| There has been a lot of good advice written about | | | | boat clean and orderly with everything in good |
| buying and selling boats but after personally buying | | | | working condition. As with most things first |
| over 20 boats and being involved in the purchase and | | | | impressions are very important. If a boat is dirty on |
| sale of many more through my website and other | | | | the outside or smells moldy inside it will be a tough |
| sources, there are some pointers that I would like to | | | | sale. |
| share about selling boats that I haven't seen in other | | | | 4. Be honest to potential buyers. If your boat needs |
| articles that I have read. | | | | some work or just TLC, advertise it that way. If you |
| 1. Attempt to sell your boat yourself. If your boat is | | | | advertise your boat as excellent condition whereas in |
| a smaller boat, this is clearly your best option and the | | | | reality it needs work, many potential buyers will |
| decision is easy. If your boat is a larger, more | | | | immediately not consider your boat because they are |
| expensive boat you should still consider selling your | | | | disappointed and you wasted their time. But if you |
| boat yourself. Brokers can certainly take some of the | | | | are honest with them and let them know it needs |
| hassles out of selling your boat but they can be very | | | | work they will approach it with an open mind. |
| expensive (many charge a 10% commission). If you | | | | 5. Seriously consider your first offer. Many times |
| have an expensive or somewhat unique boat you | | | | when you put a boat up for sale there is someone |
| may want to consider having a pay per click ad link | | | | that has been looking for a boat just like yours. They |
| back to an ad for your boat. This has worked well | | | | see it, make an offer that may be less than what |
| for many people and although you may spend | | | | you wanted - so you turn it down because it is so |
| several hundred dollars in pay per click costs you can | | | | early in the process that you think another offer will |
| save thousands (or tens of thousands) in commission | | | | come along soon. But then it doesn't and you regret |
| and get a lot of exposure for your boat. The brokers | | | | turning down that first offer. Try to get the offer |
| have a lock on advertising boats through the 2 | | | | price up closer to what you were asking - and think |
| largest boating websites so this is often your best | | | | hard before turning it down. |
| resource for getting traffic to your ad. | | | | In closing I would like to add that if you do decide to |
| 2. Advertise in many locations. List your boat in | | | | sell your boat keep enjoying it while it is for sale. You |
| several online ad sites, in printed media - even with a | | | | bought it for a reason, so make time to enjoy it - |
| flyer on the board at your marina or yacht club. The | | | | plus things deteriorate when not being used so it will |
| more you advertise the better. | | | | keep the boat and its equipment running smoothly |
| 3. Make sure your boat is ready to show.. Keep your | | | | while awaiting that buyer. |