Sell a boat

Advertising

You can advertise your boat yourself on medias made fore private advertising like Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups for sale of boats, Boat24 etc.. Or you can choose to use a yacht broker to advertise Yachtworld and other of the large yacht trade platforms and by that get your boat visible for millions of interested buyers.

For many buyers its also mandatory for the financing, that there is a yacht broker involved. Because then the finance company also have an idea of, that the price setting is similar to the value of the boat. Plus the broker know about the local laws, where to check dept and how to out-flag and change of ownership. 

Making your advertise look attractive

Fotos, lots of fotos, well prepared fotos is important. Take the outside fotos of a clean boat on a sunny day with lines coiled nicely, zig bag tight up, cushions outside, cockpit table up and preferably set with placemats, plates, etc. for 4 people. Its about showing a dream.

Inside is important to show the boat from the best side.. Dont take a picture of a aft cabin filed with cockpit cushions etc.. Move the things around. Make the bed, put one or two rolled or folded towel on the bed and a little flower on the table and swich on lights. Its about make it look like a cosy place to sleep. Same in all cabins.

Show a steady galley and salon and do also set up the saloon table preferably with placemats, plates, etc. for 4 people. Again its about showing a dream. There might be 10 boats similar to yours fore sale and the best looking has the best change for a visit.

Making your sale safe and fast

Using a broker is for both you and potential buyers a way to show that the price setting is realistic value of the boat. This is also mandatory by many yacht finance companies and banks. There is a lot unrealistic price settings on private advertised boats on Facebook groups. The yacht brokers has access to se historic statistic on sold boat on fx Yachtworld like asking price, sold for and how long to get sold. So they can tell you “are you patient xxx € or want it sold fast, then xxx is realistic”. But be aware of, that some brokers do set the first price to high to secure you as client and then after some month where you lose your patients, then they say, that the price has to be lowered.

A lokal broker do also know the local laws about changing ownership, surveys and out-flagging and the confirming first payment and the rest payment will go over the broker clients account. So you are secured that the money is paid by fulfilling the change of ownership and the buyer also know, that you cant run away with the money before the change of ownership.

Do also use a surveyor by the sale. Its as much for your as for the buyer and share the price of it with the buyer. In some countries its also mandatory to have a survey by boat trade above a certain amount. The survey rapport is your prove of in what condition the boat was in at the time of the sale, so the buyer cant come running with this and this after the sale. The boat is bought as in the rapport with a agreement of discount or correction of any deficiencies.

Keep your boat maintained during the sales period

The first impression can be crucial to the success of the rest of the presentation. Its therefore important to keep your boat looking good and clean be every buyer visit. If a buyer comes to a dirty boat, then he will think “what else is not maintained”. Do also start the engines regularly so you know they start immediately and runs without any wrong sound. To start the engine one hour before the buyers arrival is fine, but it can be far to short to do something, if it doesn’t start. Dont give a potential buyer a chance to think he is buying a boat with a engine failure. 

Let us keep your boat maintained during the sales period and please feel free to contact us if your need our assistance!