From someone who ran RV consignment for nine years — here's the honest answer on which method gets an estate RV sold faster in Florida, and why the answer is almost never consignment.
For most Florida estates, a guided private sale is faster than consignment — typically 45–90 days versus 78–114 days at a consignment lot. Consignment also has a hard barrier: most Florida dealers won't accept estate RVs with a loan balance. A private sale keeps the executor in control and eliminates commission fees of 10–15%.
Bottom line: Consignment sounds easier for an estate executor, but it adds contract lock-in periods, removes the PR's control over pricing, and requires RV equity the estate may not have. For most Florida estate situations, a structured private sale — with the right pricing and buyer qualification — closes faster and nets more money.
When you're handling an estate RV in Florida, time is money in a literal sense. Storage fees run every month. The probate clock is ticking. And every week the RV sits unsold is another week the estate stays open.
The two main options — consignment with a Florida RV dealer, or a structured private sale — sound like they serve different priorities: consignment for hands-off convenience, private sale for maximum price. But for estate situations specifically, the speed comparison is not close. And the reasons are estate-specific, not generic.
I ran RV consignment in Florida for nine years. I know exactly where consignment helps estate executors and where it strands them. This guide gives you the honest comparison — timelines, fees, control, and the five structural problems consignment creates in an estate context that nobody at the consignment lot will tell you about.
Executors, estate attorneys, and heirs handling Florida RV situations ask questions directly inside the group. Frank answers personally.
Join the Free GroupHere is what actual estate RV sale timelines look like in Florida across both methods — not dealer marketing copy, but numbers from inside the industry.
| Factor | Private Sale (Guided) | Consignment |
|---|---|---|
| Typical sale timeline | 45–90 days | 78–114+ days |
| Requires RV equity | No | Yes — most dealers won't take loans |
| Commission / fees | Flat consulting fee only | 10–15% commission + possible lot fees |
| PR controls pricing | Yes — full control | No — dealer negotiates |
| Contract lock-in | None | 90–180 day contracts typical |
| Works during open probate | Yes | Yes, but PR loses oversight |
| Out-of-state executor friendly | Yes — managed remotely | Partially — drop-off required |
| On $50,000 RV: cost to seller | Flat fee (under $2,000) | $5,000–$7,500 in commission |
The timeline difference isn't just about the method — it's about five structural problems that consignment creates in an estate context. Each one adds time. Together they can add months.
Consignment only works when the RV has enough equity to cover the dealer's commission after the sale. If the deceased had an outstanding loan, the dealer needs to confirm the sale price will cover the payoff plus their cut. Many won't take the risk. For executors who call consignment lots first, this is often the conversation that ends the inquiry — and costs days or weeks of wasted time before they pursue a different path.
Florida consignment contracts typically run 90 to 180 days. If the RV doesn't sell in that window, the PR has to either renew the contract, pull the RV, or negotiate an early exit — each of which takes time. Meanwhile probate stays open, storage or lot fees continue, and estate accounting is delayed. A private sale has no lock-in period. If the market responds slowly, you adjust the price and keep moving.
In a consignment arrangement, the dealer negotiates directly with buyers. The Personal Representative is not in the room. But the PR still has a fiduciary duty to the estate to maximize proceeds for beneficiaries. This creates a real tension: the PR is legally responsible for the outcome of a transaction they cannot control. If the dealer accepts a low offer without consulting the PR, the PR may have limited recourse — and the beneficiaries may not be happy with the result.
A consignment dealer has a lot of RVs to sell. Your estate's RV is one unit among many. The PR's urgency to close the estate, stop storage fees, and distribute assets to beneficiaries is completely invisible to the dealer's day-to-day operations. There is no incentive structure that makes the dealer prioritize your RV over another. A guided private sale puts the timeline pressure where it belongs — on the process, not on a third party with different priorities.
Some Florida consignment dealers charge monthly lot fees in addition to their sale commission. If the estate is also paying storage while waiting to transfer the RV to the lot, or paying for insurance while the RV sits unsold, carrying costs stack up quickly. On a $50,000 Class A sitting on a lot for 90 days with a $200/month lot fee and 12% commission, the estate nets roughly $43,800 before any other estate expenses — assuming it sells at all.
Consignment is not always the wrong answer. There are estate situations where it is the right call:
Out-of-state executor with no local support: If the PR lives out of state, has no one in Florida to manage showings, and the estate has no time pressure, a consignment lot handles the physical logistics — storage, showings, buyer screening — that the PR can't manage remotely.
RV with strong equity and no urgency: If the estate has no carrying costs, the RV is in excellent condition with clear equity, and beneficiaries are not waiting on funds, consignment's longer timeline may be acceptable in exchange for hands-off management.
Estate already closed, heirs just want it gone: Once probate is closed and assets have been distributed, heirs who inherited the RV jointly and want to hand it off without managing the process may find consignment simpler — provided they understand the commission cost.
Yes. A Personal Representative in Florida can begin marketing and listing an estate RV while probate is still open, provided they have been appointed by the court and hold valid Letters of Administration. There is no requirement to wait for probate to close before initiating a sale of personal property like an RV.
Important distinction: Florida Probate Code 733.613 imposes specific court approval requirements for the sale of real property — not personal property. An RV is personal property. The PR can sell it using their authority from the Letters of Administration without a separate court order, as long as the sale is consistent with their fiduciary duty and the terms of the will.
For more on how probate status affects estate RV sales, see the full guide on RVs in Florida probate.
Speed matters. But so does what's left after the sale.
Consignment at 12% commission: $50,000 sale price → $6,000 commission → $44,000 to estate. Add 90 days of lot fees at $150/month → $43,550 net.
Guided private sale at flat fee: $50,000 sale price → consulting fee under $2,000 → $48,000+ to estate. Sold in 60 days with no lot fees.
Difference: $4,000–$5,000 more to the estate — distributed to beneficiaries — from the method that also closes faster.
For the full process on selling an inherited RV in Florida, including the six-step executor process and title transfer requirements, see the complete executor's guide.
I've worked with executors in every situation — out-of-state, mid-probate, no title, loan balance. Flat fee, no commission, no dealer agenda. Two minutes to get a clear direction.
Start the Free RV Selling DiagnosticWhen a family came into my consignment lot with an estate RV, I could tell within five minutes whether consignment was going to work for them or strand them. The cases where it worked were narrow: out-of-state executor, no local help, RV had equity, family had no urgency. That was maybe one in five estate situations I saw.
Everyone else was a bad fit for consignment — they just didn't know it yet. The executor who needed probate closed in 90 days. The family paying $300/month storage waiting to transfer the RV to my lot. The PR who signed a 180-day contract and then called me at day 120 asking to pull the unit because the estate attorney was pushing for a close.
The problem I couldn't solve inside the consignment model was urgency. My lot had fifty RVs. Your estate's RV was one of them. I had no financial incentive to sell yours before the one next to it — and the family had no visibility into where their unit stood in my sales priority. That's not a character flaw in the dealer. It's the structural reality of the model.
When I transitioned out of consignment and into consulting in 2024, estate situations were a big part of why. These are the sellers who need the most help and get the least useful advice from the industry. A flat-fee consultant whose only job is to get the estate's RV sold — on the estate's timeline — is a fundamentally different product than a consignment lot that takes your RV and calls you when it sells.
— Frank Mason, Easy Escapes RV
I work exclusively with Florida RV sellers, including executors navigating probate, out-of-state heirs, and complex estate situations. Flat fee, no commission, no dealer conflict. Let's figure out the fastest path for your specific situation.
Start the Free RV Selling Diagnostic No commission. No pressure. No dealer agenda.Not legal, financial, or tax advice. The content on this page is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or professional advice of any kind. Every RV selling situation is unique. Consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or licensed financial advisor before making decisions about your specific situation — particularly for matters involving loan deficiency, short sales, repossession, estate transactions, or tax consequences of forgiven debt. · About the author. Frank Mason is a 25-year Florida RV industry professional and former licensed Florida RV consignment dealer (2015–2024). He is not a licensed attorney, CPA, or financial advisor. His guidance reflects professional experience, not licensed professional advice. · Market conditions. RV market values, lender policies, commission rates, and legal requirements change frequently. Information on this site reflects conditions at the time of writing and may not reflect current market conditions. Always verify current values using JD Power RV Guide and active Florida market listings before making pricing decisions. · Affiliate disclosure. Easy Escapes RV participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Some links on this site may be affiliate links. We only reference products and services we believe are genuinely useful to Florida RV sellers. · No client relationship. Reading this content does not create a consulting, advisory, or client relationship with Easy Escapes RV or Frank Mason. A formal engagement begins only upon execution of a written consulting agreement.