Selling Your RV Park: Broker vs. Direct Buyer

When it’s time to sell your RV park, the first big decision is who you sell to. You can hire a broker to market the park, or sell directly to a buyer. Both can be the right choice. Here’s an honest comparison, including when a broker is the better call.

The quick comparison

	Broker listing	Direct buyer
Who finds the buyer	The broker markets your park	You deal with the buyer yourself
Fees	A commission, usually a percentage of the price	Typically none
Timeline	Often several months to find a buyer, plus closing	Often weeks once you agree on terms
Privacy	Listings, showings, and questions	Can stay confidential until closing
Price	More buyers can mean more competition	Fewer bidders, but no commission
Certainty	Many buyers need bank financing	Cash buyers skip the loan approval
Condition	Buyers may ask for repairs or credits	Often bought as-is

When a broker makes sense

Good brokers earn their fee in the right situation. Consider listing if:

• Your park is well-run, has clean books, and can qualify for bank financing
• You want to test the widest market and get the highest possible price
• You aren’t in a hurry and don’t mind showings
• You want someone else to handle marketing and negotiations

An experienced RV park broker also knows recent sales in your area, which helps you price the park well.

When a direct buyer makes sense

Selling directly is often the better fit if:

• You want speed. You’d like to close in weeks, not wait for the right buyer to show up.
• You want privacy. You’d rather your guests, staff, and competitors not know until it’s done.
• The park needs work. Deferred maintenance can scare off buyers who need bank loans.
• You want certainty. A cash buyer doesn’t depend on a lender’s approval.
• You want flexible terms. Some direct buyers offer seller financing or let you pick your closing date.

Compare your net, not the headline price

The number that matters is what you keep. Commissions, repairs requested during inspection, months of extra carrying costs, and a deal that falls apart late all eat into a higher headline price.

Example only: on a $2,000,000 sale, every 5% in commission is $100,000. A direct offer that’s lower on paper can still leave you with as much or more, once fees, repair credits, and extra months of ownership are counted.

To know what a fair headline price looks like in the first place, see how buyers value RV parks.

How to vet a direct buyer

Not every buyer who calls is a good one. Before you sign, ask:

1. Can you show proof of funds? A bank statement or a lender letter.
2. What have you bought before? Look for real experience with RV parks or similar properties.
3. What’s in the written offer? Price, earnest money, due diligence period, closing date, and who pays closing costs.
4. What happens if you find a problem in due diligence? Watch for buyers who tie up a property, then cut the price late. This is called retrading.
5. Are there any fees to me? There shouldn’t be.

Questions to ask either way

• What will I net after every fee and cost?
• How long until closing, realistically?
• What could cause this deal to fall through?
• Who handles title, escrow, and the closing?
• What happens to my staff, my long-term guests, and my reservations?

The bottom line

If you have time, a well-run park, and want the widest market, a broker can be worth the commission. If you want speed, privacy, certainty, or you’re selling as-is, a direct buyer is often the better path. Many owners talk to both before deciding, and our step-by-step guide covers the rest of the sale either way.

We’re a direct buyer. If you’d like to compare, send us your park’s details and you’ll have a written offer within 48 hours if we can make one, with no fees and no obligation.