Clean and Clear or Fix Stuff - for Viewing?

[Richard10002]

I am hoping that someone will be coming from England to Malta to view Rogue in the next week or so.

I'm conscious that, having just left the dirty and dusty boatyard, whilst the hull above and below the waterline are spick and span, I am left with a dirty and dusty boat which needs a thorough clean, and a polish and wax of the topsides.

I also have loads of "stuff" geared towards living on board, which clutters the place up quite a bit.

In addition, as with all of our boats, I have a list which is pages long, of things which need fixing, or improving.

Ideally I would do everything, but there wont be time.

My own thoughts are to clean, polish and wax, as best I can, then clear the clutter, (as best I can), then, if there is time, fix some stuff. Stuff not fixed, I will probably make a list so as to assist the viewer, and remain honest.

My problem is that I quite like fixing and improving stuff, and hate cleaning and stuff, so I will almost certainly get distracted into fixing stuff, (I can feel a post about my tachometer coming on /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Any thoughts welcomed.

Richard

 

[fireball]

Clear the clutter as best you can and do a quick clean up - doesn't need polishing (unless it is really bad!) so just get rid of the grime ..

fix list - depends what they are - tacho is quite handy, but not essential - if you can fix it in time (without getting the boat dirty again) then get on and do it - but a clean/tidy boat is more important (IMHO)

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

Agreed - clean and tidy and looking well setup.

Someone will fall in love with the boat (or not) long before they know whether the tacho works or not - and I can't imagine it being a deal breaker.

I wouldn't hit them with a long list of minor faults / maintenance that needs doing - at least until they are well smitten - then presented right it looks like you are just keeping ontop of things

 

[Evadne]

Another vote for cleaning and clearing first. First impressions are important.

 

[shmoo]

When we bought our boat we went out looking for a wheelhouse motor sailor. We bought a Sigma 362, very much not a wheelhouse motor sailor, because it was clean and nice inside.

Don't be too rational about it!

 

[Mal113]

I wonder if your someone from England reads this forum??? I always believe "It's best to keep your powder dry" comments to yourself

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
I wonder if your someone from England reads this forum??? I always believe "It's best to keep your powder dry" comments to yourself

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Mal,

I take your point. It is definitely worth mentioning, and it may be appropriate for some, but they found out that Rogue is for sale either here or in the MOA forum, and have been "watching" me for a while. So I dont think I have any secrets from them, or any powder to keep dry.

Most of the issues with Rogue get aired here, or in MOA, and most are seen to get fixed or sorted.

In the original post I almost said that they may be reading this, but didnt want people to pull any punches.

The fact is that, if you know second hand boats, you know that there is always a list as long as your arm of "things to do, to improve, and to fix", and I believe that they "know boats".

When selling things, (usually houses.... this is the first boat!), I am keen to be up front with stuff so I dont waste anybodys time, and so that there are no surprises which could screw the deal up at an advanced stage.

Cheers for now,

Richard

 

[dt4134]

Make sure it is clean & tidy & doesn't look neglected. No need to go overboard re polishing IMHO unless not doing that really makes it look neglected.

In terms of fixing things, my view is it's best to think about what a surveyor might focus on in his report. The buyer will either want you to fix it or what a reduction in price, so there's a lot to be said for carefully considering whether you should fix those likely items up front.

In terms of declaring faults. There's always lots of niggly faults on a second-hand boat but you don't want to scare off the buyer by making them more apparent.

On the other hand, if they're faults that are going to affect the price, particularly the reduction after survey there's something to be said for identifying them. It would be hard for a buyer to claim a reduction for faults the surveyor found if he already knew about them when he made the offer.