Owner guides
Best way to sell motorhome privately: complete guide
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The best way to sell a motorhome privately is through trading sites like Gumtree and eBay.
You can make the sales process smooth and simple by following the easy routine set out in this article:
Clean the motorhome
Check that the motorhome functions properly
Have the motorhome serviced
Prepare the appropriate paperwork
Research the selling price
List your motorhome on a well-known platform
Allow potential buyers to test-drive your motorhome
However, if you’re not 100% sure about selling your motorhome, there are alternative options! At the end of this guide, we will also explain how thousands of Australians make up to $10,000 a year by hiring out their unused motorhome through Camplify.
Best Way to Sell a Motorhome Privately
1. Clean the Motorhome
If you want to sell your motorhome privately, make sure that it is spotless both inside and out! First impressions go a long way.
Get inside the motorhome and throw out any personal items or decorations which are cluttering the interior. Don’t forget to open and clean every cupboard and drawer as well as the fridge, the oven and the stove. Buyers always check the nooks and crannies.
Once you’re done on the interior, head outside and scrub your motorhome with soapy water and sponges. You might even want to use brushes for hard to reach areas like the wheels. Then rinse the motorhome off with a pressure washer or hose. Don’t forget to do the roof and undercarriage of the motorhome as well, as buyers will likely also check these areas.
2. Check the Motorhome is Functioning Properly
If you want to sell your motorhome privately, check that all the appliances and driving functions are in working order.
Do a simple walk around your motorhome and inspect for external damage to the body of the vehicle. If you can’t fix the damage yourself, consider taking it to a repairs shop. Doing so might save you from having to undersell your motorhome.
Turn the motorhome’s fridge on a day before the prospective buyer arrives. This will prove that it works well. Also, consider filling the water tank so that you can demonstrate how the water system works.
If you have gas heating, make sure that the tank is full and turn the heating system on an hour before the potential buyer arrives, so that you can prove that it works.
Finally, take the motorhome for a short drive to ensure that there are no warning lights or mechanical faults.
3. Have the Motorhome Serviced and Repaired
If your motorhome is due for a service, always get this done by a professional mechanic before listing it for sale. Potential buyers will only pay good money for a motorhome if they know that it has been well-serviced and still has a long lifespan remaining. Plus, it also means that the buyer cannot blame you if your motorhome starts playing up after the sale.
If there are things on your motorhome that you don’t want to have serviced or repaired, you must be willing to note these things in your advertisement and tell potential buyers. If someone buys your motorhome without being made aware of its faults, they may have grounds to take legal action against you.
4. Have the Appropriate Paperwork Ready
Potential buyers will want to ensure that you have all the right paperwork to prove ownership and service history. When selling your motorhome privately, make sure that you have all the following paperwork on hand:
Registration
Insurance
Service Records
Vehicle Manual
Gas and electrical fitting certificates
5. Research the Selling Price for Your Motorhome
This is perhaps the most important step when selling your motorhome privately. Researching a fair price can save you from the heartbreak of selling too low or not selling at all.
Look for motorhomes that are the same make and model as yours. Then, narrow your search by the number of kilometres that the vehicle has done. Finally, compare your motorhome to those that have similar features as yours. Don’t forget to account for any accessories that you may have added yourself.
It’s recommended that you list your motorhome at a slightly higher price than what you’re willing to accept. This gives you some room to negotiate with potential buyers. Just make sure to note that the price is negotiable.
6. List Your Motorhome on a Well-Known Platform
The best way to sell a motorhome privately is often through trading sites like Caravan Camping Sales, Gumtree or eBay.
Spend an hour or two writing a decent listing to advertise the sale of your motorhome. Be sure to note every single feature and accessory that the motorhome has, as this may get a potential buyer across the line. The more details you can provide, the more appealing and trustworthy the listing appears to the potential buyer.
On the listing, encourage potential buyers to come for a viewing and ask any questions they may have. Be sure to make yourself available to potential buyers when they are interested.
Handy Tip: If you’re not certain about selling your motorhome for good, you can always earn a return on your investment by hiring it out via Camplify! (see below for details).
7. Allow Potential Buyers to Test Drive the Motorhome
No one wants to buy a motorhome that they haven’t been allowed to test drive. As long as the potential buyer is insured to drive your vehicle, let them take it for a test drive. If they aren’t insured, let them sit in the passenger seat as you drive.
Alternative to Selling: Make Money by Hiring Out Your Motorhome
There are normally three reasons why a person might want to sell their motorhome:
The motorhome is too expensive
They don’t get enough use out of the motorhome
They’re looking to upgrade (in which case, they should read our ultimate guide to buying a motorhome).
These days, however, you don’t have to sell your motorhome just because it’s not getting enough use. You may be much better off hiring out your motorhome through a platform like Camplify. By doing so, you can still use your motorhome for the occasional holiday - but when it’s not in use, it will provide a source of additional income for you!
Each year, heaps of Aussies earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their campervan through Camplify. It provides a quick and easy way to generate long-term passive income and earn a return on their investment.
And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:
Comprehensive hire insurance.
24/7 RAC nationwide breakdown cover for hirers.
Dedicated customer support.
If you’re interested in joining Camplify as an owner, try our earnings calculator and see how much income you could generate each year by hiring out your unused motorhome!
The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.