LS or Kubota

[TimberFarm]

A pre-purchase survey. Doesn't everyone do this? I can't imagine buying a used truck, sailboat, plane, or piece of land without a survey. Ten years ago I wouldn't have put used tractors in that group - but with prices so high I do today.

Maybe it is less common than I thought. If so, I bet that will change. There are about to be a lot of used tractors on the market.

Land Surveyors have turned surveying into a profession all its own with legal descriptions, markers, and licensing - but regardless of what the item is, there are usually people who specialize in it and some will do surveys. Some do nothing else.

One guy locally just does pre-purchase surveys on used RVs. Another only works on particular models of vintage motorcycle. Another surveys sailboats. Survey price is usually by the hour at standard rates. For a car or tractor, three hours seems about normal. What you get for that is a written report with standard disclaimers.

Hopefully the surveyor will be someone who is semi-retired and has a lifetime of experience with a particular thing ... or like I said, sometimes with a particular model.

It is very common in marine, aviation, buildings, and land transactions. Just one part of buying used.
Recommended,
rScotty

I think the word "surveyor" most would call that "inspection". Like, hire someone to do an inspection on used tractor, truck, car, etc.

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

A pre-purchase survey. Doesn't everyone do this? I can't imagine buying a used truck, sailboat, plane, or piece of land without a survey. Ten years ago I wouldn't have put used tractors in that group - but with prices so high I do today.

Maybe it is less common than I thought. If so, I bet that will change. There are about to be a lot of used tractors on the market.

Land Surveyors have turned surveying into a profession all its own with legal descriptions, markers, and licensing - but regardless of what the item is, there are usually people who specialize in it and some will do surveys. Some do nothing else.

One guy locally just does pre-purchase surveys on used RVs. Another only works on particular models of vintage motorcycle. Another surveys sailboats. Survey price is usually by the hour at standard rates. For a car or tractor, three hours seems about normal. What you get for that is a written report with standard disclaimers.

Hopefully the surveyor will be someone who is semi-retired and has a lifetime of experience with a particular thing ... or like I said, sometimes with a particular model.

It is very common in marine, aviation, buildings, and land transactions. Just one part of buying used.

There are plenty of companies who will write a warranty on a used machine. Sometimes I buy an extended mechanical warranty on a car. It's just like if buying a building lot I would buy title insurance. All these things absolutely do require a survey.

I'm feeling sort of alone on this.... Who else does this??

Anyway, it's recommended,
rScotty

I am in the real estate business and land surveyors as what you are referring to them as are appraisers. There are other types of appraisers out there that deal in rare, hard to value assets like jewelry, antiques, vintage cars etc. but I have never heard of any dealing in tractors, sailboats or RV's. ....Maybe you guys have something unique out there in Colorado?

 

[tacticalturnip]

Didn't Dolly Parton sing a song about that or something similar a few decades ago?

Aye, Jolene was an excellent song.

 

[5030]

I would disagree. I know I can find more looking at a clean engine than a dirty one.
Easy to slap some mud over a crack to cover it up.

Is that similar to mud on your turtle?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I am in the real estate business and land surveyors as what you are referring to them as are appraisers. There are other types of appraisers out there that deal in rare, hard to value assets like jewelry, antiques, vintage cars etc. but I have never heard of any dealing in tractors, sailboats or RV's. ....Maybe you guys have something unique out there in Colorado?

No, nothing special.... just an appraiser. Yes, all cars, boats, RV's, and tractors can be "appraised". That is where you get "trade-in value"..... from an appraisal. There are major appraisal companies and small independent companies or even just a licensed person.

Did you know there is a "blue book" specifically for tractors? Sure is. It is very similar to the automotive blue books, giving approximate values based on hours and condition (poor, fair, good, excellent). Some dealers base a tractor trade in on this book, others take into consideration market demands and location.

 

[Williy]

To me the treadle pedal is like a case of
hemorrhoids something I can do very nicely
without!

willy

 

[Cahaba Valley Farm]

No, nothing special.... just an appraiser. Yes, all cars, boats, RV's, and tractors can be "appraised". That is where you get "trade-in value"..... from an appraisal. There are major appraisal companies and small independent companies or even just a licensed person.

Did you know there is a "blue book" specifically for tractors? Sure is. It is very similar to the automotive blue books, giving approximate values based on hours and condition (poor, fair, good, excellent). Some dealers base a tractor trade in on this book, others take into consideration market demands and location.

Yeah book values are just a national average. There are other sources that supposedly give more accurate, local market values but then as you mentioned, it also comes down to what the dealer values it at minus his profit that he will try to make on it.

However, I am not so familiar with independent appraisal companies that engage in appraising things other then what I mentioned. If Scotty or you or anyone else has experience with hiring one I am all ears.

 

[fiddlearound]

Aye, Jolene was an excellent song.

I think he was referring to "Coat of Many Colors".

 

[rScotty]

I am in the real estate business and land surveyors as what you are referring to them as are appraisers. There are other types of appraisers out there that deal in rare, hard to value assets like jewelry, antiques, vintage cars etc. but I have never heard of any dealing in tractors, sailboats or RV's. ....Maybe you guys have something unique out there in Colorado?

Maybe surveys are unique to Colorado? Well, maybe, but I don't think so. I don't want to get hung up on definitions, but the way the word is used in marine, aviation, and vintage machinery implies a very specialized and detailed look into measureable condition. It has nothing at all to do with price.

I've had a number of surveys done for buying used equipment - and for buying land for that matter. Price and value were never mentioned in any of the reports. I can see where an appraiser might use a survey to establish value, but it just wouldn't work the other way around.

My point was that since tractors are becoming so expensive, doing something similar to a survey for wear and damage could be helpful when buying a used tractor.

rScotty

 

[Mud2Money]

I think I have pretty much made up my mind on a LS MT573.
Apparently, LS has the tractors, but no loaders to put on them.

Good choice . I’m always short on time yet when ever I get in mine I am still looking for more chores to do at the end of the day. It’s been great. Plenty of power for any task I can ask of it. It pulls a large single tooth subsoiler , 7ft tiller , 7ft rotary cutter, 7ft hd back blade. It’s been a joy for loader work. The power shuttle is responsive and consistent. I did not think I’d use so many features. But I use most of them. Auto up , auto pto , cruise , draft. The auto up is one of the handiest I find. I work around several small windbreak trees. Currently I can just use the auto up to go over then engage right back in at my same depths.