Trade in or sell privately

huskydog
huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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edited February 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Looking at a MotorHome ,is it best to sell the caravan privately and get a bit more money and try to barter a better deal or trade in and not have the hassle of trying to sell the van, but at least you won't be in between vans ,what did you do???

Comments

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2016 #2

    Well we weren't buying a motorhome, but by selling privately everyone (except the Caravan dealer) gained!  We were offered a certain amount to trade in, but didn't accept it.  We advertised it (outside the house) for £1000 more.  We got the price we were asking without haggle, because the buyer saved £1000 on the van he wanted which was identical to ours but not in as good condition (on sale in a dealership elsewhere).  

    We went back to the dealer offering the van we wanted, and they'd reduced it by £2350 because it was the end of the season.  We had an extra £1000 so we saved £3350 and got an awning, steps and a battery thrown in!  Basically that meant we got the van of our dreams (which we still own and love nearly 16 year later), for £6250 instead of £9600!

    I know it doesn't compare to today's prices (but then we did buy our first house in 1970 for £2,100!

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #3

    I have always traded in but that was, in the  main, a secondhand van for a new caravan/motorhome. When we purchased our motorhome and traded in our caravan  I felt I got a very good trade in but motorhomes are much more expensive so more room for a better
    deal. If you are buying secondhand you might be in a better position to get a better price if there is no part ex.

    David

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2016 #4

    Trade-in, whether a car or caravan, is always a trade off between convenience and price. DIY will always get you the best deal but generate the most hassle.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #5
    We sold our van through an independant dealer and after his costs we made in total made £1500 more than the best part exchange offer.  Van sold in a month and we didn't have the problem of potential scammers.  Would definitely go this route again.
  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited February 2016 #6

    We have sold both cars and caravans to people who asked “if we ever sold can I have first chance”. Otherwise, not being totally convinced things are fault free have we have part exchanged.

    Now in the present climate where buyers might feel they can sue if a second hand item does turn out to be not as new and totally without fault, is it worth the hassle to sell privately.

    One can only describe something as how you believe it to be, not mention all the unknown incipient issues that might pop up a couple of months down the line; then be held to account for the unknown.

  • Graydjames
    Graydjames Forum Participant Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited February 2016 #7

    I did a trade in deal recently - admittedly MH for MH so not quite the same as OP - which was better than I could have hoped for and more, quite a bit more really, than I had expected to get selling privately. I was gobsmaklced quite honestly and it made the cost and time and hassle to sell privately utterly pointless.  

    I did wonder if I had undervalued when thinking about a price for a private sale but judging by ads I have seen I really don't think so. With extreme luck I might have matched it but I really doubt it. And no hassle. 

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #8

    Thanks for your answers , I think I will trade in ,that way we can still go away untill  we find the MH we like Happy