My RV Resource likes to do things a little differently. We love sharing details about our VIP members!
We’re proud to introduce Mark Anderson with RV Smart Inspections
Tell us a little about your situation while running your RV business.
I live in the Louisville, KY area and service Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southern Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Do you live in an RV full-time?
We are part-time travelers and currently travel in a 2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH. We have owned two travel trailers, a popup, a 5th wheel, two gas motorhomes and we are currently on our second diesel motorhome.
What inspired you to start your own RV business?
RV Smart Inspections was formed out of a love for the RVing lifestyle. The owner, Mark Anderson, has over 35 years of experience troubleshooting, installing, repair, and travel experience. It was believed there was a growing need for unbiased inspections of recreational vehicles. We are a NRVIA certified inspection service certified nationally.
What RV services or RV products do you offer?
NRVIA certified inspector. We do not currently offer repairs.
What is your background and how did you develop the skills to start your business?
I have been RVing for over 36 years in some sort of RV. My wife and I love to travel and I’ve always loved tinkering with my RVs. It became clear to me when I started having friends and family ask me to look over RVs that there might be a niche for RV inspecting. So, I joined up with the NRVIA and received my certification 3 years ago. I’ve not stopped since and love what I do.
What has been your business’s proudest moment?
Performing an inspection on a new unit that needed so many repairs the buyer had to hold off on delivery until the dealer corrected the issues. I have never performed an inspection when some issue wasn’t identified. While that’s not necessarily a proud moment I’m happy I was unable to uncover the issue(s) so the new owner wasn’t surprised.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Lately, it was a 1986 Airstream that had been parked in a packed garage for almost 17 years. It was difficult to get to everything that I needed to see and numerous things were not working.
Describe your typical work day.
Typically, I travel to the inspection site (most are quite some distance away) and start on the inspection. The inspection usually takes between 6-8 hours depending on the unit. Once complete, I give the buyer a call and give them the 10,000 foot view of findings, then once I arrive back home, I complete the report and send the link to the customer. I strive for same-day turnaround.
Tell us something interesting/fun about your business.
I’m having a blast seeing all the different types of RVs and learning new features.
If you could go back to the beginning knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
I probably wouldn’t change much as I had researched the business thoroughly before I started. I’ve had to adjust some pricing and changed my reporting software, but other than that it’s been smooth sailing.
What’s your best advice for someone who wants to start his/her own RV business?
Talk to someone who is currently doing the same thing, and research your area. I’m in an area without a lot of competition. If you have a lot of competition you have to set yourself ahead of the others either with service or pricing.
Any other comments or advice you'd like to share?
Always request an inspection before you buy a new or used RV. There are so many things that can go wrong and unless you have a trained inspector things could be missed. It will save you money in the long run.
Conclusion
If you’re an RV service provider, make sure you sign up for a company listing on My RV Resource, where we nurture a community of RVers and RV-related small business owners.
If you’re an RVer, become a member today so you can use advanced filters to find RV service providers all across the US (and even a few in Canada).
We’d also appreciate it if you would suggest companies that should be added to our directory and share reviews directly on the company’s listing page! It’ll help everyone in the long run.
