How does color affect the resale value of your RV?

Think back to when you bought your motorhome. What was it that caught your attention in the first place? The outward appearance of the vehicle, right? Specifically, the color of the platform. Well, you might be surprised to learn that color plays a huge role in our purchasing decisions. Communicate what you think about yourself and your life. So now that you plan to sell your RV, you need to consider how the color of your vehicle affects its resale value. A simple paint job not only gives your motorhome a fresh new look, it can also serve to inspire buyers to buy your vehicle.

What colors work?

Depending on the color of your RV, the resale value can go up or down. According to the Kelley Blue Book, 50 percent of all new cars are black, white, or silver. That’s a huge number and it clearly indicates the prevailing tendency among buyers to choose a neutral shade rather than experiment with an unconventional one.

Neutral color options not only impart a more elegant look to a motorhome, but also increase the aesthetic value of the vehicle compared to less conventional options such as lemon yellow or bright red. If you want to immediately find buyers for your vehicle, you should stick to classics like silver, white, or gray. Aside from their obvious cosmetic appeal, these colors are functional too, showing fewer teeth and dents, scratches, and grime. A study also indicates that white vehicles are part of fewer accidents, although the results are debatable.

Pay attention to trends

Just because traditional colors are “in” doesn’t mean they’ll be popular forever. So think about the type of buyer you want to target. Do you want to attract the interest of baby boomers who are prone to playing it safe with RV color or do you want to attract the sensibilities of the millennial crowd who have become top RV buyers and are not afraid of to experience?

However, keep in mind that if you own a limited or special edition motorhome, it is best to keep the original color intact. The resale value may go down if you paint over the existing shade.

Also, if you are interested in selling a more burglar-proof motorhome, then you should color your vehicle a bright shade of yellow or pink. Why? Because, according to Edmund, thieves tend to target more conventional colors. Resale value is a big reason for them, and a bright color works as well as any security device to deter them. The shiny appearance of your vehicle could therefore become your USP.

You don’t always have to play it safe

Next time you travel or have parked at an RV campground, take a look. What are the colors you see? Most of them are painted in a “reliable” shade of black, white, chrome, and silver. In fact, it is often difficult to tell the difference between two similarly painted motorhomes. That is why some market segments are open to other color options. Dark green and dark red work well, for example, to provide a welcome break from visual monotony without deviating too much from the standard options.

The color of your motorhome is more important than you think. If you plan to sell your RV now, you must have your finger on the pulse of your target audience and decide which color will attract more buyers. You can’t deny that visual appeal affects consumers’ buying decision, and it might be worth spending some money to repaint your vehicle if it means attracting more buyers and getting an edge over the competition.