Buying tactics

Seven Spades

Seven Spades

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If you want to make an offer on a boat and know that someone else is flying in from long distance to look at the same boat is it best to get your offer in first or wait to see if they make an offer?


I am not sure that if I make an offer it will encourage someone else to make a counter offer or if the seller will give me credit for offering first and effecticly give me first refusal if a counter comes in or if I delay and someone else offers first that I will told it is too late.

The broker know I am serious but I have not made an offer at this stage.
 
You have no control over the other person, nor what he might offer. until you sign a contract you have no precedence over any other person.

If you want the boat make your offer. If it is accepted then chances are the seller will stick with you. If it is not accepted, perhaps because he is waiting for the other potential buyer all you can do is wait. The broker must pass your offer to the seller, but it is his decision.
 
What would you do if you were the seller?

I would almost certainly wait until someone going to the trouble of flying to view the boat has had an opportunity to make an offer before accepting any other offer.

If you really want the boat you might need to make an attractive offer and specify that the offer will be withdrawn if not accepted within 24 hours. That might give the vendor an opportunity to notify the other interested party and save them wasting time and money travelling to see a boat that has already been sold.
 
It’s been a Buyers Market for many years, perhaps the pendulum is finally swinging back in favour of the seller.

If true, someone flying a long distance to see a boat shows real interest, not just a chancer hoping to make a lower offer.

If the boat is in good condition and, more importantly, it meets your family sailing aspirations, why not simply offer the asking price?

Alternatively, tell the seller that you withdraw but that he should feel free to contact you again should the long distance traveller not wish to buy. This will take any bargaining power away from the seller but risks that you will not get it.

Only you can decided upon which action to take. Good luck.
 
The chances are that someone flying in to see a boat will probably be viewing other boats also.
If you make an offer that is not time limited and the vendor knows there is another viewing scheduled, he will wait and expect the broker to inform the other party that an offer is on the table.
If you want the boat make your offer and see what happens. If you can stand not owning the boat wait until the other person has viewed the boat give it a week then make your offer.
 
quite interesting you have been told another potential buyer is flying over to see the boat. might be true but its a classic sales tactic.

Steveeasy
 
Make your offer, see what happens, if the other potential buyer arrives and makes an offer at or above the lowest the seller will accept, he can sign the deal then and there. Having travelled, he may want to do the deal. This may be less attractive than the deal you will offer. In a buyers market I would accept an offer from the first person with pen in hand, who had made an acceptable offer.
 
It depends a lot on the boat. Is it the only Scandi-dream-rarething under 5 years old available second hand in Western Europe? In which case both you and the purported long distance traveller have only one option if you want this type of boaT.

Or is it a good but plentiful BenJenBav, or similar, in which plenty of alternatives.
 
Without knowing the boat, age, condition and price it is hard to judge. For example we flew in from Abu Dhabi to Greece to buy our current boat. It was in winter and meant flying into Athens and then getting a car to travel to Lefkas. We did it because the price was very low and did not want to miss out. We were concerned even in winter the boat would be sold before we got there but thought it unlikely. We had no hesitation on seeing it in offering the full price and still think it was a bargain.

I suppose the point is for the OP to ask whether the boat is well priced and if so a time limited offer maybe the way to go. If it is averagely priced and there are other similar types out there I would wait until the situation with the person flying in is resolved one way or another
 
As the others have suggested, either offer the full price now and try to get it signed quick or hang back. I can't see any value of making a lowish offer now which would only encourage the mystic flyer and perhaps involve you in a bidding war. But you do risk losing the boat.

If the flyer rejects it, or even wavers, you can be in like Flynn, and a low offer which may be acceptable.
 
View the boat, make an offer at the price you want to buy it. It is then up to the seller to accept or decline. The other potential buyer is not your problem, there are lots of other boats for sale.
 
I spotted the boat I wanted to buy 2 years ago but it sold before I could sell mine. I should say it is only a small boat, at a guess there are only a handful in the UK and this is a rare one with an inboard diesel. I sold my boat regardless as I need to buy larger. I was in no hurry. The boat then came back on the market a year later at a similar price. I viewed it three days after it was listed. I made an offer at 11% below the asking price to be told by the Broker there were two people travelling 100s of mile to view. Fine I said I will withdraw my offer as I am not prepared to increase. The owner was soon on the phone to accept.
Sales tactics maybe in play. Make your offer and then gauge the reaction. How much do you want it? If it is the only boat for you then offer the asking price. What are years of regret compared to a few thousand pounds?
 
I would ignore the 'background noise' of the broker as it could come to nothing and just do what you feel is right for you. If you want the boat make your offer and start talking. Good luck.
 
I agree with steveasy and tam lin. I sold cars as a retirement job and we ALWAYS had other buyers flying, in training, in driving in from not just UK but also from overseas RHD countries,,, know what I mean wink wink.. !! And of course a look at the diary confirmed this!!!!
It's a classic Broker's tactic. I also agree with the advice to make a bid and leave it open for a short specified period - as you are also looking and travelling to view other yachts..... more wink wink nudge nudge!!
Play the Broker at his own game.
 
I wouldn't necessarily mistrust the claim that someone is flying in to look at the boat. When I had my old HR352 on sale privately, I did have people travelling hundreds of miles to look at it, and one flew in from Ireland. As soon as I had an acceptable firm offer, I advised all the other interested parties that the boat was sold. My advice would be that, if you really want the boat, make a sensible offer now.
 
How much do you want THAT boat? If you decide that you really do, then maybe offer YOUR maximum/or asking price, with the condition that this is subject to the boat being withdrawn from the market immediately. That way, you avoid a potential bidding war.
 
maxi77 said:
Make a sensible offer you have nothing to lose
Click to expand...

I'd make a really low offer after seeing and liking the boat, then wait. I think you should always try to buy a boat from a buyer that really wants to sell or they'll hang on for a price they may not ever get. Of course if there is another serious buyer you will lose this one but there are lots of boats around.

I've tended to prefer dilapidated but sound boats as the prices can be so good and many people are put off by old socks and mildew.
 
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