How to Price a unit you want to sell

[Scott Forman]

NADA motorhome values have little to do with reality, they are based
primarily on a depreciated value. NADA vaues for passenger cars are
primarily derived from a huge wholesale dealer auction network across
the nation. While there are motorhome auctions across the nation,
they are not nearly as numerous and have much lower volume. And this
is for motorhomes in general...for BB's, the amount of data they have
acess to is very limited. The majority of BB sales are person-to-
person.

Now...that being said, if one does want to use NADA as a starting
point, consider this...the NADA "average" or "trade-in" value is for
a vehicle of average condition...normal wear, normal miles, normal
cosmetics for its age. A "beater" would be worth less than this
value, and thoroughly updated and truly prestine coach would be worth
more. Using years of experience from a family in the car business, I
can tell you that the step from "average" to "clean" is a large step
not commonly taken by professionals when buying. Of course, they are
buying to make a buck, whereas we are buying to consume...there is
less pressure on us as we are likely to lose money on our sale down
the road anyway.

I bought my coach last year for what I thought was a fair price. I
didn't steal it, but I think I got a good value. A year later, I bet
I could sell it for within 10% of what I paid for it, even in this
market. Too many sellers are out of touch with reality, too many
buyers are as well. A fair price makes everyone happy once they get
a grasp on reality. My coach was for sale for over two years, and I
bought it for more than 30% less than the original asking price.
Reality catches up sooner or later.

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "pattypape"
wrote:
>
> I think NADA uses depreciation and the feed back of recent sales
from
> mfg. and dealers, I do not think NADA has good feed-back on private
> owner to owner sales.
> And there seems to be a high number of BB private sale transactions.
>
> Bill 88 FC Michigan
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Leroy Eckert
> wrote:
> >
> > Well her goes. Just my opinion.
> >
> > NADA is supposed to be a compilation of actual sales providing a
> benchmark. Average prices are just that. Average. Some lower, some
> higher. Now is a great time to buy a coach of course, but not to
> sell. That being said, anyone in their right mind will understand
and
> see quality and quality should be priced accordingly. One simply
> cannot compare apples to oranges. If one wants a beater you get
what
> you pay for. If so, I say go ahead and buy a real deal hanger queen
> and pay a butt load later. Go ahead, I will be here to help them
with
> their problem. Since you are an astute BB owner you understand the
> drill.
> >
> > Sometimes I think Wannabee's are looking for a pot of gold to
fall
> out of the sky. It would be rare for that to happen even in this
> market.
> >
> > Now, everyone must understand that buyers at any price these days
> are few not only for motor homes but for real estate also. The
smart
> investors(calculated risk takers) are in the commodities market
> trying to create yet another bubble that will eventually blow up.
> >
> > It is not of your concern that someone is upside down in
anything.
> That is their problem and if they do not take the loss now the loss
> will be greater later.. These days if the seller has the guts to
ask,
> the bank will accept a short sale and bail out. It might hurt the
> sellers credit for awhile but it happens every day. Go ahead, ask
> them to do it. It would be good for you.
> >
> > Then you need to factor in the travel cost of viewing these
> coaches. Running all over creation these days ain't free and should
> become part of your actual purchase price unless you can deduct it
> from your business. If deductible then add the net after tax travel
> costs to your basis to see what your coach really costs. That is
hard
> money.
> >
> > And finally one really does not get much for flat screen TV's but
> should add on for significant substantial upgrades such as new
> interior, low mileage engine, exceptional paint, various equipment
> upgrades, new tires and exceptional maintenance etc. The high
dollar
> items that you will spend if you purchase a beater(beater being
> defined as a vehicle that is for all intents an purposes trashed
> possible note visually, has not been properly maintained and the
> seller is upside down)(Understand beauty is only skin deep, if you
> get my drift)
> >
> > Leroy Eckert
> > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
> > Dahlonega, GA
> > Royale Conversion
> >
> > birdshill123 wrote:
> As some of you know I am in the market for a newer Bird. Probably
an
> > LXI. I have spent a lot of time on the net looking and talking
> with
> > sellers. Drove to Calif. to see an LXI and am heading to Atlanta
> and
> > Florida to see a few more. I am a businessman and when I sell
> > something the first thing you must do is use your head and not
> your
> > heart. These are inanimate objects and if one is attached to
this
> MH
> > maybe one should not sell it. Of course some people are not
> sellers
> > they are simply testing the waters. But if you really want to or
> > need to sell a BB it has to be advertised properly. That means
> pics
> > and description on the net. You would not believe the number of
MH
> > owners who think that 4 pictures of the exterior and a blurb
about
> > musical horns is good enough. I had one owner who was selling a
> unit
> > at almost $100k over NADA tell me he was upside down and had to
> get
> > what he owed. Others go to NADA and add in all the extras. This
is
> > wrong. Most DP's and especially BB's come almost fully equipped.
> You
> > do not add in : AC's, awnings. micro, aluminum wheels, etc.. The
> > sellers should add in things like upograded sound systems. LCD
> TV's,
> > satellite dishes, etc. In most cases the NADA price without
> options
> > will be close to what NADA claims the unit should be worth. But
> > this price does not reflect the marketplace. Especially the
> current
> > market. NADA is simply a depreciated from new price. Not an
> average
> > of what BB's sell for. But it can be a valuable tool for a
> starting
> > price. Then there are those who think that if they wait a year
or
> > more that prices will rebound!! HUH??? There are sellers,
> including
> > a few dealers, who have had units for sale for more than 2
years.
> > Wouldnt that be a hint that the unit is overpriced? These are
not
> > investments. They are high priced depreciating toys.
> >
> > Bruce
> > 1988 FC35
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
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Mobile.
> Try it now.
> >
>