To Use a Yacht Broker Or Not

At first glance selling your yacht privately may seemon the market...where do you start trying to track
like a relatively easy and inexpensive way to go. Butdown that perfect one for you. Professional yacht
consider the following...brokers have an extensive database of yachts and
A professional yacht brokerage will advertise yourbecause of their many contacts may even be able to
yacht in a wide array of sites and media locationsfind those not yet on the market. They can save
both domestic and international. They have the toolsyou hours of search time allowing you the leisure of
to get the maximum exposure included in a multipletaking your time and making the perfect choice. He's
listing system, client databases, print advertising,experienced at asking the right questions to help
internet advertising, co-brokerage potential anddetermine what is and is not important to you
industry contacts. A good yacht broker will be able tothereby assuring you're happy with your selection.
customize the advertising program to get the mostA professional yacht broker knows the current
attention for your yacht.market. He knows when it's up and when it down. He
Knowing the industry and knowing which internetcan advise you on where to start with your initial
sites and which boating publications to advertise youroffer and will negotiate on your behalf to get the
boat in is very important. This can be very expensivebest possible price. He can also be the middle man
and time consuming proposition if you are trying tothereby preserving the relationship between buyer
sell privately.and seller. This is very important as it can be very
Now consider the multiple listing system. Close tovaluable to maintain a good post-purchase relationship
75% of yacht transactions are cooperative saleswith the seller so that he will be available to answer
through other yacht brokers. Through worldwidequestions and help with any problems that may arise
multiple listing services and other marketing networks,after the sale is finalized.
a broker has the tools to maximize exposure to yourOnce you have decided on the yacht you want and
yacht.have negotiated a price, it's time to place a deposit.
Brokers are educated about how to price andA broker will be able to escrow your deposit assuring
market your yacht. They can recommend methodsyou that it will be held in a secure manner and will be
to make your yacht more presentable to the marketfully available to be refunded to you if the deal is not
thereby making it more desirable to the public. Theycompleted. He will also accept and hold the final
will be able to give you information about the currentpayment and will be responsible for distributing the
market and help price your yacht accordingly. Afunds correctly including making sure any outstanding
broker can save you time and headaches bymortgages are paid thereby assuring you of clear title
qualifying the prospective buyers. Experience hasto the vessel.
taught them to be able to size up the buyer andA reputable broker will always recommend you
determine whether he is a serious shopper looking tosurvey and sea trial the boat. Part of his service to
make a purchase now or someone with a long termyou is to recommend the extent of the survey and
dream of someday making a purchase (usually whento help identify the best surveyors in the area. He will
he wins the lottery). A broker will be the middle man,not select a surveyor for you but should be able to
helping to negotiate a fair price for your yacht. Heprovide you with a list of good qualified surveyors to
can help you evaluate a buyer's proposal withoutchoose from. He will coordinate the scheduling of the
compromising your marketing position.survey date so that it fits the schedule of all parties
A well educated and experienced broker is a goodinvolved. He will help book the haul out of the vessel
closer. He can help resolve those unexpected resultsfor bottom inspection. And finally he will attend the
that almost always arise after a survey by eithersurvey and be available to provide a buffer between
negotiating a price concession or helping you tobuyer and seller on this very important day. He
coordinate and complete repair requests.should be able to help you interpret the survey
And finally he's there to make sure the closingfindings and make meaningful recommendations.
process goes smoothly. He'll help coordinate all theA good broker is up to date on all facets of the
necessary paperwork making sure the process isindustry including financing, insurance, dockage,
completed in a reputable and legal manner. He'll becaptains, and shipping companies. He will be able to
responsible for escrowing the deposit and acceptingrecommend good reputable people in all these areas
and distributing the final payment to all partiesonce again saving you time and energy in searching all
involved.the areas that will come into play during the buying
In the long run a broker may actually save you bothprocess.
time and money. He's experienced at negotiating theFinally the broker will coordinate all the paperwork
best possible price. He'll be able to sell your yachtnecessary for a yacht sale closing including Bills of
sooner thereby saving you months of dockage fees,Sale, Warranty of Title, etc. He will be able to refer
insurance premiums, and maintenance costs. He'll saveyou to reputable Documentation Companies who can
you time by qualifying buyers and saving you theassist you with the sometimes complicated
aggravation of showing the yacht over and over todocumentation process for both domestic and
buyers not suited to the vessel or not yet ready tointernational ownership. He will be responsible for
make a purchase.collecting the appropriate sales tax or advising you on
"When Buying a Yacht"the tax laws of the region where the purchase is
At any given moment there are thousands of yachtstaking place.