By Cheri Sicard
One of our favorite YouTubers, Duane from the RV Inspection And Care YouTube channel, is here with an important video for anyone who ever hopes to sell their RV. His five ways to improve the RV resale value of your rig can be an invaluable aid in getting the most you can when it comes time to sell.
Don’t feel like watching the video? Keep reading—I’ll break it down for you.
The top 5 ways to maintain your RV resale value
#1 Fix and maintain your RV regularly: Buyers will pay more for an RV that is in really good condition. It’s just common sense. Especially be sure to repair leaks in joints and seals: This is essential for keeping damaging water out of the RV. Be sure to watch the video as Duane shows what people are looking for regarding water damage when buying an RV. Duane says it’s a good idea to keep a regular maintenance schedule checklist.
# 2 Keep good records: Keep good records of all the repairs and maintenance you have ever done on the rig. That way, you can prove its value. Here’s the maintenance log book we recommend.
#3 Keep your RV clean inside and out: Make sure your RV looks clean and well-maintained. Duane says the appearance of your RV can add thousands of dollars to its selling price. Most people especially neglect the exterior, so be sure to watch the video for Duane’s tips on how to care for yours. Be sure to also treat seals and other rubber parts regularly with a UV inhibitor like this one. Inside the RV, pay special attention to the carpet.
#4 Protect your RV while in storage: If you are not a full-time RVer, you are going to want to take extra steps to protect your rig while it is in storage. Keep it inside if possible or, at a minimum, covered to protect from UV damage. Depending on where you store your RV, humidity may also be a factor you need to deal with. If you are in a humid climate, a dehumidifier is suggested to protect against mold.
#5 Keep renovations reasonable: Not everyone has the same tastes or needs. Therefore, if you plan to sell the RV down the road, try to make changes or renovations that will appeal to the greatest percentage of potential buyers. Believe it or not, not everyone will want a Barbie pink RV.
Duane also suggests that if you do major renovations, such as removing the dinette, keep the dinette you removed so it can be put back in should the new buyer desire.
These upgrades will pay off
Duane ends the video with some upgrades you could do that will add monetary value to your RV. He says these upgrades will pay off:
• Upgrading the mattress
• Installing a better toilet
• Upgrading the kitchen appliances
I would add solar capabilities, an inverter, and lithium batteries to that list.
Do you have other tips to help maintain or improve the resale value of your RV? Be sure to drop them in the comments below.
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RVDT2860
When you sell your RV people don’t want to pay you more than they have to. Plus when selling scammers come out of the woodwork to try and steal the RV. I have never seen scientific evidence by 303’s manufacturer it actually stops UV from deteriorating rubber or plastic parts.
I’m not sure having receipts for maintenance does anything for the resell value. In fact, repair logs detailing everything that has required repair might actually be a deterrent once the buyer sees the frequency and cost of repairs the previous owner endured.
I believe the best way to improve resell value is to keep it in a condition commensurate with what you hope to collect and in a configuration others would want to own. There’s just not much beyond that other than sell when and where there’s demand.
Our 2017 has less than 2,000 miles on it. It was purchased as a (semi) stationary unit for seasonal use. The 1st 1,700 miles it was commercially moved across the country. It has changed RV park once. The tires look new with pressure maintained and covers, but they are 9 years old. I’ll make more selling it discounted than the higher selling price if I replaced the tires.