Sell a Bus Guide - how to prepare, show, and sell your bus profitably
Sell
a Bus Guide
Want to sell a bus, bus conversion, tour bus, class A motorhome, or church shuttle bus? Follow these guidelines to make sure your bus, motor coach or recreational bus conversion sale goes like you want it to. Everyone wants the most profit in the shortest time and nobody wants to spend much to do it. Remember your prospective bus buyer wants the same things. When selling a bus everything you do must be presented and directed STRAIGHT at the BUYERS point of view. Visit Bus Selling Options which lists the good and bad of selling the bus yourself verses listing it with a used bus dealer.
The biggest problem when selling a used bus is the limited market for luxury purchases plus EVERY bus is custom. A "stock" bus or RV does not exist. So you're trying to sell a very specialized item to a small or sometimes nonexistent customer. Most importantly you have to FIND that customer. Hundreds of people check the Used Bus List and show their buses for sale here. You can also reference the Bus Make & Model charts for information to emphasize the advantages of your particular coach.
Disadvantages - never address disadvantages until the buyer asks about it. Be prepared. Usually it is smart to simply answer very simply. Example: if buyer asks "I heard Prevosts were better than this Eagle of yours" Then answer simply: "really?". Making a long detailed defense can make you both spend too much time on negative issues. If the buyer's information is wrong then courteously correct them, present your contrary opinion or facts and move on.
"Why are you selling this bus" question - Be prepared for this as many people will ask especially if it looks like a good deal to them. I tell buyers to ask this question of all sellers. Look into the eyes of the seller and observe how they react. Anyone can can often spot a "seller" who may act hesitant as if covering something up. Or they may offer a weird answer, get caught off guard, slip up and tells you something they did not intend to, etc. So sellers BE PREPARED. If you don't have time to use the bus, say so. If you don't want it anymore just say that. Look them straight in the eye and say "uh...well to tell you the truth, I just need the money right now".
Service and Repair Records - People feel wary of buying big ticket items like commercial vehicles without paperwork. Repair receipts, title docs, service records, and such help create a comfortable "move forward" buying feeling.
Pricing - the buyer does not care how much you owe on the loan. Just figure out the real value of the vehicle and adjust lower depending on how FAST you want to sell it. Do not discuss what you paid for the bus unless it is in YOUR favor to do so. Rarely does an individual sell a bus or motor coach at a premium price. Buyers have a lot of Internet resources available to help them determine what they THINK your bus is worth. Substantiate everything you say when it comes to price.
Condition - If something is broke, either fix it or disclose it. Honesty will impress them and validates your trustworthiness. This adds value to everything you say later on in the deal as well. If you can get a quote to show the buyer so they can see what the repair will cost.
Get help - from a professional salesman, used bus dealer or broker: especially if you are selling a bus for more than $20,000. If you are trying to sell a bus list it for free here first then check out this guys site he knows a good deal about buses, and can get you a fair price. See Bus Links for other dealers I know are reputable and experienced so as to be worth every penny they might cost you in "markup". I say "might" cost you because usually they MAKE you money. Many can sell the bus with their markup in place and still net you more than you would have got on your own.
Preparation - Remove everything from the coach before you show the bus for sale. This is difficult for those living in their bus full time. Full-timers should simplify and get rid of absolutely everything that is not completely necessary for day to day living. Store the rest in a short term storage rental place.
Buyers want the bus they buy to be ready for them to drive away immediately because they are used to buying from automobile or rv dealerships. This helps with very important first impressions. Vehicle are more likely to be purchased with an excellent "first look" appearance.
Make sure the bus is perfect when the prospective buyers show up. Polish, paint, clean, repair. Tell the buyer upfront if something doesn't work and give them a copy of your descriptive list with pictures. Give them a quick tour of the bus then leave the buyers alone. This is EXTREMELY important. People are often shy about snooping around. However, if they are really interested, and given the chance to look at everything without you staring at them, they be more likely to turn buy.
Buyers come in pairs oftentimes. Serious buyers will talk about features they like. Since they have traveled to see your bus, let them spend as much time as they wish. Tell them where to find you for questions and tell them to TAKE THEIR TIME.
Marketing - take at least 100 pictures with a digital camera. Shoot close-ups, full views, bays, storage, chassis, engine compartments, roofline, tire depth, dash close-ups, special or significant features of the bus, upholstery, floorplans, new or upgraded items. List every feature and option your bus has. If your list is long, but makes sense, the buyer will read it and be impressed or glance it over and say to themselves "hey this person probably took care of this bus" Either way you win. List quantity of air conditioners, heating units, entertainment systems, electronic equipment, lighting, furniture, engine, transmission, chassis, roof type, flooring. Get a brochure from the original manufacturer for reference. If it's too old for that pick up an equivalent brochure for the modern version of the bus you are trying to sell and use it to build your amenities list.
Closing the Deal - if the buyer will not buy from you and you have done everything you can do, then FIND OUT WHY! Many times you may just have a tire kicker on your hand. Maybe they had a problem behind the scenes that came up during the negotiations. Then again maybe not. There might be a real legitimate reason why they didn't buy your bus for sale. Make them tell you truthfully what you could have done differently to make the sale. This is important information so don't hesitate to get it from them. You can also call them later for help with this as they will be more willing to be candid when they are not standing in your front yard.
Visit Bus
Selling Options for a list of the advantages and disadvantages of selling the bus yourself verses listing it with a used bus dealer.
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