Frequently Asked Questions

Next to your residential home, an RV is potentially one of the largest purchases you might ever make! You wouldn't dream of purchasing your residential sticks and bricks home without an inspection, and since your RV contains most of those same systems, it’s essentially your home on wheels. Knowing its true condition (even if it is brand new) is essential before moving forward with the purchase.

Absolutely.  We can discuss your desires and needs and work from there.  Sometimes, if you are a long distance from the RV you want to buy, you may just want some independent "eyes" to have a look at the RV.  This IS NOT an inspection.  We will go to the RV and look at it on your behalf, looking for obvious issues, smelling for mildew, smoke or animal smells etc and then chat with you about our findings! 

Lots!!!  Click HERE to be brought to the topics page of the inspection process.

Absolutely.  As a member in good standing with the National RV Inspectors Association, we happily adhere to the NRVIA Code of Ethics.

We realize that time is of the essence when deciding to purchase an RV—you don’t want to keep your seller waiting! We will try our very best to get your inspection done thoroughly and in a timely manner so you can make a purchase decision. Give us a call (815) 714-9831 or send us a message to see how quickly we can get you scheduled.

Sometimes, you can't see the forest, for the trees - even if you are an experienced RVer! Oftentimes, potential buyers are thinking about where they’re headed with their new RV, or they may really like a specific feature of the RV that is hard to find, which may create a bias in favor of purchasing and causing potential issues to be ignored. Let us look out for your best interests! We will provide you with an unbiased report.

Absolutely! We can perform the inspection or other RV service just about anywhere. Most dealers are very accommodating. Please ask the dealer what their policy is regarding independent inspections. Proof of insurance can be provided upon request.

Buyers needing pre-purchase inspections. We will highlight concerns, as well as identify issues that could cause future problems. It is important to have an independent evaluation on the condition of the RV to help negotiate a price that considers needed repair costs. When purchasing a new RV, an inspection identifies problems that must be fixed before accepting delivery of the RV and shortening the wait time on repairs. Believe it or not, even new RVs have several issues that can be found and addressed before taking delivery with a thorough inspection. 

Sellers needing pre-selling inspections. We can help sellers set the base price for the RV by identifying issues that may cause issues for buyers.

There is a 50-mile round-trip travel allotment built into each inspection price—though we’re willing to go just about anywhere. If it’s outside of our 50-mile radius, we just charge an additional $1.00 per mile round trip.

Inspection times depend on several factors. The length of time to do the inspection varies based on the type of RV, the amount of installed equipment, and the number of issues identified. We will not rush our inspections. We want to provide the best inspection possible and will take whatever time is necessary to complete the job.

Safety Inspections take approximately 3–5 hours, while a comprehensive

Pre-Purchase Inspection can take between 6-10+ hours.

RV Orientation takes as long as you want it to take, based on your comfort level.

The RV will need to be available specifically to the inspectors for the duration of the RV inspection. The RV will need to be set up so that everything inside—and out—can be fully evaluated, and it will need full utility hookups, including water, sewer, and electricity. 

We are happy to accept cash, credit card, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.

No.  We will complete the inspection and send you a very detailed report.  The report will include 80-120 pictures with comments on anything that should be brought to your attention.  Each picture will have a caption as well.

We are more than happy to call you as soon as our inspection is complete (same day) to highlight our findings. Reports are usually emailed within 24 hours of finishing the physical inspection.

The National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association (NRVIA) is a membership organization that provides training, certification, and credentials for professional recreational vehicle (RV) inspectors across North America. NRVIA’s mission is to provide credibility through the testing and awarding of credentials to qualified inspectors, and members are required to follow specific Standards of Practice and a Code of Ethics that ensures the consumer will receive an inspection of the highest quality and caliber. When the consumer hires an NRVIA Certified Inspector, they can be assured they are receiving a professional, standardized, and thorough inspection of their RV equipment.

We recommend when you find an RV you want to purchase, work with the seller to have a written purchase agreement that gives you a set number of days for inspection and financing. If you place a deposit, make sure it is refundable if you decide not to purchase the RV within the timeframe agreed upon.

Absolutely!!  No one wants someone servicing their RV and not be insured.  Shamrock RV Service is fully insured against liability. We are happy to provide our certificate of insurance if you desire.