Unfortunatly you have the same delima most looking for used equipment have.
There is a wealth of used equipment that is worn out on the market. That is not to say there aren't a few good pieces out there but they do not last long and most of what you buy will need work. If you do not have the turn around capabilities and can stand behind what you sell your reputation will suffer.
At present I have 20+ calls for used equipment that want good equipment at cheap prices. Once you recondition one to the level required the prices are usually more than the market can bear. There are always exceptions but not every day.
Having a good sized rental fleet you can turn over is the key to selling used equipment and maintaining your reputation. (My company has a 33 year history in the forklift business and a good reputation in the market.)