Broker or private?

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SeaDave

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Hello

It looks like I'm going to be offloading my beloved boat this year. Firstborn on it's way and therefore I don't see that we'll be using her much for at least 2 years - probably best to move her on and then think about re-entering the boating world as and when.

It's not an enormous palace of a boat (Searay 225) and so would you recommend privately selling her or going through a brokerage?

Thanks.
 
well, its the right time of year anyway!
How old is the boat, does it have a trailer, and where is it located/can you get to it frequently?
You also need to decide whether price or timing is key, because they dont go hand in hand!
Some people think boats and outboards and the like are good, but I think you have to ask why someone will rush to look at your boat as opposed to any other. A good local broker is at least about to show people, and in his "yard" you might stand more chance of catching peoples' eye.
Still Ebay is pretty effective in selling, and I actually think it probably does get a market price. Now, that might not be your idea of the market price, but its not you paying ;) And you do sell the boat, and then its done and dusted, as opposed to it maybe hanging about for months while you wonder what the right price really is. The selling fees are worth checking though, as I think its got a bit more costly.
 
Private, without a doubt (IMO)

Take a stack of good quality pictures, showing the boat from all angles, inside and out. Include pics of relevant detail, engine electronics, fridge or whatever else she has. Open a free account with ImageShack and upload the pics there, putting them in an album. All very easy to do. If you have any website building experience, you could knock up a quick, free website instead.

Write a detailed and comprehensive description of the boat, detailing all of the equipment she has, any recent work carried out, any work needing to be done, etc. Try and think of everything a prospective buyer might ask you and put that in the description.

Advertise it on Ebay with a low starting price, try and avoid setting a reserve as this might put people off of bidding. Put a prominent link at the top of the listing to the album you created at ImageShack, this was you get lots of pictures and don't have to pay Ebays extra price for them, they can be bigger, better pictures too.

There are one or two free websites for advertising boats, such as Apollo Duck, you can place an ad here too. Link to the Ebay listing for the more detailed description and extra pics.

If you have any website building experience, you could knock up a quick, free website instead of using ImageShack. Put all of the pictures there, as well as the detailed description and link everything to there. Delete the website when the boat has sold.
 
Thanks for the sound advice you two.

My thoughts were to either move it on later this year or this time next year - get one last summer out of her.

I think I'll go the self advertise route then - the only pain is that it's moored 50 miles away from me so going there to keep showing people around would be quite annoying...
 
In this market use every available option. Brokers (including international specialists) and private using all the free web-sites. These often provide very good results. Remember, you don't pay the broker unless he sells your boat!
 
I advertised my Fletcher 19 GTS diesel on AppollDuck and Boats and OutBoards websites a month ago.

No replies to date so I handed it over to a broker ( minimum commission £1,500 ) - cos I want to move on and upgrade asap.

Better luck with your sale.
 
beejay190 said:
I advertised my Fletcher 19 GTS diesel on AppollDuck and Boats and OutBoards websites a month ago.

No replies to date so I handed it over to a broker ( minimum commission £1,500 ) - cos I want to move on and upgrade asap.

Better luck with your sale.
Click to expand...

That's a VERY high minimum commision for a sensibly priced small boat!

I thought we were above average (but know we are well worth it as we work our little white socks off) at £1000.

I agree with the chap above you in the thread though.

The OP should use all available routes. You pay nothing through a broker if it isn't sold and if it is sold by them and not by you then what have you lost...

One point though, if you use a broker to buy or sell, make sure they are reputable, are ideally ABYA and or BMF accredited, are familiar with the boat you are buying or selling, your instinct says you can trust them and you know pretty much what they are doing to sell your boat.

Tom
http://www.parkstonebay.com
 
PCUK said:
In this market use every available option. Brokers (including international specialists) and private using all the free web-sites. These often provide very good results. Remember, you don't pay the broker unless he sells your boat!
Click to expand...

Makes good sense for a super boat like that for you to use all avenues.

A Sea Ray should sell well enough providing she is clean, well maintained and priced right and as Tom says, a broker will only charge when he sells and the good think is he (WE!) have to do all the running around on viewings on a 'no fee if we don't sell it' basis!

Either way hope you enjoy her this year.........I hear "Dave" is about to add a good summer to the list of everything else he promises to bring us!:D
 
clartius said:
If you are going for the private option I believe the BMF has the MCA 'Bill Of Sale' contract available for download, it used to cost about £30, but to 'dot alll the i's and cross all the t's' i'd say that was pretty decent value.
http://www.britishmarine.co.uk
Click to expand...

The BoS can be downloaded free these days from mcga.gov.uk website. But don't get mixed up: a BoS isn't and never can be a contract. A contract, whether written or verbal, is a different thing from a BoS
 
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