the rig or the amount they still owe. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work. RVs don’t tend to retain value well, meaning you won’t get what you paid. Meanwhile, if you only ask what you paid, you may not be asking enough. 

Factors such as age, condition, RV type, maintenance, damage, and equipment all affect resale value. We recommend using our handy RV valuation tool as a starting point and then fine-tuning your asking price from there. 

Research Comparable RVs

Once you have a general idea of your RV’s value, you’ll want to see what the actual market looks like. To do this, search for RVs that are as similar to your own as possible. Try to find rigs that are the same year, make, and model as well as the same mileage and overall condition. Making sure the RVs you are comparing to are somewhere in your general area is also important, and you’ll want to compare several listings to get a feel for the average asking price. 

Keep in mind, listings that have been sitting for a long time might be priced too high. It’s also important to note that the asking price is not always the selling price. 

Remember That Asking Price and Selling Price Are Different

The amount an RV is listed for is not necessarily the amount it will sell for. Therefore, it is a good idea to make sure you are pricing your rig based on the amount similar RVs are actually selling for rather than what they were originally listed for. 

Generally speaking, the trailer or motorhome will likely sell for a bit less than your asking price. This is totally normal, and it’s why we recommend listing the RV for just a little bit more than you actually want to get out of it. No, you don’t want to price the RV so high that people get scared away, but a little bit of cushion for negotiation is a good thing. 

Don’t Forget About New RV Prices

It’s also important to keep in mind the fact that you aren’t just competing against other used RVs, especially if your RV is less than five years old. If you’re selling a used trailer for only slightly less than a similar brand-new one, you probably aren’t going to have a lot of luck no matter how well maintained it might be. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the prices of new RVs in your area and allow those to influence your pricing decisions. 

If you choose to price your RV close to the cost of a newer rig, make sure to communicate why your RV is worth that. If you’ve made upgrades, a buyer might very well prefer the older rig, but they have to know about those upgrades to realize that. 

Understand That Upgrades Don’t Always Add Their Full Cost

Yes, some upgrades can help sell an RV and might even add to the value of the rig. That said, it is important to understand that you likely won’t get to add the full value of the upgrade to the sale price of your RV. In fact, certain upgrades might bring in nothing at all. 

Generally speaking, it isn’t a good idea to upgrade an RV purely to add value to the rig. Instead, make the upgrades that are useful to you while you own the RV and then list them as added benefits when selling without expecting the value of the RV to increase significantly. 

Condition Matters

Two identical RVs can have very different values depending on how they’ve been maintained and whether they have any issues or damage. Before determining your final price, take an honest look at your RV from a buyer’s perspective.

• Check the roof.
• Inspect the seals.
• Look for water damage.
• Check the appliances.
• Test the air conditioning and heating.
• Make sure the slides operate properly.
• Inspect the awnings, tires, exterior storage compartments, plumbing, electrical systems, and other major components.
• For motorhomes, consider the condition and maintenance history of the engine and chassis as well.

If you find issues, fix them or price accordingly, and never assume a buyer won’t find a small problem. Instead, disclose issues and the fact that you took them into account when pricing the rig. This will help build trust, something you definitely want to have. 

Make Maintenance Records Part of the Sale

A folder full of maintenance records may feel like overkill, but trust us when we say it isn’t. In fact, maintenance records are like gold when you’re trying to sell an RV because they prove that you were a diligent owner, meaning the rig is much more likely to be well taken care of. 

If possible, gather receipts and documentation for:

• Oil changes
• Tire replacements
• Roof maintenance
• Appliance repairs
• Warranty work
• Generator service
• Battery replacement
• Brake work
• Major upgrades
• Water system repairs
• Other significant maintenance

Also gather the owner’s manuals and documentation for major components.

The more information you can provide, the easier it is for a buyer to feel comfortable purchasing your rig. 

Don’t Forget Your Selling Costs

You’ll also want to consider the cost of selling when deciding on an asking price. Be sure to think about:

• Outstanding loan balance
• Sales or transfer fees
• Advertising costs
• Repairs needed before sale
• Detailing
• Storage
• Registration or title expenses
• Dealer or consignment fees, if applicable

Making sure all of these costs are covered will help ensure you walk away with the amount you expected to pocket. 

Presentation Can Help Protect Your Price

Choosing the right price is the first step. Once you’ve done that, you will want to make sure you present the RV well, so buyers can see just how fair your price is. Remove clutter and clean floors, upholstery, bedding, and wipe everything down. Clean the outside of the RV as well. 

When the RV is clean, take good, well-lit photos of all of the rooms, the storage compartments, and the exterior of the RV to include with your listing. Remember that the photos you include are a buyer’s first look at the RV, so they really should be quality photos that draw attention. 

Give Yourself Time to Adjust the Price

While it’s best to get your price right from the get-go, it’s very possible you won’t, and that’s okay. Treat the first several days your listing is live as a test. If you get lots of saves and messages, but no offers, you might be close to the right price but need to improve the listing. If you don’t get any attention at all, you may have priced the rig too high. 

If the listing sits for a few weeks, you may reconsider your price. After all, the goal is to sell the rig.

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