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Selling our coach and need advice

We will be selling our coach in Feb and need advice when completing the sale ourselves. They have escrow companies for the sale of a house to protect the seller and buyer, do they have such a thing for MH's? I have  USAA for banking and they don't have sticks and bricks so can't ask my banker  to be the escrow agent. Thoughts?  I want the transaction to be safe and secure for both parties. Will be in Naco mid Feb and try to sell before consigning to MOT to save us and the new owners MOT's fee.  Thanks John
02 U320
10 CR V

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #1 –
I'd take it to MoT and consign it.
 
You have no guarantee you'll receive more if you sell it yourself.
___

best, paul

 
Quote
We will be selling our coach in Feb and need advice when completing the sale ourselves. They have escrow companies for the sale of a house to protect the seller and buyer, do they have such a thing for MH's? I have  USAA for banking and they don't have sticks and bricks so can't ask my banker  to be the escrow agent. Thoughts?  I want the transaction to be safe and secure for both parties. Will be in Naco mid Feb and try to sell before consigning to MOT to save us and the new owners MOT's fee.  Thanks John
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #2 –
Quote from: John Lavery –
We will be selling our coach in Feb and need advice when completing the sale ourselves. They have escrow companies for the sale of a house to protect the seller and buyer, do they have such a thing for MH's? I have  USAA for banking and they don't have sticks and bricks so can't ask my banker  to be the escrow agent. Thoughts?  I want the transaction to be safe and secure for both parties. Will be in Naco mid Feb and try to sell before consigning to MOT to save us and the new owners MOT's fee.  Thanks John

John, there was a thread in the last month or two regarding this issue. My recollection is that you can have your bank draft their bank before you release the title. This is common in auto sales. I did a wire transfer to the seller when I bought my coach. Her banker called my banker to verify the funds. A third option is if you already have a buyer use an RV dealer to handle the transaction for a fee. I am selling my 93, U225 and the dealer has agreed to handle the sale for $500 if I make the sale privately when I am in town. I guess it just depends upon your capacity for the stress of selling a large item like a motorhome. DO NOT ACCEPT A CHECK, bank check or certified check unless you know the buyer very well. Any check can be stopped or faked.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #3 –
John;
Is the the same John I met in Tucson in Nov??
Why you selling coach ?????

bill with '93 GV
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #4 –
Yes Bill it is me. We are moving to Oregon to watch our 3 small granddaughters grow up. Can't afford to keep th FT and a place in OR. too. Safe travels John
02 U320
10 CR V

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #5 –
I agree with Paul.  There are so many ways you can be taken advantage of when trying to do a private sale on any motorized vehicle, that I'd leave it to the pros.  Motorhomes of Texas has a great reputation and sales record.  You also have a great looking motorhome in a desirable price range.  I think you would be surprised at how fast MoT would sell your 2002 U320.
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #6 –
Selling a MH isn't that big of an issue.  If it is has a loan balance against it then the bank will need to be involved and the buyer needs to know that.  If the buyer is financing then the 2 institutions will need to work together to move the lien.  Not a big issue as long as the loaning institution knows who has the lien.  If there is no lien, then ask for cash.  If the buyer is financing with someone then it gets a little harder since they usually want the title before they give up the $.  That usually involves a draft where you put the title in the draft and the bank processes it like a check.  If the financing bank is local you and the buyer can just go in and do everything in the office.  I would take a check, preferably a cashier, but the rest will work also.  Just explain your bank will not give you the money until the check clears.  Banks like to hold the funds 10 days even though it only takes a few days for a check to clear.  Give the buyer a noterized bill of sale and if they are smart they would want a copy of the title just to prove you own it.  Tell them you will call when the bank clears the funds.  Sellers rarely get taken on a deal where a title is involved as long as they hold on to the merchandise until they have the $.  Dealers love consignments since they get the inventory at no cost and if they sell it they collect from the owner and they make money financing it.  The beauty of consigning is you don't have to put up with the tire kickers or the "what is your lowest price" calls.  Just remember a dealer is in the business of moving his inventory first.
Bill and Doris
93 GV gas

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #7 –
We're facing the same question with our 2003 U270.  MOT sounds like a very good option for us and to be honest they are have the only sales team (exept locals) that has followed-up with us.  Considered consigning to Foretravel but have not had anyone confirm their reputation; only negatives and no responses to my inquiries with them!  Hopefully my case is an anomaly but any further suggestions about marketing a coach would be greatly appreciated.   
2003 U270 with 2010 Jeep Liberty toad.

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Joe Shirley –
We're facing the same question with our 2003 U270.  MOT sounds like a very good option for us and to be honest they are have the only sales team (exept locals) that has followed-up with us.  Considered consigning to Foretravel but have not had anyone confirm their reputation; only negatives and no responses to my inquiries with them!  Hopefully my case is an anomaly but any further suggestions about marketing a coach would be greatly appreciated.   

In my humble opinion, you can sell it for more if it is not in Nacogdoches where there is lots of competition. However, you will probably sell much faster by consigning it in Nacogdoches. My limited experience with MOT has been excellent but I am selling my 93, U225 here in Oklahoma City in hopes of getting a little better price, albiet a little slower.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #9 –

We sold our 1997 Discovery 37' DP via consignment through MOT. They sold it in about ten days. Our net receipt was about what we had paid for the coach nine months earlier. We were very pleased with the experience. We didn't have to do anything but leave the coach with them and execute the paperwork.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #10 –
John,

I bought mine off of Craigslist and had to jump through a bunch of hoops for the seller but it was worth it in the end. Lots of pros and cons, private vs. dealer sales. The dealer may be able to get more money and also may have a large group of prospective buyers interested in just the coach you have. On the other hand, in a slow market, a service like Craigslist will attract a lot of buyers also, especially if you have a realistic price. You can plan you sales by going to a site that searches ebay, Craigslist, etc. and checking asking/wishing prices. Sitemash may be found at: rvs : craigslist eBay kijiji mash : US & Canada  I found mine here.

Financing is a problem for coaches older than seven years. Anything older than 10 is really hard. A dealer may be an advantage here.

Kent was right on when he said "DO NOT ACCEPT A CHECK, bank check or certified check unless you know the buyer very well. Any check can be stopped or faked."  Excellent advice. If a buyer's offer seems too good to be true...  I transfered funds to the seller's bank after talking at length with the vice president of his bank, making sure there were no lien holders and getting a PDF of both sides of the title emailed.  Make sure the buyer signs off on liability, as-is condition, etc. Good to have this notarized. Have them give you a copy of the new insurance policy. Good to have your ducks lined up well in advance with a check list. Search online for such a sales checklist.

Best of luck,

Pierce & Gaylie
93' U300/36
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #11 –
We too bought our FT from a listing on Craigslist. It was priced well and came with a Jeep in tow, which fit our needs. We called about two hours after it was listed. MOT called the seller a few hours after we did. When they found out were looking at it, they gave us good advice regarding buying it.

We looked at it the next day. It was six miles from our home. We offered to buy it after inspecting it for two days, and met the seller at the registration office where I presented a combination of cashiers check from my credit union and personal check. We were local to the town and acceptable to the seller.

The whole deal was "close to home" and worked well. I've seen other coaches that stayed on Craigslist for months.

We have bought and sold via consignment at PPL in Houston, and MOT in NAC. We bought off Craigslist. All transactions were very satisfactory. Your results may vary. Good luck.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #12 –

A friend of mine in CO had done a killer deal on your coach/toad the year before, then backed out as the economy tanked and he got scared. He ended up buying SOB when you guys got the coach when it came up again... I told him at the time he missed out on a great deal. A primo hanger kept coach owned buy a wealthy couple who took care of it...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #13 –
John,
One thing to do no matter how or who sells your coach is to file a change of ownership with the state on the day you sell it. Doing that will release you from any liability that could come about if the new owner is involved in an accident before the title transfer had been recorded.   
"97 40' U320 build 5035

The best things in life are not things.... It's fulltiming in a Foretravel.

Re: Selling our coach and need advice

Reply #14 –

How about if they get into an accident 5 minutes after they take ownership. If they killed someone, it may be practical for them to state that you still own it. Filing with the state is not good enough for me.

On all vehicles we sell, we prepare a bill of sale in duplicate and before they drive away, I note the time of day to the minute and the odometer to the tenths. They sign two copies and I keep one forever with my copy of the title.