New York RV Inspection Results & Questions
INSPECTION RESULTS
Things that were found during our 30-minute RV inspection
* We never made it to the fridge, ACs, furnace, and much of the inside.
* We don’t have images/video & we won’t mention the sellers’ details to respect their privacy.
- Neglect and lack of maintenance
- 2-foot cobweb when we first walked up in propane bay
- A layer of dirt/debris in all basement bays of RV
- Speaker dangling from the ceiling in living room
- Scuffed walls
- Mouse poop under kitchen sink
- Mouse poop under the master bed
- Both AC filters clogged with dust/debris
- Permanent creases in window shades from wear/tear
- Window shades struggling to respond from wear/tear
- Visible damage to the wood under sink
- Mechanical / Liability Issues
- Axles out of alignment ($1k+ fix)
- Rear tires on driver’s side need to be replaced
- Bent/damaged front bay door for generator
- Seal for hydraulics on main slide leaking ($400 part)
- Dicor separation on the roof for the front cap. Could feel where roof wood was wet from water coming in from the top
- Front bay door damaged from a truck. Tight to open and visible damage to the door.
- Underbelly sliced open for 6-foot stretch to fix a water leak in the kitchen. Insulation not replaced. Underbelly plastic not properly replaced. It was duct-taped together and sagging so much it was touching the axles.
- Neglect and lack of maintenance
I also filmed a 25-minute video the day after we returned to TN outlining most of this if you want to check it out on Patreon for free:
BUYING AN RV QUESTIONS
If you’re looking at buying an RV from a private party, questions are your best friend. Some of these questions may also be great questions if buying from a dealer.
- Pre-Offer Phone Call
- Why are you selling?
- Listening for the motivation behind selling
- Listening for deception
- How many owners?
- How many miles?
- What is the cargo capacity?
Usually a yellow sticker - Stored inside or outside?
- What should be working, but isn’t?
- What would be the lowest you would sell the RV for?
- Say you want to talk about it with (somebody) and then call them back
- Why are you selling?
- Offer Phone Call
- Before I make the drive/flight, is there anything I should be aware of as far as an inspection?
- If I find something wrong that we did not know about before we agree on a price, will you adjust the price for it?
- AC is out? The fridge doesn’t work? Water heater fails?
- Title in hand?
- Can I have someone inspect the RV before you make the drive?
Could be certified RV Inspector, Friend, Local Handyman, Seller - Would you take $$ (usually somewhere between 10%-20% less than asking price) for the RV? I have cash and could be there in a few days.
Already have pre-approved financing or cash lined up. That is a big part of getting a better deal. Many buyers are willing to come down if they know you are serious and will arrive soon.
- Just before leaving to buy the RV
- If it’s a long drive/flight, take a picture of the cashier’s check and send it to let the seller know you’re serious (blurring out bank account is not a bad idea).
Here’s a free 25-minute Patreon video walking through the above questions about RV buying/negotiation:
More than anything, know every deal is different and it will rarely go 100% to plan. There are no failures. Only learning and growing!