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Mayaluga · 02-22-2018, 02:47 PM

We've been full-timers for five years, and will be trading our 2012 Thor A.C.E. 2012 for a new RV this summer. We've started prepping the ACE to get the best trade-in value. Tom is a certified NRVIA inspector, and he has started examining everything through that lens, so we can catch and fix anything. While we know they will consider it "biased," we'll document the inspection as if we were doing it for a buyer, anyway.

Our main question right now is what to do about the interior. We will be trading it with a new mattress (keeping our Sleep-Number bed); all original decorative fabric items (pillows, bed spread, etc. Stored, never used); and probably a new sofa (trading the one out of the new rig for the sewing desk I have in that spot now.

While some of the fake leather components are in new condition, some show some wear. We're wondering how much time, effort, and $$ we should invest in refurbishing these items, or if it really matters all that much on the trade-in value.

We're doing some work now, but wonder if most dealers have access to professionals who punch this stuff out really fast - or have such good pricing on replacements that they don't bother and just replace - or what?

John Wayne · 02-22-2018, 03:46 PM

I'll bet they will give you low blue book and send it out to auction no matter what you do to it. If you want to go to all this trouble sell it your self you will come out ahead.

cruzbill · 02-22-2018, 03:53 PM

A dealer quoted me $1,500 to re-upholster a couch, I don't think they have a magic wand. And I would only go thru all this work if you were gonna sell the coach via private sale-As another poster said, dealer don't care how good a shape its in.

Fred and Bonnie · 02-23-2018, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wayne

I'll bet they will give you low blue book and send it out to auction no matter what you do to it. If you want to go to all this trouble sell it your self you will come out ahead.

X2

Fred

Finance · 02-23-2018, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wayne

I'll bet they will give you low blue book and send it out to auction no matter what you do to it. If you want to go to all this trouble sell it your self you will come out ahead.

+1. You're getting wholesale as long as it's presentable.

Ljwt330 · 02-23-2018, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finance

+1. You're getting wholesale as long as it's presentable.

Just one more to agree with the above^^, and one who has just gone through the trade-in vs private sale decision.

Trust me (and the others), you will never get anywhere near your refurbish investment with a trade-in. You probably have an idea already as to what you will be offered on a trade-in--if not, do that homework now. You will find that all the dealers will be within a few dollars of each other. Do your improvements, and the trade-in value will remain the same.

If you're set on doing a trade, save yourself time and money and just clean up the rig. The money to be made on your efforts will go to the dealer when he resells your rig at a "premium" due to the great upgrades you paid for.

cruzbill · 02-23-2018, 04:52 PM

Its not all gloom and doom out there, I was just thinking about what happened when we traded in our 5ver for the MH. We went and looked at the MH and met the dealer/ owner and told him we had a trade in (the 5ver). After we returned home, I called the dealer, told him what we wanted to pay for the MH and what we wanted for our trade, he said, OK. OOPs! Now we're on the hook! Anyway, we drove up to the dealer to drop off the 5ver, and pick up the MH, it actually worked out quite well. That same summer, we stopped by the dealer and he said he sold the 5ver, so he's happy, we're happy (and someone got a nice 5ver to boot! I know, I spent 17 years adding stuff!!)