What is an RV Inspection and Do You Need One Before Buying?

When you buy a house, an important piece of the process is the home inspection. This means that a licensed, certified inspector will come into the home you want to purchase and check for issues and structural problems that you might otherwise miss or not think about. 

An RV inspection is similar. You can opt to have a third-party professional inspector come assess and review a rig you are considering purchasing. The inspector will test all systems on the RV and provide an unbiased and objective report on the state of the rig. Plus, when you’re already in love with an RV, an inspector is more likely to catch things that you might miss during your own inspection. Getting an inspection is not required of you, but can you implicitly trust the seller or dealer from whom you are buying? 

In What Scenarios Should You Consider Getting an RV Inspection?

For many experienced RV owners who have worked on and repaired their own rigs for years, an RV inspection may seem unnecessary. But getting an inspection may be right for you if you are:

• Buying an RV for the first time
• Planning on using the rig full time
• Selling an RV

Benefits of Getting an RV Inspection 

RV inspections aren’t necessarily cheap, so people can easily overlook the value they offer because of the upfront costs. However, there are several advantages of getting a rig you intend to buy inspected first, including:

• Giving you a more accurate estimate of potential RV repair costs in advance – This can help you negotiate the cost of RV repairs or even the RV purchase price before you buy. 
• Allowing you to know exactly what you’re getting into with the purchase – If everything is in great working order, that’s wonderful. But knowing about any issues or potential system failures in your future will reduce the risk of surprises you might run into otherwise. 
• Helping you learn more about your RV than you thought possible – An inspector is a skilled person with knowledge of all the components and systems in an RV. From their inspection report and walk through with you, you can learn so much about the inner workings for your rig, and they will likely impart more knowledge to you than a dealer or a private seller would ever could.
• Reinforcing your sales price – If you’re selling a rig, getting an inspection to prove to buyers that everything in your RV is in good working order can help solidify your sales price and build trust with potential buyers. 

Have you ever opted for an RV inspection? Was it worth it or not? Let us know in the comments or contact us today!