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Photograph the material, nameplates and quantity, then send them through the quote form, by email or by phone.
GENERATOR SELLER GUIDE
What Your Used Generator Is Worth: The 7 Factors Buyers Actually Use
No honest buyer prices your generator from a chart. Here is what actually moves the number — and how to present yours for the strongest offer.
The seven factors.
1. Make and model. Cummins, Caterpillar, Kohler, and Generac lead the resale market — parts availability and service networks follow the big names. 2. kW rating. Common commercial sizes (100–500 kW especially) have the deepest buyer pool. 3. Hours. The hour meter is the odometer — low-hour standby units command the premium. 4. Fuel type. Diesel dominates the used market for its serviceability and fuel storage. 5. Emissions tier. Tier ratings determine where the unit can legally operate — critical in strict air districts. 6. Documentation. Service records and load-bank test reports turn a claim into a fact. 7. Condition and included gear — transfer switches, paralleling equipment, and enclosures add real value as a package.
What documentation is worth.
A generator with records sells faster and stronger than the same unit without. Service history proves maintenance; a recent load-bank test proves it carries rated load. Well-documented units consistently outperform undocumented ones by a wide margin — paperwork is the cheapest value-add in the used generator market. Photograph every record you have.
How to present yours for the strongest offer.
Four photos and a video: the nameplate (make, model, kW, serial), the hour meter, wide shots of the unit and enclosure inside and out, and a video of it running under load if possible. Sellers who send this package get faster, stronger offers — because the buyer is pricing facts, not guesses.
Sell it the straightforward way.
Photograph what you have — nameplates, labels, and overall condition — and send it to Ironcrest for today’s offer. We buy nationally and coordinate pickup from your site.
Sell your generator to Ironcrest → | Call or text 312-880-8174 | Send photos →
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions, answered.
Do hours matter more than age?
Usually yes. A 20-year-old standby unit with 500 hours beats a 5-year-old prime-power unit with 15,000 hours. Hours measure wear; age mostly matters for emissions tier and parts availability.
Does a higher emissions tier add value?
It depends on the buyer’s market. In strict air districts like California, Tier 4 compliance is mandatory — elsewhere it is a plus, not a requirement. Know your unit’s tier from the emissions label.
Is a non-running generator worth anything?
Yes — as parts or a rebuild candidate. Be honest about the failure: a documented issue (bad starter, controller fault) prices far better than “doesn’t run, unknown why.”
Should I get a load-bank test before selling?
If you can do it economically, yes — a recent passing test is one of the strongest value signals you can provide. If not, honest photos and records still sell the unit.
Does the transfer switch add value?
Yes. A complete package — generator, transfer switch, and any paralleling gear — is worth more together than split apart. Keep systems together.
THE FACTORS
Seven things, one price.
Make, hours, tier, documentation, condition — every used generator is priced on the same seven factors.
New: Explore the Ironcrest Copper Resource Center — grades, markets, identification guides, and interactive tools.
HOW SELLING WORKS
Three steps to an offer.
Material review
We review what the material is, its condition and quantity, and whether it fits a direct purchase.
Receive an offer
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.