Valuing a Layout

[josh993]

Good Afternoon,

 

I'm after some advice in regards to parting with a layout.

 

Due to space, time, commitment and larger scale interests the time has come for me to part with my exhibition Layout Potterbourne. This post is not meant to be an "Ad" by any means or ways, and if it comes across in such a way I am happy for the post to be taken down/removed. Having not been in this situation before, I am solely after some advice from fellow modellers on:

 

a. The best place to list/advertise a layout.

b. How you value a layout in respects to selling it. 

 

For those of you who don't know anything about PotterBourne, to give you a basic overview it is a small GWR Branchline Terminus approx 10ft x 2ft, it's fully collapsible and I would look to advertise it complete with the lighting unit and all required power supplies and basic controller to allow the new owner to operate the layout. The sale could also include 3 adjustable trestles which support the layout and allow it to be mounted at any height, I would also be happy to hold on to them for future projects if the new owner did not want them. I am happy to sell it complete with the stock, but I have a fair idea of what I would like for this I am just struggling with how to value the layout itself.

 

Any thoughts or guidance would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks in Advance

Regards

Josh

[Kris]

Layouts advertised at exhibitions seem to be at a better price than those I have seen sold via eBay, possibly because the buyers have the potential to see then in action. 

[Forester]

Agree with Kris.

Try hard to sell to the "trade", by which I mean others who exhibit or are passionate exhibition-goers, are possibly familiar with the layout and are particularly attracted to it.

Once it goes out to the general public via eBay or similar, they are willing to pay very little for layouts, even exhibition standard, and certainly not willing to pay for the time and effort going into construction. At that stage they can be worth more broken up for parts. Sad to say.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

It's worth whatever the buyer is willing to offer. A major aid to saleability is to give an accurate description, including the pertinent factors of the space - and weight where applicable - when operated, stored and transported. The volumes each unit occupies in those conditions and minimum load carrying and  volume requirements for the vehicle that is to carry it.

[Red Fox]

There was a rather nice former exhibition layout that was for sale for a while on eBay, quite large, steam era BR Scottish Region initially priced at £1800. It eventually sold for £250 about a fortnight ago.

[88D]

Why not put it up for sale on RMWeb? After all, we are the most likely market for exhibition layouts such as this. I would also echo the others who have said ‘advertise to other exhibitors’.

[Dungrange]

Josh,

 

I started a similar topic last year - 

 

There is a better market for smaller layouts than large ones, so you may have a reasonable chance of a sale, but you still need to find someone who wants what you have built and has the space to accommodate it.  I agree that advertising a layout for sale at an exhibition is one way of doing it.  Ideally you want to find someone reasonably local to you.  However, as has been said, RMWeb is a large group of potential purchasers.  Do you have a layout thread on here?  If so, highlight that you are looking to sell and see how many people contact you.

 

[chris p bacon]

3 minutes ago, Dungrange said:

  However, as has been said, RMWeb is a large group of potential purchasers.  Do you have a layout thread on here?  If so, highlight that you are looking to sell and see how many people contact you.

 

 

Or just use the classifieds on here.

[south_tyne]

It's very difficult to value a layout and ultimately it is just worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Sadly, layouts rarely seem to command a price that you would imagine to be 'fair' given the materials used in building and, just as importantly, the time and skill invested. These latter two elements are difficult to quantify and extremely tough to monetarise. 

 

As with the advice above, I would imagine you will get a better price by selling at an exhibition or through a specialist site such as RM Web, rather than on eBay (or similar). You want to target folk in the know, rather than any random Tom, Dick and Harry. 

 

You will also have to consider the costs of transportation to its new home, particularly if it is a larger layout. Will it be it for the buyer to collect? Would you deliver? That's one of the advantages of selling more locally through/after a show. 

 

As I said, sadly I fear you will not get what you want or what is reflective of the costs, time and skill involved in building the layout but I wish you the best of luck! Remember, you just need the right person at the right time...... 

[88D]

Also be prepared to sell the stock separately. Lots of people will already have stock of their own, or want to model a different period from yours. eBay is useful for selling stock, but keep your layout away from it. By the way, I’d hate it if you broke up your layout: it looks far too good for that ignominious fate!

[RexAshton]

I've sold my last three layouts successfully at exhibitions. Valuing a layout for sale is a very different matter to valuing it for insurance. It's also a different matter if you've been commissioned to build a layout for someone as opposed to disposing of a layout you've finished with. As our hobby is actually a pastime it's difficult to charge for your time. In my case I valued my layouts at the replacement cost of the materials used as that would be the value to me if I was to recycle them.

[Mike Storey]

Why are you selling the layout? I note the reasons you give, but it sounds like you are continuing to model, but in a larger scale. Is none of what you have made/erected re-usable in your preferred activity (if the track is removed)? It is worth far more to you than to anyone else.

 

The stock is a different matter. 

[steve1]

If you really want rid of a layout, be brutal and price it to sell. You will never get back what you put in, or anywhere near it. You've (presumably) had your enjoyment out of the layout, be it in the building or operating, so don't be sentimental and let it go.

 

I've done this with my last 7 layouts - all small exhibition examples  in H0/00/EM - and when I'd had enough, off they went.

 

steve

[88D]

On 28/04/2019 at 16:40, josh993 said:

Good Afternoon,

 

I'm after some advice in regards to parting with a layout.

 

Due to space, time, commitment and larger scale interests the time has come for me to part with my exhibition Layout Potterbourne. This post is not meant to be an "Ad" by any means or ways, and if it comes across in such a way I am happy for the post to be taken down/removed. Having not been in this situation before, I am solely after some advice from fellow modellers on:

 

a. The best place to list/advertise a layout.

b. How you value a layout in respects to selling it. 

 

For those of you who don't know anything about PotterBourne, to give you a basic overview it is a small GWR Branchline Terminus approx 10ft x 2ft, it's fully collapsible and I would look to advertise it complete with the lighting unit and all required power supplies and basic controller to allow the new owner to operate the layout. The sale could also include 3 adjustable trestles which support the layout and allow it to be mounted at any height, I would also be happy to hold on to them for future projects if the new owner did not want them. I am happy to sell it complete with the stock, but I have a fair idea of what I would like for this I am just struggling with how to value the layout itself.

 

Any thoughts or guidance would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks in Advance

Regards

Josh

Kept you waiting till the end! The buyer has got a lovely, little layout there; and I hope they look after it well, and even carry on at exhibitions. All the best, Dai Davies

[37114]

Agree about trying to sell at Exhibitions, I sold Peafore Yard that way and got the asking price. 

Pricing is difficult,  I worked on the basis that as a small but well detailed layout suited to home or exhibition use it could command a good price (£1,000) so that is what I asked and got. Some people are amazed I managed to get that price for a 4' layout, others have said I under priced it. Reality is it is worth what someone will pay.