• How can I avoid making common mistakes, when reading the NADA and Kelley pricing guide books?
• Are there other sources for appraisals or prices?
  
• Can I use my Rvhelpnet appraisal to satisfy the requirements of my Lender, Dealer, Insurance Company, or Government agency?

Learn to be accurate when doing your own RV appraisals.

For those of you who have access to a "Kelley Blue Book", or the "NADA Book", and want to Do-it yourself here are a few tips to help you avoid common mistakes made by Do-it yourselfers and professional appraisers.

IDENTIFY: Improper identification of the exact RV you are appraising is responsible for most costly errors. Most of the appraisals we do require information from both books to insure proper RV identification . Please use the information below to assist you with your evaluation.

• CLASS/TYPE: This information must be accurate to insure you are accessing the proper book and/or section.

Below are common abbreviations of Class/type

Class A Motor Home=MH
Class B Van Conversions=VC
Class C mini Motor Homes=MMH
Class C Micro Mini Motor Homes (Toyota Etc.)=MMMH
5th (fifth) Wheel Trailers=FW
Travel Trailers=TT
Park Model Trailers=PM
Truck Campers=CO for Cab Over and NCO for Non Cab Over. Cab Over is the portion of the camper that extends over the truck cab, usually the sleeping area.

• MANUFACTURER, MAKE AND MODEL/SERIES: Identify, Identify, Identify

Just as an Auto can be built by General Motors (Manufacturer), at The Chevrolet plant (Make) and may be a Camero (Series), RV's can be built by Fleetwood, at the Southwind Plant, and be called a Storm. A lot of RV's are built by much smaller companies and will be listed as Make and Series only. Duplicate Series are known to exist, built by different manufacturers with tremendous differences in value. If you are not sure, double check your information. Referring to multiple guide books will help.

• YEAR: You must not make an error on this section.

Registration papers are usually a reliable source for year confirmation. Manufactures dates of Origin are stamped on many RV's. Be aware that most Dates of manufacture starting in September will be considered the following year model. Example, 9/02/94 will often mean a 1995 model. I have seen units built as early as June registered as the following year model.

When dealing with Motorized units we have to separate the Coach information, from the Chassis information. The Chassis is usually built by Chevy, Ford, Dodge, John Deere, Oshkosh, Gillig, Freight liner Etc. The Coach is built by the RV manufacturer (Winnebago, Fleetwood, Beaver, Bluebird, Coachmen Etc.).

Motorized Coach V.I.N. numbers can be on a placard inside near the drivers area, on the inside of closet doors, on the exterior by the entrance door, or the left front corner. These placards will often give you dates of manufacture, model numbers and Coach identification numbers (VIN numbers).

Chassis VIN numbers are often stamped on the left front frame horn as well as the front side of the engine firewall. They can also be included on the coach placard. The chassis VIN includes a letter or number that identifies the year model. You will need to the contact the proper dealership or reference one of the after market repair manuals to read these codes. It is not uncommon to find an earlier year model chassis under a later year model Coach. Example; a 1986 chassis under a 1987 Coach can be titled as a 1987 motor Home.

Travel Trailers and 5th Wheel VIN numbers can be found on the exterior walls (usually on a decal that fades from sunlight), on the inside of a cabinet door or stamped on the steel tongue .

• LENGTH: Choosing the improper length from the listings will make thousands of dollars difference in your figures.

Model numbers do not always represent the length of the unit. Model numbers such as M-340 can refer to 34.5' whereas M-345 can refer to a 35.5' and M-360 can refer to a 38.5' Etc. (Examples from Coachmen Motor homes)

When licensing, your State Department of Motor Vehicles will often round the length up to the next whole number, making your registration a poor source of information. The lengths used in the NADA book are usually the lengths supplied by the factory. Kelley book in most cases does not include the length of the hitch on Trailers.
Referring back and forth between guidebooks (Kelley and NADA Etc.) will help you sort out which unit you are looking for. Hitch weights and overall weights can be helpful when identifying Trailers and 5th Wheels.
Pop-Up trailer listings refer to open lengths and closed lengths. Some Guide books refer to the closed length and some to the open length. Experience is most helpful when identifying Pop-Ups.

Truck campers are measured at the camper floor. A 9' camper would have a 9' floor length and usually a 4-6' Cab Over. The Cab over is not included in the length. Non cab over Campers do exist.

• WIDTH: There are fewer width choices but choosing the figures for a light weight model when you have a full size can be costly.

Some units are wider or narrower that 8'. The NADA book gives us length and width. Most light weight units are less than 7.5' wide. The wider units 8.5' are referred to as Wide Body. By using all the information and referring between books you can usually identify your unit.

• CHASSIS: The type and brand of a chassis must be identified accurately. The following is a list of types of chassis. Determining the proper chassis is essential.

Gas
Diesel
Front engine Rear wheel drive
Front engine Front wheel drive
Rear engine Pusher
Tag axle

Hybrids - Motor Home chassis are often built by specialty companies. Names like Gillig, John Deere and Oshkosh can have Ford , Chevy, Cummins Diesel or Caterpillar engines. Identify, Identify, Identify.

Referring back and forth between multiple books can be very helpful.

• COACH-WORK: Proper identification is a must.

Wide body is indicated by WB, Slide-out is indicated by SO and Basement model is indicated by bsmt. If all models built under a Brand Name are wide body , slide out or basement there will be no reference to those options in the book . The option is considered standard.

Coaches can have optional types of siding . Be sure to verify the type and check for adds or deducts.

• FLOOR PLAN: Abbreviations are used to aid in identification and can vary according to manufacturers.

Some floor plans are just not good sellers . The books will not separate the bad floor plans from the good. Experience is the only thing you can rely on in this case.

• $ FIGURES: Headings are shown across the top of each page.

The "books" have columns for Suggested New List, Used Wholesale and Retail figures. These figures are referred to as "First Figures". All adds and deducts for Optional Equipment, Mileage, Condition and Marketability must be used to adjust these numbers. Used wholesale figures are sometimes referred to as Trade-in or Loan values.

Kelley book uses the term "estimated Dealer asking price" when referring to used retail figures. NADA says their used retail ( High Book) reflects the retail value of a used unit "ready for resale".

• OPTIONS: Know what should be added to the "First Figures" and what should not.

Make sure you determine whether to use the Standard Equipment option tables, or the Alternate Equipment option tables (Kelley). Check at the beginning and the end of each Manufacturer and Year section for Asterisks and notes (NADA). It is common for manufacturers to use their own system for these notes.
Read the instructions carefully in each book to determine what equipment is standard and what equipment, if absent, is a deduct. Make sure you add only the equipment that is listed as an add-on, in the book you are using. Nothing works better to master this process than triple checking all instructions and notes. More errors are made in this area than any other.

• CONDITION: Make a thorough physical inspection of the RV.

Exterior: Look for de-lamination (bubbles or soft spots in the wall), excessive corrosion or rust, excessive fading, damage and signs of the unit having been rebuilt. The estimated cost of repair must be deducted from the Value.

Interior: Check for Excessive wear, odors, water damage/stains, dry rot and soft floors. Deduct for estimated costs of repair.

Chassis: Follow the rules you would for any automobile. Check for exhaust noises, rust, oil leaks/consumption and excessive wear. Deduct for estimated repair costs.

Glass: Check for Chipped, cracked or broken glass. Cracked or broken means replacement. Deduct for estimated costs.

Tires: If you have less than 40% rubber left replacement must be considered. Deduct for estimated costs.

• Alterations or Remodels:
  
  Very close inspection is required. Repairs made to factory specifications usually will not affect values. Usually Alterations/Remodels are a liability unless completed at the factory or by well trained professionals. A professional opinion is required to determine value under these circumstances. Deduct or add as needed.

• Mileage: To add/deduct or not.

The books tell us Mileage may be considered when evaluating an RV. If I am going to invest my money in one I certainly want it considered.

The mileage on Gas and Diesel Chassis are handled differently. In the Kelley Book the Diesel chassis value is increased by low miles but not reduced by higher than normal mileage . NADA tells us not to add or deduct for Diesel Mileage's. Gas chassis values are reduced or increased as indicated by the Books mileage charts or formulas .

When following these steps you will have the accurate figures you need.

Thank You.

Ted Dansereau
Buffalo Boy enterprises/RVHELPNET

About the author: The author, in the course of his 30 year RV career, has been an RV Dealer, Dealer Consultant, Sales manager, and Business manager. Included in his resume is 30 years as a Professional RV appraiser. His experience and knowledge qualifies him to be an trusted authority on RV values. Jim Hilbourne, CPA. Retired RV Management  Consultant, Author of several RV Help Books. -- Yuma AZ.

Ted can be reached at his web site www.rvhelpnet.com or E-mail __appraisals-1@rvhelpnet.com

Yes:

Use your written appraisal from RVHELPNET to satisfy the requirements of Private Parties, Lenders, Insurance companies, Dealers, and  all Government agencies. Our over thirty years experience as a recognized authority on RV values assures you accurate figures that we stand behind.

TYPES: of appraisals available

Here are some of the ways we can learn the value of our RV's.

1. You can call your Banker or local Dealer. They will give a high and low "First Figures". These figures do not include adds or deducts for options, miles, condition or marketability. Their supervisors require them to account for their time and do not allow them to spend the time required to prepare accurate numbers for you. -----No charge.
   
   
2. You can contact one of the book publishers. They will offer to sell you a "consumer addition" book ( not the official one the dealers and lenders use ). They offer Ball Park figures that can vary by thousands of dollars. They do not include the instructions as to what options should or should not be added (included in the Books Dealers and Lenders use). They do not ask about the condition of the RV or offer Marketability advice. They do not offer a written appraisal that you can take with you to a Lender, Banker, Insurance company or a negotiation session.
   
   
3. You can take your RV to a reputable dealer. They will spend the time required to inspect your unit. After compiling the collected data they will use their years of market analysis experience to provide you with an accurate realistic figure. -------Expect to pay $100.00 and up.
   
   
4. You can collect your own data, fill out our printable "Comprehensive Data Collection Form" then submit the form to RVHELPNET Appraisals. We will combine the data you provide with our years of market analysis experience and send you an accurate, realistic, professional appraisal. We use the same books the Dealers and Lenders use. Our appraisals are accepted by Lenders, Dealers, Insurance companies and all Government agencies. ---$14.95 and up.