Motorhome Consignment: An Alternate Way to Sell Your RV
Selling your motorhome is a great way to recoup part of your initial investment, but it's a time-consuming process. Between emails, phone calls, and test drives, you can easily spend two or more hours a day communicating with prospective buyers. When your schedule is too busy for a private sale, motorhome consignment can be a great alternative. For more details, stop by to see us at Motorhomes of Texas in Nacogdoches, Texas, serving Lufkin and Henderson, Texas.
What is Motorhome Consignment?
When you sell your motorhome via consignment, you're essentially using an RV dealership as the middleman. You'll hand over the rig and the keys, and the dealership will take care of everything else.
The exact terms of the consignment varies by dealer. Some companies handle the process for a flat percentage of the sale price, while others work on a sliding scale. In some cases, you can choose your sale price in advance; if the rig sells for more, the dealer keeps the extra money.
Benefits of Motorhome Consignment
In most cases, you'll earn less money when you sell an RV on consignment. For many sellers, the benefits outweigh the lost income. Once you agree to terms, the dealer handles everything from advertising and storage to tours and test drives. If you're short on time — or if you simply don't want to deal with communication and price negotiation — consignment is a great choice.
RV consignment is also an attractive option if you live in a rural, hard-to-reach area. After all, a long drive can be a deterrent to potential buyers. A centrally located dealership offers more visibility and exposure, so it's easier to attract qualified buyers.
Drawbacks of Motorhome Consignment
Consignment isn't the right choice for every RV owner. The commission is often at least 10 percent of the sale price; if your RV sells for $100,000, you'll lose $10,000. Many RV dealerships also require you to take on additional costs for cleaning, repairs, and consignment insurance. If you need to maximize profits, it's usually better to sell the RV yourself.
A typical consignment contract usually runs for one to three months. During that time, the motorhome stays at the dealership — you can't use it or advertise it for sale in another place. If the RV doesn't sell during the contract period, you'll be back to square one.
When you want to sell your RV, consignment is just one of many options. If you need more information to decide if consignment is right for you, our friendly team at Motorhomes of Texas can help. Give us a call or stop by our location in Nacogdoches, Texas; we serve Lufkin and Henderson, Texas.