Using a Broker to purchase an RV? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Movin-on · RV-Dreams Community Member

Using a Broker to purchase an RV?

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'l bet if you look what its going to cost you to use a broker , and took that same money .....you could purchase a flight to PPL in texas , pay for your rental car...get a nice room pick up the coach you want and pay for the first tank of fuel on the way home!!

broker is only putting a salesman in front of the salesman.....unless he is personally in writing giving you an out if his selection for you is a lemon!!

Movin-on · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you Mike.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

If your broker is between you and a dealership then I think you would just be adding additional expense. On the other hand, if the broker is bringing you and a private party together it __MAY__ be worth it. That would depend on what the broker is doing for each of you. Before we bought our Foretravel I was pretty sure that we would get a 'Bird, and that we would buy it through Randy Dupree. Randy is a broker for 'Birds, and does a great job of matching would-be buyer to seller. He advertises the 'Birds for sale and fields all of the phone calls, emails, etc. I don't know how much he charges for his services, but he does a great job of keeping everyone happy. Since we never quite got to the point of telling him we wanted to buy a coach I can't say from personal experience how the process would have gone, but since he has many satisfied repeat customers I felt comfortable in working with him.

I did talk to him a couple of times, but that is the extent of my experience with a broker.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Even if one does use a broker, it is very important for the buyer to actually see the unit first hand to insure that things are up to the buyer's standards and desires.

I'm the "hands-on" type of person, and we looked at LOTS of RV's (both Class A's and fifth wheels) before making our choices. Almost every visit to an RV taught us something in the way of something we wanted or something we wanted to avoid. Even if you aren't finding what you "like" in your area, at least do the research and get "eyes-on" the various RV's.

Good luck with whatever route you take.

Terry

A-S Travelers · RV-Dreams Family Member

What brand/model of RV are you looking to buy. I would think a broker would be helpful if you are buying a high end RV with limited availability.

There are hundreds of motorhomes and 5th wheels for sale around the country in the $30K to $200K price range. As long as you have the time to look online for them and then travel to go look at them you should be able to find what you want over a 6 month period.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Linda, do you have your "mission profile" prepared? That is, do you know how you will use your coach? Will you be full-timing, long-terming, vacations, an occasional weekend? How many people and pets? If you are full-timing, will you move frequently or stay in one spot for a couple of months? Do any of you have any physical needs that would indicate one type of coach over another? Remember that most people have something towing something else. They may have a truck towing a 5'er or TT, or they may have a MH towing a small vehicle or trailer.

Once you get that down you will have a better idea of what sort of coach you are looking for. You can start working on a budget for the two parts of your rig, and start looking at floor plans. When you are at that point, it doesn't matter whether you are looking at the latest mult-million dollar Whiz Bang coach or a refugee from a junk yard. You are just looking at the layout. It won't take you too long to figure out what will and will not work for you.

Now you are ready to start looking for what you will buy. Do the research on what brands have the quality you want. It is STRONGLY suggested that you buy a used coach, since that will let you get a higher quality coach for the money and you won't take as much of a depreciation hit should you decide that you didn't get it quite right the first time. BTW, most people find that they don't get it quite right the first time, so you will be in good company.

Ask lots of questions here, and join the owners' forum for any brand that you are considering.

Enjoy the research and eventually you will enjoy the hunt.