Now that summer is winding down, you may be thinking about trading in or trading up your current RV or maybe just selling it outright. At Ketelsen RV, we buy, sell, and trade new and used recreational vehicles of all kinds.
Getting ready to sell or trade your RV can be a process. Often considered your home on wheels, it’s a lot more like selling a house than just another vehicle. Just as you would never hold an Open House to sell your home before sprucing it up to make a good impression, you shouldn’t drive your RV to a potential buyer or dealer without a using a little elbow grease and adding some spit-shine to your rig.
Before trading in your RV, you’ll want to perform a few simple tasks to help you get the most money for it. After all, the more you get for your trade in, the more you’ll have to invest in your new RV.
- Give the interior a thorough cleaning inside, including floors, windows, bathroom, and kitchen. De-clutter as much as possible.
- Correct any cosmetic problems and do minor repairs like replacing missing handles and hinges. Oil any squeaky doors or drawers and mend or replace torn or stained fabric or upholstery.
- Spruce the place up with new accessories, rugs, window covers or other decorative items.
- Attend to regular maintenance.
- Show off your RV’s storage capacity by keeping all compartments tidy and well organized.
- Be sure to have service and maintenance records on hand.
- Check for soft spots in your flooring, usually a sign of wood rot. Replace any damages sub-floor before attempting to trade in.
- Make sure your AC and heaters are in perfect operating condition. These will be one of the first things buyers check when considering your trade in.
- Wash and detail the exterior of your RV.
You might even want to place a nice warm plate of cookies in the kitchen to make the place smell nice.
It’s important to have a realistic idea of what you should fairly expect to get for your trade-in. There are several websites you can visit for price comparisons. One of our favorite organizations for help in this area is the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). This website will show you both the low and high retail values for any vehicle by using the NADA Vehicle Pricing Guide.
Contact us to request a quote or stop in today to learn more about our trade in process. Our experienced team can help you trade in your RV and find a new one for even better RV adventures in the years to come.
