Motorhome consulting

[M-J]

Sounds like something a website or app could be programmed to do loaded with all the relevant questions and motorhomes that match based on the answers provided.

One hell of a database of motorhomes would have to be made but once it’s done new ones just need adding every year or two.

 

[andyjc]

Go upmarket and see what sort of help you could offer people spending £150K to £200K on a motorhome. A £1000/1500 consultancy fee would be relatively inconsequential.

 

[Jenka]

Please don’t tell me that’s Gadget Johns latest venture !

Correct hes a caravan journalist .

 

[Parrot Face]

A potential buyer has all the necessary information on here if they want it… good or bad…

the thing is you can give all your knowledge and information then they’ll go and buy what they want on impulse….

Couldn't have put it better myself. I find a lot of motorhomers don't listen to advice and some are notoriously unwilling to part with their cash.

 

[63720]

With so many people buying the wrong van for their needs, I’m thinking of offering my services to newbies to help them buy their third van first. (Great tagline I thought)

I don’t want to source their van or inspect it before they buy it, rather give them a lengthy personal consultation ascertaining their requirement and offering buyers advice so together we can drill down to their perfect motorhome and not make the mistakes we see people make time and time again.

When they have found it, I can help them with the negotiation or maybe even do it on their behalf.

I’d guess with the time I put in I’d have to price this around the £250/£350 mark. Do you think I would I get many takers? Would you have liked a guiding hand when you made your first purchase?

For £249.99 I would advise them to buy a Hymer .

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[Mixyblob]

A great idea but I'd recommend any one who is in the market for their first van to put the money towards hiring a van. Something similar to what they fancied.
Nowt like a week/end hands on so to speak.

 

[Abacist]

I think you would find your time being taken for granted and your privacy being abused

the level of ignorance is outstanding and the depth of research so shallow.

we bought our van at 4 years old with 1800 miles on the clock after 2 owners from new. Obviously neither had thought it out properly but had cash to splash!

we bumped into a guy on the ferry over to Spain. First trip away and going abroad, never heard of Fun or Aires or Stellplatzs

You might find yourself becoming a broker both buying and selling on commission.

I don’t think your proposed fee is enough. Not only are you finding the ideal van to suit their lifestyle but also will be expected to weed out the damp, effectively doing structural and mechanical surveys.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I think a solar consultant would be more use to people, it must be the most asked question on here.. How many solar panels do I need?

 

[Jamesh]

There is a guy on eBay who offers a simalar service for narrow boats. Might be worth a gander, think he might do taster sessions too.

Listing is something like "don't buy a narrow boat until you have read this..... "

<Broken link removed>

1% of purchase price wouldn't be a bad starting point?

Cheers James

 

[georgio]

A monkeys not bad

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[sospan]

As I mentioned in my first post on the forum, finding a MH for commercial use is quite a minefield. I can see a niche market for commercial use for people whom exhibit at events. We recently hired a Chausson 6 berth for an event last weekend and for details I will post separately, was so wrong for us..

The commercial route is on the surface quite interesting for yourself and the customer as costs and depreciation could be transferred from your pocket to your business. A "sensible" business person will value their time quite highly. For me searching through all the various manufacturers. models, extras, availability, accessibility, paperwork, paper work, paper work for the DVLA/VOSA and for the accountant would be very useful. Some sort of intermediary between the customer and the sales company would be great.

 

[DDJC]

Think you are asking the wrong people Jim. Go onto a caravan or tenter forum and suggest it.

The reason I say this is that I doubt anyone on Fun has bought a moho, and gone, "fantastic, I don't need to change a thing". In addition, many folk buy a Moho then spend a joyous number of years updating, upgrading, formatting, maintaining and repairing their van. Your expertise might be better engaged showing the poor tuggers & tenters how much more fun they will have with a moho

For myself, I find your guides excellent, but I wouldn't have wanted any help in choosing and buying my Rimor. I loved poking round the buses at the NEC and looking at different types on the internet. Also, are you liable if the advice you give turns out to be wrong?

Rather than offer a general service to choose a motorhome, do what you already do and specialise in security or bag another key area and focus on that.

Sorry in advance if this opinion puts a downer on your idea. Best thing about advice is that you can ignore it

 

[Jim]

Think you are asking the wrong people Jim. Go onto a caravan or tenter forum and suggest it.

The reason I say this is that I doubt anyone on Fun has bought a moho, and gone, "fantastic, I don't need to change a thing". In addition, many folk buy a Moho then spend a joyous number of years updating, upgrading, formatting, maintaining and repairing their van. Your expertise might be better engaged showing the poor tuggers & tenters how much more fun they will have with a moho

For myself, I find your guides excellent, but I wouldn't have wanted any help in choosing and buying my Rimor. I loved poking round the buses at the NEC and looking at different types on the internet. Also, are you liable if the advice you give turns out to be wrong?

Rather than offer a general service to choose a motorhome, do what you already do and specialise in security or bag another key area and focus on that.

Sorry in advance if this opinion puts a downer on your idea. Best thing about advice is that you can ignore it

Thanks, this has now involved into a course rather than a straight consultancy. I'm working on it now. Hopefully, it should be ready by late summer next year. (it's a lot of work!) The course will be a series of instructional videos, audio and written material that you work through and can use as a reference. It will be two-tiered, you'll be able to buy the course, with or without a couple of hours' consultancy, offering personal help in the choosing and buying process. Not sure about pricing yet, but the course will probably be less than £125. While adding a couple of hours consultancy will probably push it nearer to £300.

 

[houdini]

Thanks, this has now involved into a course rather than a straight consultancy. I'm working on it now. Hopefully, it should be ready by late summer next year. (it's a lot of work!) The course will be a series of instructional videos, audio and written material that you work through and can use as a reference. It will be two-tiered, you'll be able to buy the course, with or without a couple of hours' consultancy, offering personal help in the choosing and buying process. Not sure about pricing yet, but the course will probably be less than £125. While adding a couple of hours consultancy will probably push it nearer to £300.

I’ve always thought ‘tiering’ is a good idea, e.g. French lunch menus, people like to know what they are committing themselves to financially.

 

[NJW]

Another vote for renting before buying. We did 2 rentals and have now bought a motorhome that we know is right for us. The rentals were worth every penny. No amount of research or consulting would have got us here because it is only when you live in a van that you really understand its limitations. Also it helped to confirm that the motorhome life was indeed one for us. Too many second hand motorhomes with low mileage suggests that many people romanticize the idea and then the reality is different for them.

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[DDJC]

Another vote for renting before buying. We did 2 rentals and have now bought a motorhome that we know is right for us. The rentals were worth every penny. No amount of research or consulting would have got us here because it is only when you live in a van that you really understand its limitations. Also it helped to confirm that the motorhome life was indeed one for us. Too many second hand motorhomes with low mileage suggests that many people romanticize the idea and then the reality is different for them.

Yes, we rented too.
Not that we had any option. The dealer failed to deliver our new motorhome in time for a complicated and fully booked trip round Europe.

Have to say, it taught us a hell of a lot about what we did not want in a motorhome. Oddly, but pleasingly, our new bus had none of the issues that the hired one had. In the words of the Grail Knight in Indiana Jones, "You have chosen... wisely."