An unusaul sort of broker...

[Birvidik_Bob]

We’re in the process of swapping a life on a sailboat for life on the inland waterways of Europe. Birvidik is sold (subject to survey) and so we’ve been researching buying a boat in Holland.

I’ve emailed a large number of brokers and was also put in touch with a Johan Schoppert of a company called Boatbiz. He seems to be a broker who acts on the behalf of the purchaser rather than the seller as is usually the case.

I emailed him and got the following reply:

“Thank you for your email.
I think I must be able to find some reliable boats within that budget and according to your specs.

Shortly the way I work:

I will select boats, give my opinion and email you the web links to them.
We will discuss per email or phone about the boats
I can make a plan for visiting the selected ones and speak to the brokers/owners about the condition (normally they won’t lie to me).
I will do a quick scan on all the boats that we visit (normally I can judge the technical condition within a couple of minutes.
The favourite boat will be in our minds and after price negotiations and contract, I will do the whole technical survey.

I can help you with registration and insurance if needed.

The costs of my services are: € 1.500,= all-in.

Please let me know what you think and I can plan your visit in my agenda.

I am looking forward meeting you,

Kind regards,”

1500 euros looks a bit steep on first glance, but if it includes the survey it might be value for money (I haven’t paid for a survey for ten years & never in Holland).

Has anyone every come across this sort of business before? Any observations/comments?

Cheers

Bob

 

[Rivers & creeks]

If he's trustworthy then it's peanuts, think of the wasted trips you'll avoid and the savings he can get in negotiating the price. But if he's not...

Any reviews via Goohle, any Brit customers he can put you in touch with? It's a great service and vertually free once you take out the survey.

 

[mikemanor]

I would contact The Dutch Barge Association - even if you are not buying a Dutch barge. They have a wealth of info regarding cruising and living aboard in Inland Europe and will almost certainly know, or be aware of, this broker.

http://www.barges.org/

 

[Richard10002]

He doesn't seem to be a qualified surveyor, so he might merely help you commission the survey, which you pay for separately.

If he can save you €1500 somewhere in the process... price paid, travel, time, wasted survey, etc.. he is worth it... but you will never know as you have no process without his help to compare with.

If he is going to view boats with you, or for you, all over Europe, it is very cheap, and possibly too good to be true.

 

[dslittle]

I will select boats, give my opinion and email you the web links to them.
We will discuss per email or phone about the boats
I can make a plan for visiting the selected ones and speak to the brokers/owners about the condition (normally they won’t lie to me).
I will do a quick scan on all the boats that we visit (normally I can judge the technical condition within a couple of minutes.
The favourite boat will be in our minds and after price negotiations and contract

Has anyone every come across this sort of business before? Any observations/comments?

Haven't got a clue about this guy but I do know that my friends used an identical service to buy their boat in Seattle. Seemed to work for them - they are currently mid Pacific...

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Quite a few brokers will also act as a buyer's agent or a yacht finder I think. I'm pretty certain Jonic offers this if you are after a bluewater boat for example - makes a lot of sense as they know what's around and spend nearly all their time looking at boats and the market. The good ones will know just about all the pitfalls and have a much better ability than most to smell trouble and to smell the right boat if they are good. The trouble, as with finding a broker to sell a boat, is sorting out the good ones from the not so good, or plain bad.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I might be wrong but it sounds to me that this guy is taken all the fun of finding and buying a boat .
if you not got the time to look for your self maybe a service just like this will suite you down to the ground .
for me part of the excitment of buying a new boat is looking for one .

 

[Birvidik_Bob]

I’m sure you’re right Vic, much of the fun comes in looking, but he might be able to steer us toward a number of more suitable boats. On our own I’m sure we’d also get bogged down in our share of dross. Perhaps it might just help to make more efficient use of our time.

Richard – I’ve checked up and he seems to be an EMCI registered surveyor.

I’ve contacted him and asked for clarification on a few points. Will report back.

Thanks to all

Bob

 

[sailaboutvic]

But Bob what you going to write about if you let someone else do all the work for you
Good luck Bob we wish you well in finding your dream boat .

 

[Birvidik_Bob]

But Bob what you going to write about if you let someone else do all the work for you
Good luck Bob we wish you well in finding your dream boat .

Oh I'll think of something Vic. As a friend of mine once said:

"If you want an opinion on something then Bob's your man. Whether he knows anything about it or not."