Professional Inspection

RVs today are more sophisticated than ever, and more expensive as well, easily costing more than a first home purchase in some cases (for those of us of a "certain age").  A failure in these systems can be costly in terms of money and time.  It can be particularly frustrating when purchasing an RV with the expectation of taking it on a nice long trip to make family memories, only to have to take it to a repair shop and leave it sometimes for months at a time.

But it's not just the fancy electronics that can cause problems.  Things that would normally be taken for granted, like plumbing and roofing can hide problems that can be far more costly and could even be cause for not going forward with the purchase.

Some RV delivery paperwork may include a copy of the dealer's PDI checklist.  It's typically a couple of columns of checked items on a single sheet of paper, tucked in with the other paperwork.  This may be about 40 to 50 items that have been verified by the dealer prior to turning the RV over to the buyer.  But keep in mind that the dealer's motivation in doing the PDI is to complete the sale and delivery of the RV to the buyer.  While some dealers may use their experienced technicians for the inspections, remember that those technicians are hired to make money for the dealership, and they aren't directly making money for the dealership unless they are working on billable repair items.  Performing a PDI is a supporting function, not a direct money-making function.

The inspection process begins as soon as the customer agrees to the contract and payment is made.  The inspector will then spend several hours researching the specific model and year of the RV, checking for possible recalls, and making sure the inspector knows exactly what to expect.  The RV is to be located in a spot with all hookups connected, so that all systems can be evaluated.  The onsite inspection will typically last most of a day, sometimes two days, depending on the size, complexity, and conditions during the inspection.  The inspector will then create a detailed report of the results of the inspection, with specific attention drawn to items that are considered life safety issues, and major items that could be very expensive to correct.  The report will be around 100 pages, with 80 to 100 photos, videos, and 360-degree photos of every aspect of the RV and will typically be delivered to the client around noon the following day.  All this is done to ensure that the client has all the relevant and impartial information needed to make an informed purchase decision.  The inspector has no interest or role to play in the purchase decision, other than to make sure the client has the most complete knowledge of the RV's condition before making a financial commitment.