Prepping a finish mower to sell ...

bigonion · May 9, 2019

I've got a Woods RM 59 that came along with my tractor and I'm thinking of selling it. I have a riding mower that I use for the areas that need regular mowing, and I'm just not fond of using the tractor in those areas. The implement's been sitting under cover for most of the two years I've had it. I'd like to sell it but was wondering what a buyer might look for in order to get a good price. I'm planning on sharpening the blades and getting a spare belt to sell along with it, and I need to replace one of the seals on one of the spindles. It works great, otherwise. The paint job looks like heck but I think the former owner had it outside for most of its life.

If you were in the market for a finish mower, what would you want to see or know? Also, any idea on price? I see everything from $200 to $600.

I've just not been using tractors long enough to know what the norm is, so any advice is appreciated.

dusty3030 · May 9, 2019

Biggest thing is I wouldn't paint it. Fresh rattle can paint job means seller is hiding rust to me.

I'd do whatever you need so that it is functional.

I don't know how you are going to advertise it but when I want something gone whatever venue I'm using I see what asking price is on everything similar and price just below it. If there a re a ton of similar sized finish mowers for sale on Craigslist in your area for let's say $700 I'd price at 600 etc. Take lots of pictures.

4570Man · May 9, 2019

Make it functional and fix any tire problems. I wouldn’t paint it and I wouldn’t bother with a new belt.

Industrial Toys · May 9, 2019

It depends how bad it looks. You could always take a before picture to show a seller. I would appreciate a paint job providing there was good prep work involved, not painting over rust and flakey paint.

I take stuff to a sandblaster yearly, so I would go that route. But I have learned to spend time and money only on expensive stuff, not dime a dozen cheap stuff. Put five hundred bucks and a pile of time into a five hundred dollar trailer and you have a five hundred dollar trailer!

hiddentacocatneddih · May 9, 2019

Locally the market is swamped with smaller 3 point finish mowers. 6 ft and under fetch $1000 tops and thT would be a brand new used mower. Older woods side discharge stuff sits on the market a long time and cheap it looks. 7 footers tho are hard to come by. I'd make it work, no paint and try $500.

Gunny · May 10, 2019

Around here Woods RM59 selling prices are all over the board, looking at the local Craigslist, anywhere from $300 up to $800 for the ones I found within a 100 mile radius.

A few years ago, I picked up a Woods RM48 in a trade. It was very rough looking, but it cut grass very well. Since I already had a finish mower, I made sure everything was functional, sharpened the blades and put it up on Craigslist with pictures and in the text I noted that it looked like h*ll, but cut grass like a new one. I kept it mounted on my Kubota so that any prospective buyer could try it out for themselves.
The ad ran for three days, had two people show up, the last guy offered me $200 (I was asking $250) and I accepted.

From the ads I saw and your description of your mower, I'd ask around $450 and let it go for $400.

Slowpoke Slim · May 10, 2019

Big plus on just making it functional. Sharpening the blades is a good idea too. I would also do like Gunny suggests and have it hooked up to your tractor, so prospective buyers can see it being run. Don't know about letting some stranger run around on my tractor at my place, but I'd be willing to operate the attachment for them in person, if they were a serious buyer.

WranglerX · May 10, 2019

Fix any known problems (seals, tires) and sharpen blades.... Pressure wash and present..... NO paint, let potential buyer see the real thing not a dressed up pig....

Dale

Industrial Toys · May 10, 2019

I vote for putting lipstick on the pig. Curious when people say no, how much equipment they have sold. Big auctions like RB make a huge business out of painting stuff because they know the value (for the seller) in it.

I sandblasted and painted a 3ph broom recently. Turned out nice, since it had sat outside. Called about decals. They were not too expensive so I asked her to put them in the mail. She couriered them and cost me more than the decals. I found out that brooms are not worth much used. Got less than half of where I started. AND, got screwed down a little more when a buyer showed up.