Does being a homebuild depreciate?

[pdx1]

I see people with these homebuilds, saying this part cost this, and this part costs that....
But how much does the fact that it's a homebuild depreciate the value?

I ask that as both a buyer, and a builder....
But I'm realistic, I don't see my 80% bringing $2800......

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[1775usmc]

A lot. I personally won't buy a home build cause I don't know how "well" or "correctly" it was built. Best bet is to part out a home build if you're try to recoup the majority of your investment.

 

[L84Cabo]

You're lucky if you get fiddy cents on the dollar for a home build.

The odds someone else is going to like your specific parts is pretty rare. There is also no warranty and there is the "Bubba Factor"...did the person building the gun really know what they were doing or did the "Bubba" the crap out of it?

 

[pdx1]

The way I see it, is I paid $5 for this $20 retail part, and pay $10 for this $40 retail part, and $20 for this retail $80 part.... and then tell you how it's worth $140, for a 3rd hand used part "like new" or "as new" or "brand new with only "x" number of rounds".

 

[po18guy]

It will appreciate when the SHTF. Until then, it may or may not be a reliable or accurate shooter.

 

[Catfishmoon]

But how much does the fact that it's a homebuild depreciate the value?

I think it does not hold value as well because of quality control concerns on the part of some potential buyers. Exactly how much varies by the individual making the decision...

Same thing happens when a person hands loads ammunition. When I purchase the necessary components and I assemble 100 rounds of ammo, the value actually decreases compared to selling the non-assembled components. Others have concerns regarding my quality control...

Another example is home gunsmithing. I own a few CZ pistols and trigger upgrade kits are popular and available from a few reputable companies. You can order and install the parts yourself or send the firearm to those companies for installation. Whenever a handgun with the aftermarket trigger is for sell, a common question is "who did the gunsmithing"? The ones done by professional gunsmiths appear to hold the value of the components better than self-installed.

 

[Stomper]

These are a couple of my 80% home-builds. The receivers mate up nicely, no rattling, are accurate and run flawlessly. You'd never know they were 80% home builds except for the lack of roll marks, and no fancy nickel-boron, triple fluted, twice-blessed by Amazonian priests, wiz-bang, hooplah parts…. just honest, effective, reliable blasters.




I have ZERO qualms using them to defend my life in any situation because I take extreme pride in the things that I make and I obsess on attention to detail (plus I've run several hundred practice rounds through them), but I wouldn't expect you to feel the same.







Plus, none of you could afford what it'd take for me to sell one to you, LOL!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Depends on :
The quality of the build and the quality of the parts used.
Also the attitude of the buyer towards home builds will play a part in how much he views the firearm's value.

Something else to consider here is ....

I have seen many well made , home build flintlock long rifles....with quality parts , engraving and carving..those are high value firearms , to me at least.
A home built AR , can also be high value , but for different reasons.
So maybe the value will depend on the rifle itself as well as the person looking at it.

Perhaps the value of a home build is best for the builder...he gets the firearm that he wants....and it don't matter none what others think of it....
Andy

 

[Mikej]

Depends on :
The quality of the build and the quality of the parts used.
Also the attitude of the buyer towards home builds will play a part in how much he views the firearm's value.

Something else to consider here is ....

I have seen many well made , home build flintlock long rifles....with quality parts , engraving and carving..those are high value firearms , to me at least.
A home built AR , can also be high value , but for different reasons.
So maybe the value will depend on the rifle itself as well as the person looking at it.

Perhaps the value of a home build is best for the builder...he gets the firearm that he wants....and it don't matter none what others think of it....
Andy

So what I think I hear Andy saying is, in 180 years those home built ARs will be the SHIZZ BANG!

 

[powermad]

Why on earth would someone buy a home brew for that price is beyond me.
Don't care what the parts are and if it's unfired.

Not that I would, but if I was going to drop over $2,000 on a complete rifle, it had better have a K followed by an n somewhere on it.

On mine if I was to sell one I would expect to take up to a 50% hit on what I have into it.

 

[Lazyfaire]

Over the years I have built several AR 15s & 10s. I chose years ago to buy receiver sets when I could. Wilson Combat, Aero, Noveske, Noreen, etc. Could I have built a $500 rifle? Sure, but where's the fun in that? Quality over quantity. If I sold anything I would sell a built upper but without the extra parts we put on our keepers. Probably throw a red dot on top just as an incentive, but no lights or bipods. Then sell off extra lowers and take the hit there.

People can learn to build their own, we've all learned that its really not that difficult. Quality receivers, quality trigger, quality barrel. Everything else is replaceable and an owner's choice. Receivers, barrels & triggers are the core of making a shooter. Buying a 'low end' shooter still runs into the upper hundreds to $1k. My go-to rifle (Sig M400) is just that. I have more expensive but that one is always true.

Would i like someone to pay me what I have in them? Sure! Certain ones I will not let go (WC, Noveske) but selling an upper is easier than selling a completed rifle. Any lower will fit under them. By the way, building is an addiction! But its fun to do too.

 

[powermad]

I just sold a leftover upper, no BCG/CH.
After adding it all up I got 50% of what I had in it with a few other parts tossed in, BCM trigger, Magpul grip, stock and other bits.

Same thing with car parts and such.
I never once sold a complete engine I had built for what I had into it, no matter what was bolted on it.

 

[No_Regerts]

My problem is how someone will claim they were meticulous in their build with only "quality" parts that are 100% reliable…..but it's never been fired…..or only had one magazine to function check…..

Then again, do I want a burnt out barrel to prove the thing works?

Hmmm…..

 

[Member 34319]

I see people with these homebuilds, saying this part cost this, and this part costs that....
But how much does the fact that it's a homebuild depreciate the value?

I ask that as both a buyer, and a builder....
But I'm realistic, I don't see my 80% bringing $2800......

You have been doing this much longer than many here on the classifieds. Much of the current classifieds are onesy twosy types that likely bought during the Rona panic and are trying to liquidate what they bought. A lot of them don't understand the ins and outs of buying and selling guns much less what their value might be.

 

[powermad]

My problem is how someone will claim they were meticulous in their build with only "quality" parts that are 100% reliable…..but it's never been fired…..or only had one magazine to function check…..

Then again, do I want a burnt out barrel to prove the thing works?

Hmmm…..

To be certain you will need to take it apart and spec everything out.
May as well save some money and get a PSA if you're going to do that.
At least then you can keep sending stuff back for warranty at least.

 

[Lazyfaire]

My problem is how someone will claim they were meticulous in their build with only "quality" parts that are 100% reliable…..but it's never been fired…..or only had one magazine to function check…..

Then again, do I want a burnt out barrel to prove the thing works?

Hmmm…..

I for one would never sell a build that I had not fired. A brand name purchased rifle, yes I would.
Are there people out there who would cheat, lie or just not tell you? Yes. Do I have the answer? No

 

[40Garand]

A majority of us on here are retail buyers. We don't have dealer accounts with Brownells, Midway, Geissele, Radian, Aero, etc. If I pay retail & shipping on parts and correctly assemble a home build, you the buyer are not entitled to a depreciation discount. If you feel you can do it cheaper knock yourself out. I do builds for fun and I don't make a single cent when I sell them but I can assure you I do not eat a cent on the deal either. Always ask for a build sheet. Anybody that puts a decent gun together will have already taken the time to type one up. If you don't like the combination of parts and prices just graciously move on.

 

[Knobgoblin]

A majority of us on here are retail buyers. We don't have dealer accounts with Brownells, Midway, Geissele, Radian, Aero, etc. If I pay retail & shipping on parts and correctly assemble a home build, you the buyer are not entitled to a depreciation discount. If you feel you can do it cheaper knock yourself out. I do builds for fun and I don't make a single cent when I sell them but I can assure you I do not eat a cent on the deal either. Always ask for a build sheet. Anybody that puts a decent gun together will have already taken the time to type one up. If you don't like the combination of parts and prices just graciously move on.

Not trying to challenge you in any way.

Do you decide to sell most/ some/ very few of your builds? Are they selling or sitting? Do you have a few repeat buyers? I'm simply curious.

 

[Catfishmoon]

I have ZERO qualms using them to defend my life in any situation because I take extreme pride in the things that I make and I obsess on attention to detail (plus I've run several hundred practice rounds through them), but I wouldn't expect you to feel the same.

I agree...
I have the same sentiments when it comes to self-defense ammunition that I hand loaded. But I also understand that others may want their self-defense ammunition assembled by someone other than me.

 

[CountryGent]

Interesting question and I don't really now. All the builds that I've made in recent years are NFA projects for my own purposes, so resale never crossed my mind. I can't imagine a custom built anything would retain as much resale value as, presumably, they were made to the interest of one individual.