How to Price and Sell a Partially Finished Skoolie Conversion

[benofilis]

Hi All,

I am new to the forum and helping out for a sad situation. A close friend of mine passed away last year and was I'd say 1/2-3/4 of the way through a skoolie project. I am trying to help his mother sort through everything and figure out the proper was to sell this to someone who will continue her son's dream.

I've attached a couple pictures of the bus. I don't have many of the details but can eventually get them. Some things I know:

• It's a Bluebird shorter length bus. (I don't know the model or year just yet)
• Engine is in the front (I know it's diesel but don't currently know brand / transmission)
• It's in fully running condition but has been sitting for a couple months
• The roof has been raised but a professional welder. Documentation can be located about it.
• The windows are removed and replaced with RV style windows
• It's been patched and meticulously gone through for rust and water sealing.
• It's been painted professionally.
• The interior has been insulated (rigid board on the floor and spray on the walls and roof) He was designing this for 4 season or at least 3+ living
• The floor is plumbed for radiant heat cut into the foam board under the floor
• Minisplit is also installed
• There is a rack on top for solar. And we have the panels / batteries and associated inverter, charge controller etc. (don't know the size of the system but could get those specs.
• There are plans in google sketch up for the final vision

I am not expecting miracles here, I know the project is not finished. Nor are we looking for top dollar. Just trying to understand what we have and what are the important parts to include in a listing. If anyone can give any guidance or help us understand better it's super appreciated...

 

[Mr P]

I suggest:

Providing engine/trans/mileage
Documentation of mods/cost.
Detailed itemization of any/all "parts"


As someone in the process of raising the roof, it's a big job. Your "battle" will be finding a buyer that can understand the value of having that job already done.

 

[Rucker]

It looks like a super clean build. Highly desirable short wheel base. Hoping the rest of the community here can chime in on what might help get the most value from a sale.

Ideal would be to sell it locally, where the buyer could inspect and confirm. Once listed you'll get a zillion lookey-loos, lots of stupid offers. For the least trouble I'd list is as a cash sale, no trades, and not offer to deliver (or meet in the middle somewhere).

My approach to valuation, for what it's worth, is cash value of the underlying bus, plus the Facebook Marketplace value of any major appliances/devices, minus distance from buyer, plus or minus aesthetics appeal to buyer.

This bus should have high appeal. There have been many, many buses listed where the quality of the build is completely sus, and those sellers have no right to a nickel, frankly.

 

[desrtdog]

A VIN would go a long way toward getting the engine/trans/rear-end details - enter it into
vantage.blue-bird.com.
If I had to guess, based on it being a front engine bluebird, I’d say it probably(?) has a Cummins 5.9, and based on the shift handle, an Allison 2500…(I believe the AT 545 had an an angled shift handle)…but again, that can all be gotten from the BB portal.

From the pics, it looks nice. Where is it located?

 

[nikitis]

Typically unless the build is complete you will not get top dollar. It can even be close to complete and you'll only get about 30% of expected value.

At the point you're at, you are at a sunken fallacy cost situation. You likely will need to complete it yourself and then sell for top dollar. Until you do, you won't get your money back on what was put into it. People who are going to spend the top dollar expect it to be turnkey. Most don't know what they are doing completely and don't trust themselves to finish it, or if they do, they don't trust the cost it will take them to get it finished. So they only expect to spend the top worth dollar if it's turnkey.

 

[Bjorkinman]

What a sweet little rig! I’d jump on this if I didnt already have one. Do not use Facebook as a reference point to obtain value, the people on there are complete trolls and don’t know what they’re looking at. I’d post it on this site and Skoolielivin.com we need more details and any pictures you can provide during the process would be helpful, especially anything wiring related. Agreed I dont think I’d drive it to someone but rather make them come to you to get it.

 

[fo4imtippin]

Gee, id say its 90% done regarding total hours of work. I spent a few years a lot of money on the outside and prepping the inside, and i finished my interior in about 2 months. If you are in a situation that you can finish it, maybe you could finish it up and use it for a few years and sell it and give the proceeds minus your expenses to the estate. Your friend would probably have appreciated someone he knew getting to use his dream rig.

Skoolies are tough and each one is unique. From what i see, there was no expense spared on the rig and it appears to be a quality conversion. As it sits, someone handy still has to buy it to finish it. Without further detail, i think its worth roughly 20k to 30k. If you put in the work to finish, I think it might be worth 50k-80k.

 

[Timeline]

Really nice work he did, that is a very nice bus. Can you make some photos of the bottom of the bus, he may have installed water tanks which could add to it's value. Is any of the plumbing in? How about a picture of the solar equipment?
Sorry you have the task, pretty sad thing... It's like 80-90% done.

 

[GunnyVP]

Hi All,

I am new to the forum and helping out for a sad situation. A close friend of mine passed away last year and was I'd say 1/2-3/4 of the way through a skoolie project. I am trying to help his mother sort through everything and figure out the proper was to sell this to someone who will continue her son's dream.

I've attached a couple pictures of the bus. I don't have many of the details but can eventually get them. Some things I know:

• It's a Bluebird shorter length bus. (I don't know the model or year just yet)
• Engine is in the front (I know it's diesel but don't currently know brand / transmission)
• It's in fully running condition but has been sitting for a couple months
• The roof has been raised but a professional welder. Documentation can be located about it.
• The windows are removed and replaced with RV style windows
• It's been patched and meticulously gone through for rust and water sealing.
• It's been painted professionally.
• The interior has been insulated (rigid board on the floor and spray on the walls and roof) He was designing this for 4 season or at least 3+ living
• The floor is plumbed for radiant heat cut into the foam board under the floor
• Minisplit is also installed
• There is a rack on top for solar. And we have the panels / batteries and associated inverter, charge controller etc. (don't know the size of the system but could get those specs.
• There are plans in google sketch up for the final vision

I am not expecting miracles here, I know the project is not finished. Nor are we looking for top dollar. Just trying to understand what we have and what are the important parts to include in a listing. If anyone can give any guidance or help us understand better it's super appreciated...

I recommend hiring a certified car appraiser through the Auto Appraisal Network to baseline the selling price and go from there.

Best wishes!

 

[benofilis]

This is really great information everyone! Really helpful to get us started. Thank you. It's currently in Andorra, MD which is sorta in-between Philadelphia and DC. It's been built out over the last 2 years.

Thanks @desrtdog for the VIN lookup tool! Very useful.
@Rucker thanks for the heads up on the mess of people we'll get.
@fo4imtippin , @nikitis - it's been discussed to finish it and maybe keep it in the "family" somehow. The reality is we are all at an age where we don't have time for the project or the enjoyment. (all in our 40s with kids and not much time) Plus in reality, it would always be connected to the loss. This was his passion project ... Noone is super interested in getting top dollar, just a fair price and connecting it with someone who will finish it and love it and travel with it.
@Timeline - When we get to officially listing our plan was to get a lot more information. There are tanks ... not sure which of the 3 water tanks are mounted. (I know his fresh water was actually planned to go under the bed.

 

[benofilis]

Also, another friend had the original listing for it before the conversion. Has a lot of the mechanical info. Obviously more miles than listed but not substantially so (he did drive it cross country to bring it home initially)

2004 Blue Bird All American 18 Passenger + 3 Wheelchair Short School Bus - B15043 | Northwest Bus Sales, Inc

Vehicle Highlights: 2021 Washington State Patrol Safety Inspection Sticker CAT / Allison Combo Rear Wheelchair Lift! (3) Wheelchair Positions Dimensions: Exterior Length: 29ft Interior Length (Driver Seat to Back Wall): 23ft 6in Interior Width: 7ft 6in Interior Height: 6ft 2in

nwbus.com

Key Specs:
04 Bluebird All American
CAT 3126 Diesel
Allison Automatic Transmission
29ft long

 

[mntnjzeh]

Hey I’m curious if you came up with an asking price ? I’m in New York and definitely interested in checking it out