Well, here we are in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas and we may have found our new home! She's a 2003 DutchStar, 38' and everything we want (and more - the owner left all kinds of stuff in her - new sewer hoses, grill, water hoses and even a cb radio). We negotiate tomorrow (she's on consignment) so if anyone has any good negotiating tactics send them to us! Yikes, I'm so nervous, I can hardly stand it. If we get her, we'll have to drive her all the way home to Sarasota, but we'll have her for the Rally! Now all we have to do is rent the house, empty it, sell the car, turn the jeep into a toad...just a few things...ha...lots of time...
Racerguy said
07:18 PM Feb 5, 2010
Good luck.Hope it all works out for you.
-- Edited by Racerguy on Friday 5th of February 2010 07:19:05 PM
GENECOP said
07:20 PM Feb 5, 2010
Neg hard, i am sure you know, it is a buyers market. That being said, if you really love it, and it has everything you want, dont miss the opportunity---Trust your gut, you will know if its right , Best of Luck, keep us posted, G
Mallo said
08:02 PM Feb 5, 2010
A few things come to mind...
One of the things that always works for me is to start talking about other things. Oh sure start out with "I really love that Hitchhiker but can't really afford it. Say how do you like living out this way?"
I find it gives the other guy a chance to think and not just respond in possibly a defensive "There is no way I'll lower the price" manner. No matter how much he comes down just keep the conversation going about how much you'd like that thing but the stock market, the job situation, the wife blame anything and everything.
When we bought the owner of the place was laughing his head off and how ***** whipped he thought I was, but all the while he was laughing about it he was lowering the price. It wasn't until after we signed the papers that his secretary looked up and said "You've been riding this guy all day but I'd like to point out that no one here has seen or spoken to his wife and her name isn't on any of these papers." He shut up about then.
It being on consignment the dealer doesn't have final say so once you get him down as far as you think he can drop ask for another X percent off (as much as you think you can get away with plus 10 percent more, enough so that you'd start to feel bad if they take it) When the dealer howls that there is no way he can do that price ask him to contact the actual owner and see what he says.
You may end up having to leave and come back doing that but you may be able to squeeze it down.
Of course all this means you may risk having to walk away or lose it to someone who is more motivated.
We almost lost our Hitchhiker but I finished up an hour before someone walked in behind me willing to pay more. A bit off in my timing and I'd of lost it.
Mallo
MooreFun said
08:43 PM Feb 5, 2010
That's really a great idea, and boy can I think of a dozen things to keep the conversation going. Thank you so much for your response. Wish us luck! We'll let you know by noon tomorrow...
Linda said
06:10 AM Feb 6, 2010
Good Luck you two! We are anxiously waiting to hear!
MooreFun said
07:03 PM Feb 7, 2010
YAAAAAYY. We have a new HOME! After 12 hours of planes, trains and automobiles, we met our dreamhome on wheels. She was better than the pictures and we spent many hours inspecting her, measuring her, taking pictures and driving her - on the ROAD! I even backed her up! I am so proud of myself I could crow. She's a '03 Dutch Star, 38' and green. I know, she's older, but 'experienced', so we are a definite match. Gary even backed into a parking space between two other rigs on the lot. I know, I know, this is old stuff for most of you, but I know you felt the same when you first got your new rig. There is such excitement and apprehension. If you are planning to go fulltime you ask yourself are we doing the right thing? It's this mental step you take to leave your present world - everything you are familiar with - and go through a doorway that leads to everything new and unknown. Sometimes it is just a leap of faith because you are so miserable with your life now, you need to feel better about life, because you know there is more than 'this'. In our case we have been in a holding pattern for years searching for the substance of life. I knew that when we read Howard and Linda's experiences that THAT was what we had been looking for. We made the decision to fulltime on Sept. 27 at 10:37 AM. True. We stuck post-its on our bathroom mirror of all the steps we needed to take to get to our dream. We just crossed off another tonight when we got home - 'Purchase RV'. So we plan to launch on March 29th to make it to the rally, and when we rent our home, we will be fulltimers! Sorry this is so long, but Gary and I can't wait to meet all of you whom I consider to be family already. Thank you so much for your suggestions and help and especially good wishes - because they do come true!
Terry and Jo said
07:21 PM Feb 7, 2010
Well, congratulations on succeeding on this major step of the process. We are glad to hear it. Jo and I wish you the best.
As for the future, I remember reading in my favorite western writer's books (Louis L'Amour) that many of the mountain men and pioneers kept on going. They always wanted to see what was beyond the next mountain or ridge. Or what awaited them beyond that river.
As a serious, amateur photographer, I am always wanting to see what is beyond. I explained that to a friend at church today when he asked if I REALLY thought that this was what we wanted to do. It is an example of the many who can't understand the wanderlust, the exploration, and the new acquaintenances down the road from here.
Good luck in the rest of your process. Be VERY CAREFUL on the renting of the home. When we had a rent home, we found that very few renters really looked after the house we had. One, in fact, wouldn't even tell me if there was a problem with something until it got to the stage that a repair was more like a replacement.
Enjoy and love what you do.
Terry
Happytrails said
08:45 PM Feb 7, 2010
Congratulations!!! We know you are so excited. Your new home sounds just like our new home.....2003 Dutch Star, green full-body and it is 38 or 39 ft. We moved into ours August 18th and haven't looked back. We sold our house, just didn't want the responsibility of upkeep.
Good luck and hopefully we will get to meet you guys down the road one day soon.
Luvglass said
09:37 PM Feb 7, 2010
Congratulations!
Our experience was very similar to yours. We decided to do this in late August and moved in February 12. This Friday will be 4 years for us and the life keeps getting better and better. Look forward to meeting you someday.
Enjoy !
eagleshea said
07:47 AM Feb 8, 2010
Congratualtions on your new home. I am sure you and Gary will have MANY great years in your new home. We look forward to meeting you at the Rally in April. Till then enjoy your new home and good luck with the Brick & stix.
laurly said
10:44 AM Feb 8, 2010
How exciting!! Every day a new adventure...looking forward to meeting you in April, with your 'new' home..
MooreFun said
07:20 PM Feb 8, 2010
Thank you for all your wishes! We will be on site 91 at the rally and look forward to meeting all of you!
-- Edited by Racerguy on Friday 5th of February 2010 07:19:05 PM
One of the things that always works for me is to start talking about other things. Oh sure start out with "I really love that Hitchhiker but can't really afford it. Say how do you like living out this way?"
I find it gives the other guy a chance to think and not just respond in possibly a defensive "There is no way I'll lower the price" manner. No matter how much he comes down just keep the conversation going about how much you'd like that thing but the stock market, the job situation, the wife blame anything and everything.
When we bought the owner of the place was laughing his head off and how ***** whipped he thought I was, but all the while he was laughing about it he was lowering the price. It wasn't until after we signed the papers that his secretary looked up and said "You've been riding this guy all day but I'd like to point out that no one here has seen or spoken to his wife and her name isn't on any of these papers." He shut up about then.
It being on consignment the dealer doesn't have final say so once you get him down as far as you think he can drop ask for another X percent off (as much as you think you can get away with plus 10 percent more, enough so that you'd start to feel bad if they take it) When the dealer howls that there is no way he can do that price ask him to contact the actual owner and see what he says.
You may end up having to leave and come back doing that but you may be able to squeeze it down.
Of course all this means you may risk having to walk away or lose it to someone who is more motivated.
We almost lost our Hitchhiker but I finished up an hour before someone walked in behind me willing to pay more. A bit off in my timing and I'd of lost it.
Mallo
As for the future, I remember reading in my favorite western writer's books (Louis L'Amour) that many of the mountain men and pioneers kept on going. They always wanted to see what was beyond the next mountain or ridge. Or what awaited them beyond that river.
As a serious, amateur photographer, I am always wanting to see what is beyond. I explained that to a friend at church today when he asked if I REALLY thought that this was what we wanted to do. It is an example of the many who can't understand the wanderlust, the exploration, and the new acquaintenances down the road from here.
Good luck in the rest of your process. Be VERY CAREFUL on the renting of the home. When we had a rent home, we found that very few renters really looked after the house we had. One, in fact, wouldn't even tell me if there was a problem with something until it got to the stage that a repair was more like a replacement.
Enjoy and love what you do.
Terry