Buying Advice

Buying Heavy Plant Machinery Advice

Thanks to developments in technology and particularly the internet, searching for good quality used plant and construction equipment has never been easier. With hundreds of dealers at your fingertips you don’t even have to leave your office! Below are some hints and tips to assist you in your search:-

Research

Use the internet to research what is currently on offer from a range of reputable plant machinery dealers. By using an online marketplace such as Totallyplant.com, you will be able to compare hundreds of dealers and also the used plant machinery they have on offer in one easy to use website. By conducting this research you will get a good idea of what is on offer and what the average market price is for your chosen piece of equipment.

Seller Reputation

It is always advisable to ensure that the person from whom you are buying from is a genuine and reputable seller. Simple research either from acquaintances, other plant dealers or online searches will give you a good idea as to their business dealings. Here at Totallyplant we make initial enquiries prior to adverts being placed to ensure the seller’s on our site and plant machinery being offered for sale are genuine, however, you as the buyer should make your own enquiries – remember if something looks too good to be true it generally is!

Making Contact with the Seller

Prior to contacting the seller have a list of questions ready to ask, this will help you to determine the suitability of the plant machinery on offer and avoid time wasting later on. In particular, know your price and the market price and be realistic.

View the Plant Machinery

If possible, always make an appointment to view the plant machinery before making an offer to purchase or more importantly before parting with your money. Meeting the dealer and checking the mechanical soundness of the plant machinery is the most crucial part of the transaction. If you are not knowledgeable of the mechanics of plant and construction equipment then take someone with you who is, any reputable dealer would expect you to investigate the mechanical soundness of the machinery in question and should not have any objections – if they do then you need to ask yourself why.

Transportation

How will you transport the machinery and how much will it cost? You should consider this before making an offer – costs for transporting heavy machinery can be high especially if there is some distance involved. There are numerous companies providing transportation for plant machinery who will be happy to provide a quotation. It may be that the seller can provide transportation and the price being offered may already include this, if not then perhaps it can be negotiated into the price – an important question which needs to be considered prior to sealing the deal!

Outstanding Finance

Ensure that there is no outstanding finance on the machinery – if there is the seller will need to ensure this is repaid.

Making an Offer

Don’t be afraid to haggle to get a good price, the Seller will obviously be looking for the best price possible for their plant equipment but there is usually a little room for negotiation, just remember to be realistic.

Precautionary Notes

  • Always be cautious with heavy plant and construction equipment that is priced well below its market value, if something looks too good to be true it generally is!
  • Never pay or transfer money in advance
  • Be suspicious if the seller is claiming to be in your country but the machinery is in another
  • Be careful if the seller has given an incorrect landline or contact numbers, they could be trying to hide their contact details
  • Be careful when receiving/dealing with delivery or transfer certificates, if you have been provided a copy phone the company on the documentation to confirm the authenticity. If they haven’t provided a copy, ask for one. If you are unable to make confirmations then chances are there is no machinery.
  • These notes are not exhaustive, there are many methods that criminals will use to extort money from innocent parties. Conducting thorough research and using good business acumen should assist in you in making the right decisions and remember if you have any doubts then don’t take any risks!

These hints and tips are provided for guidance only – Totallyplant.com Ltd does not take any involvement in the negotiations or agreements conducted between the seller and the buyer nor does it provide recommendations or guarantees to the authenticity of any individuals, companies or organisations - please refer to our terms and conditions for further details.

In Need of a Handy Guide to for Advice on Selling Heavy Plant Machinery? Have a Look at Our Guide!

Need some Selling Heavy Plant Machinery Advice? At Totallyplant.com, we’re the undisputed experts of plant machinery, and that’s why we’ve compiled you a useful and handy guide, below, on how to sell your unneeded plant machinery. Firstly, make sure you take care of any dirt, scratches, or damage that has occurred to your machine. Remember that the newer your equipment looks, the more it’ll sell for! Next, there are many ways in which you could sell your machinery but by far the best way would be to use an internet marketplace like Totallyplant.com because of the staggeringly wide target audiences that such sites provide.

To continue with our Selling Heavy Plant Machinery Advice guide, you then need to provide a truthful and accurate description and history to your machine, in order to help your potential buyers out. Pricing can be a difficult area to consider. Too high and buyers won’t be interested, too low and you’ll end up losing money. Remember that buyers will usually haggle with you, too, so don’t turn them away if they do. In order to make things easier for your buyer and to increase your chances of a successful sale, make sure to provide pictures, videos and the location of your equipment as well as providing your contact details.

View our Selling Advice guide.