What should I check about a trades company’s vans and tools before buying?

Begin with the list. Ask for every vehicle and major tool the business uses, with its serial or plate numbers, age and maintenance records. Walk the yard and shop with the list in hand and note anything missing or unlisted. Ownership comes next. Vehicles may be leased, financed or registered to the owner personally. Tools may belong to the technicians, who plan to take them when they leave. Your lawyer can search for liens and confirm what is actually transferring.

Condition matters as much as title. Ask a mechanic you trust to look at the vans, and ask the crews which tools fail most often. A fleet near the end of its life is a coming expense, and that belongs in your thinking about the purchase. Look also at how the vehicles are used. Personal use by the owner, branding, insurance arrangements and fuel cards all need sorting out at closing. Ask the technicians what they would change about their setup. Ask for a short list of what the crews would replace first if they had the budget; it often reveals the real condition faster than any inspection report.

Key takeaways

• Walk the yard with a written list of every van and tool.
• Separate company-owned tools from those owned by technicians.
• Have your lawyer search for liens before closing.
• Ask the crews which equipment they would replace first.