RV Mobile Office for Fulltiming
Sale Process
For us this is a large transaction. It will require a degree of trust on both sides, plus reasonable and common sense precautions.
I have already received several offers that sound very much like one of the scams described on RVClassified.com's Fraud Alert page. They sent nearly identically worded messages (including the same bad formatting and typos). Coincidence?
I will stick to the sale process described on this page, even at the risk of driving off legitimate buyers.
First: Why Sell?
We bought a house in Brookings, OR, so that my wife could have a yard, her "stuff", and go back to teaching. Given the economy and its effect on us, we really should get rid of the monthly payment and expenses (license, insurance, storage, maintenance, etc.).
Price: Firm $34,000
Our bottom price is $34,000. This price is significantly less than what we currently owe on the trailer. We figure that at our current loan payment plus monthly expenses it will take us two years to break even on savings from not having the expenses. We really cannot go lower now, but will lower the price as the amount that we owe decreases.
Available Since December 2007
This rig has been on the market since around December 2007. I have had seriously interested buyers since it went on the market, but timing could not have been worse. Late 2007 is about when the housing market started to seriously tank.
So far all three of the folks who have tried to buy the rig ended up not having funds available (two: could no sell their houses; one: could not get a loan). Finances are difficult now, both for sellers and for buyers.
Timing/Schedule
If you are in a hurry, please let me know. The unofficial motto of Curry County, Oregon, is "No Hurry in Curry". It's one of the reasons we are here in such a rural setting. I'm a bit of an old burnout after decades of working too many hours, not enough sleep, and the-world-is-going-to-end-if-your-project-is-not-done-yesterday stress. These days I don't hurry unless there is a good reason.
Also, time pressure seems to be a common tactic with scammers, as noted at the bottom of the RVClassified.com's Fraud Alert page.
Depending upon how you pay, the process could take just a few days, or could take a couple of weeks. I cannot let the rig go until all funds have cleared and are available to pay off our trailer loan.
Identity Verification
I will want to photocopy your drivers license, and will permit you to copy mine. Of course we will exchange information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers.
If parties other than the actual buyer are involved, I will want the same information for each person.
If a party other than the actual buyer will be inspecting the rig and accepting on behalf of the buyer, I will require written proof of the relationship, particularly the fact that the agent has the legally binding authority to make the deal.
Once you tell me that you are on the way to Brookings, Oregon, to see the rig, I will do a quick online background check of all parties at my own expense. Note that anyone may do such an online background check of anyone at any time; you may want to check me out in a similar fashion.
Rig Inspection
I will not sell the rig "sight unseen". I doubt that any legitimate buyer would want to buy it without seeing it first, anyway.
If you are sending someone to inspect the rig, I will NOT pay them for you. You must pay your own bills. In particular, I will not accept a check from you against which I will write my own check to pay your inspector (see the RVClassified.com's Fraud Alert page).
Payment Method
As is normal for fairly large purchases, I would prefer a cashier's check as payment.
According to RVClassified.com's Fraud Alert page, there is a risk of fraud even with certified checks. Their recommendation is to wait until the buyer's check or other payment method "has cleared and the funds are 100% available in your account." This seems like good advice, especially on a transaction of this size.
I will consider forms of payment other than a certified check, so long as it does not involve my giving you my bank account number. Regardless of the form of payment, I will not sign over the rig until the funds have cleared and I have successfully wired payoff of the trailer loan to GEMB.
I will only accept payment of the exact amount agreed upon as the purchase price. I will NOT refund large sums of money.
Interim Possession
Once your payment has been initiated, I would hope/expect that you would occupy the rig while we wait for the funds to clear. I will pay the RV park rental and utilities during this period.
I will give you a letter to keep in the truck with the registration explaining that you have the right to operate the truck in the Brookings, Oregon, area during the sales process. You may not remove the fifth wheel trailer from Driftwood RV park during this time without my permission.
During this time Kay and I will be happy to familiarize you with the rig and its operation. If you have never towed before, we will help you get started.
We will also use this time to fix anything that we may agree to fix.
Final Possession & Title Transfer
The sale is governed by Oregon law. The Oregon DMV page on selling a vehicle says:
"If there is a lien on the vehicle (in other words, if you still owe money on your loan), the security interest holder is the legal owner and you cannot sell the vehicle until you have satisfied their interest (paid off the loan) and they have provided the title to you with a written release of interest."
We still have a loan out on the fifth wheel trailer. I cannot sign the trailer's title over until I have paid off the loan. As soon as your payment funds clear, I will pay off the loan.
The trailer loan is with GEMB. I will wire the payment to GEMB along with instructions to send the title directly to you. GEMB customer service says that they require up to ten business days to process a wired payment, at which time they will send the title to you. But, as soon as GEMB can confirm that the funds have arrived and been credited to the proper account, and if they agree, I will consider the trailer yours.
The truck is paid off, and I have the title, free and clear.
At this time, I will fill out an Oregon DMV bill of sale and submit the Oregon DMV Online Notice of Vehicle Sale/Transfer. Then, the rig is yours.
Note that this also applies if you are sending someone else to transport the rig. I cannot hand off the rig until GEMB says that the loan has been satisfied (see the RVClassified.com's Fraud Alert page).
Air Travel to Brookings, Oregon
The RV is located in Brookings, OR.
The airport we use is Mc Namara Field in Crescent City, CA (airport code CEC). Hertz has a car rental office at the airport. The airport is about thirty (30) miles from Brookings, OR.
Another airport that many locals use is Jackson County Airport in Medford, OR (airport code MFR). It is about 90 miles by road from Brookings, but the road is narrow and winding in places, so travel time is closer to two hours. We have never used this airport.