GORV - Digital Magazine Issue #33 | Page 26

RV FEATURE We're not certain this van's frame was damaged by water, but these images show the kind of repair work you might be up for should you find yourself the unlucky owner of a water- damaged van. ADDITIONAL TIPS In addition to the bill of sale, here are a few more tips for a successful transaction. • Do your homework and familiarise yourself with the requirements of your local state roads authority regarding transfer of ownership and registration. • Prepare as much of the documentation as you can. Don’t rely on the other party to get it right. • Make copies or take photos of the signed documents as proof they were indeed signed by the other party. • Be on the front foot during the process. Don’t wait for the calls to come to you. Let them know you are a serious buyer/seller. • Bank cheques can be forged. Learn how to recognise a fake and if you have any doubts, walk away from the deal. 26 \ • Don’t let money or goods change hands until the bill of sale is signed by both parties. Have a signed original for each party. • Beware of scammers who make purchase offers that seem too good to be true. A purchaser from an offshore drilling rig who offers to buy the vehicle sight unseen is a common scam. • If it smells like a duck, and quacks like a duck and swims like a duck, it’s probably a duck. Trust your instincts and walk away from any deal if you feel uneasy about the conduct of the other party or sense something isn't right about the transaction.