Brokers, valuations and general spleen venting

[David52]

Are all brokers the illegitimate off spring of estate agents and traffic wardens?

As you may be able to guess from the last sentence I'm trying to make progress in selling my boat, or at worst getting a sensible valuation.

Without naming names I have been consistently let down by brokers and their cronies not turning up, not being interested in marketing my boat and in some cases not communicating at all. The boat is South coast Sussex but I would be willing to move it if I can find a broker with a reasonable rep.

So a couple of questions I'd be grateful for help with

1. Has anyone ever got an appraisal of value for there boat (something written down rather than an anecdote about how odd the market is etc.) if so who from and how?

2. Has anyone had positive experiences selling sub 40K early 80s grp or am I cursed to use google adwords and spend all my weekends showing people round myself?

Any obs welcome.

Cheers,
GB

 

[cnh]

I had mine with a broker while I was abroad, cam back 3 months later - nothing had happened. Put boat back in water last October, and between then and now not one referall from broker. Ads on Boats & Outboards and Apollo Duck brought people in, but, as you say, you have to show them over yourself. That's how I eventually sold her.

 

[FAITIRA]

Williams and Smithells sold my last boat, the boat was in Portugal, we negotiated the brokerage fee after I accepted an offer, I found them good, and they have sold other boats whose owners I refered W and S.

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
Are all brokers the illegitimate off spring of estate agents........... snip

[/ QUOTE ]

I dont have any offspring, so it cant be my fault! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

At least with estate agents they usually turn up, usually give a fairly accurate valuation, and usually market a property reasonably well.

Not always, but usually....

As "piggy in the middle", estate agents usually get blamed for things which are not their fault and often out of their control. Why? because they are the ones with a shop you can walk into, whereas surveyors, solicitors, local councils, land registry, sellers, buyers, lenders, eyc. are not as accessible.

I'm not an estate agent any more, I'm a wicked landlord.

 

[andf]

I have given up on brokers and decided to do the job myself. As you will see below I am currently in the process of selling my boat.

Although it has (and will continue I'm sure) to involve some effort I view that as preferable to frustration and lack of results. I think also that both sides of the equation get a better deal if I do the work. The buyer will get my undivided attention and I can answer their questions quickly and accurately. I get to make sure that I don't get my time wasted by 'tyre kickers' AND I save a huge amount of money, which makes a bit of effort well worth it in my view.

 

[Aeolus]

When I was buying a boat (very much sub £40k), I had several dealings with Simon Thomas in Newhaven. I didn't buy a boat from him but he seemed very professional (and he certainly turned up on time).

 

[Mudplugger]

There are Brokers and there are BROKERS!, whilst I have absolutely no connection with Adrian Espin of Brightlingsea, other than as a satisfied seller, I would not hesitate to reccomend his services! Particularly as he sets fairly high standards of presentation and cleanliness on craft that he brokers for sale. I suggest that you look @ www. eastern yachts.com and if you like what you see give him a ring on 01206 305996 HTH.

 

[jezjez]

I like David at Tollesbury - they are having a used boat sale on the 28/29th April which would be a good delivery trip for you but was quite busy with customers when i bought my boat there 3 years ago. I'm now selling through there again. Fingers crossed.

 

[kengill]

I found Fox's Yacht Sales at Ipswich excellent. They sold me my first yacht and then sold it agin when I traded up!!

They were helpful courteous and efficient and when negotiations faltered slightly they mediated with great effect and kept the sale moving.

Can't say any more than that.

 

[Birdseye]

Never sold through a broker - always private - but have had a lot of contact with brokers when buying.None of them seem to do more than wait in their shop for you to come along and then either give you the keys or take you along to view depending on whether its raining and what their client has asked them to do. But to be honest I dont want any more from them, and I certainly dont want them hanging around whilst my wife and I are discussing what we're looking at.

I feel sorry for the brokers. Most of the boats we looked at last time round were not well looked after, often smelly and frequently dirty. Many prices were simply silly, particularly for the badly looked after smelly and dirty ones. In short most boats looked as if the owners wife never went near them, and the husband lived like a slob whilst on board.

How can such boats inspire salemanship in anyone?