An RV or camper can significantly transform your travel experience, but even the best RV models have a limited life span. Whether you’re upgrading to accommodate a growing family or downsizing as you become empty nesters, selling your RV requires careful planning. These tips will help you properly prepare your vehicle, choose the right timing, and secure a great deal in Melbourne, Florida.
Used RVs For Sale in Melbourne, FL
Prepare Your RV or Camper for Sale
Before attempting to sell your RV, ensure it’s in top condition. Failure to address cleaning, repair, and professional service before you sell the vehicle will dramatically reduce the price you can ask.
Depersonalize the Interior
Too much personalization emphasizes that the RV is used. A tasteful interior decorating job with attractive floors, paint, or wallpaper can stay, but you should remove pictures, ornaments, and accessories. If you’ve added anything quirky, such as novelty hooks and wall hangings, you should remove them.
Deep Clean the Interior and Exterior
Deep clean your RV inside and make it look and smell like new. Go above and beyond your standard cleaning routine to thoroughly detail the vehicle. This includes:
- Defrosting and deodorizing the fridge and freezer
- Vacuuming air vents and window tracks
- Wiping all surfaces with a vinegar and water solution or multipurpose cleaner
- Scrubbing, rinsing, and buffing kitchen surfaces
- Removing upholstery stains
- Cleaning windows
- Clearing debris from outdoor storage compartments
- Wiping out every storage space
- Washing, rinsing, and waxing the exterior
- Cleaning and detailing all bathroom fixtures
- Cleansing and deodorizing water tanks
Stage It Like a Home
When selling a home, it’s important to stage it in a way that makes a positive impression on visitors as soon as they enter. You can achieve a similar effect with your RV by adding or leaving behind a few well-coordinated decorative touches. Matching window treatments and throw pillows or a fresh shower curtain can make a significant impact.
Complete a Maintenance and Repair Check
Ensure your RV is up to date on all its maintenance needs. It’s tempting to forego your final tuneup, but taking care of this now will help you get the best possible price when you trade in your camper. Follow these steps to ensure your RV is in great shape:
- Replace air filters.
- Check and replace window, door, and compartment seals.
- Check and top up fluid levels.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Inspect and air up tires.
- Lubricate slide-outs to ensure smooth operation.
- Check windshield wiper blades and replace them as needed.
- Service the brakes.
- Tune up your heating and cooling systems.
If you identify any repair needs, address them before the RV goes on sale. The value that you’ll lose often exceeds the cost of simply addressing these issues proactively.
Valuing and Pricing Your RV or Camper
Research the market value for your RV based on the year, make, model, condition, and accessories. Be honest about the condition of your RV, as online quotes often differ from in-person appraisals. You should be transparent about any issues with the camper. This builds trust, which is especially important if you’re selling the RV by owner. Even when selling the RV to a dealership, it’s essential to be open and honest, as RV professionals will typically uncover any hidden issues in the inspection process.
Marketing Strategies To Attract Buyers
There are numerous tips for selling your RV or camper that can speed up the sales process and attract potential buyers quickly. If you’re selling online, take plenty of high-quality photos. Listings without pictures are often dismissed because buyers may assume there’s something to hide. For the best results, take the photos in full daylight on a sunny day. Turn on all the interior lighting as well so the area looks bright and welcoming. Remember to include photos of the storage spaces and slide-outs in their open positions.
Provide a detailed description of your RV, including dimensions, the number of storage spaces, and information about all slide-outs, configurations, and sleeping spaces. You can garner more attention with imaginative descriptions of how families can fit four card players comfortably around the dining table, grill in the fresh ocean air with the outdoor kitchen, or snuggle up for a movie night in the master bedroom thanks to the wall-mounted flat-screen.
The best time to sell an RV is in late winter or early spring before prime camping season begins. This is when you can target travelers with the itch to hit the road and fantasize about new and luxurious ways to enhance their camping experience.
Navigating the Sales Process
You should collect as much paperwork as possible on your RV, including the original sales documents and all subsequent records of repairs, maintenance, and upgrades. If you don’t have the original title, you’ll need to contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles and get a replacement before you can begin the sales process.
If you’re selling the RV yourself, list it on online marketplaces and park it in a conspicuous place with a For Sale sign. You may even want to display the sale sign during your last few camping trips if you know you plan to sell the RV soon. Other active RV users in the campground are prime candidates to purchase it.
Alternatives and Considerations
If you don’t want to deal with the complications of selling the camper yourself or you need to know how to sell an RV fast, a dealership is your best resource. Selling an RV to a dealership is a great way to streamline the process and complete your transaction quickly. You can also use your previous camper as a down payment for a new RV if you’re planning to upgrade.
Sell Your RV to Murphy RV
If you’re ready to sell your RV to a dealership in Melbourne, Florida, visit Murphy RV or call us at 321-727-2847. We’ll give you a competitive offer with no hidden fees so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. Our fast and easy process is the simplest way to sell your RV or camper quickly.
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