Buying a boat - Normal procedure or not?

[gjgm]

You haven't bought the boat, you haven't signed a contract.

The boat belongs to someone else. He can polish it, antifoul it, service it or anything else he likes.

If he wants to put up the price he is offering it for sale at he is perfectly entitled to.

If you want to buy it at that price then you can.
If you want to make him an offer then you are entitled to do so.
If you want to walk away that is also your option.

However, both the owner and the broker are idiots to try to change the price of a boat that is verbally committed to, subject to trial and survey.

Or, perhaps they think you aren't serious.

Two good reasons to walk away.

I disagree.
To Op : You are not entering a 40 year marriage with the vendor.. you are doing a single purchase. You dont need to like him or hate him or ever have anything to with him again. You have found a boat that you like and you have decided what value that has to you.Keep the phone line open on that basis. If you cant resolve this rather odd announcement, then decide what to do.
I am always amazed how easily people on here recommend throwing in the towel at the slightest disagreement. Next I will be reading there are loads of boats out there, by implication,exactly the same. I have never ever seen two identical boats except at a factory. It looks like the weather is finally changing...want to be boating or getting upset and storming off in a sulk and spending however long trawling adverts and boatyards?
Put the effort in to resolving this and try to buy the boat you have found and want to own.
If it turns out you are unfortunately dealing with a couple of clowns, THEN close you wallet; I dont read you are there yet.

 

[Little Sam]

If i were selling a boat there would be no sea trial until a deposit were in place,indicating "intention to buy" it would be a tyre kickers delight otherwise.

True, but you have also to consider the human factor. In other words you can tell a tyre kicker from someone serious a mile away unless your a complete idiot.
Having said that i agree with ex solent.

I will also add.
The procedure of what has taken place here calls for a super sam ball breaker !
Say to them, Because they have decided to prepare the boat for the coming season which is not to your standards, you have decided to lower your original offer by 5% to pay for the boat re-preparing.. antifoul etc to your standards.

If they disagree or wont accept. walk away.

 

[oldgit]

"Is this normal procedure or a sign to run away ?"

..........a most unusual development and in todays market a brave one !

My first suspicion is that he has had better offer and is trying to get out of selling the boat to you,a win win thing for him,he either gets a better offer from you or accepts the other blokes money without the risk of you holding him to his previous price.
Very very suprised this email came via any reputable broker.

 

[superheat6k]

IMHO the vendor remains responsible for routine upkeep and maintenance until the sale is completed.

If I had agreed a price that would be that until and only if the survey revealed non disclosed defect, that may allow a price REDUCTION.

The fact he has chosen to spend money on HIS boat is a matter for him. When I bought my current boat the vendor proceeded to have various routine works done prior to sale completion, and it was for him to pay for this.

So as you haven't got a signed contract you can simply walk, especially as this seeming idiot is attempting to vary an otherwise informally agreed contract. In the current market I would be very surprised he had another buyer. If you really want the boat you could go to law to enforce the contract or seek suitable compensation if he then reneges, and having this email could clearly show a contract had been agreed, but is it not simpler to find another boat from an honourable seller and broker.

 

[Baddox]

Has the survey been completed? The surveyor will need to scrape off patches of the new antifoul to check moisture readings at various places on the hull. Very odd timing.

 

[Tony Cross]

I disagree.
To Op : You are not entering a 40 year marriage with the vendor.. you are doing a single purchase. You dont need to like him or hate him or ever have anything to with him again. You have found a boat that you like and you have decided what value that has to you.Keep the phone line open on that basis. If you cant resolve this rather odd announcement, then decide what to do.
I am always amazed how easily people on here recommend throwing in the towel at the slightest disagreement. Next I will be reading there are loads of boats out there, by implication,exactly the same. I have never ever seen two identical boats except at a factory. It looks like the weather is finally changing...want to be boating or getting upset and storming off in a sulk and spending however long trawling adverts and boatyards?
Put the effort in to resolving this and try to buy the boat you have found and want to own.
If it turns out you are unfortunately dealing with a couple of clowns, THEN close you wallet; I dont read you are there yet.

I think you misunderstand. Walking away is not "storming off in a sulk" it is a perfectly normal negotiating tactic. The vendor has no idea whether you're really walking away so the advantage passes to you and he is has to come back to you if he wants to sell. If, on the other hand, you begin negotiating with him over this issue you make it very clear that you really want this boat and all the advantages pass to him.