Good websites for private sellers buyers

[Adetheheat]

Im thinking about doing a private sale of my boat. I first tried about 18 months ago. Apolloduck.co.uk seemed pretty good but with other websites such as Boats and Outboards I seemed to get scammers contacting me.
Do you have any recommendations?

 

[wonkywinch]

What price range? Big difference in choice for a £10k vs £200k boat.

 

[Adetheheat]

Around £30k

 

[wonkywinch]

I don't have any experience of selling boats but have sold lots of other stuff online. The secret is having loads of good photos and then taking advantage of free advertising. I think Apollo Duck is a respectable place but list on Ebay, Facebook, Gumtree etc. Be prepared just to ignore the scammers, genuine buyers should be obvious from the outset.

 

[TSB240]

I sold both of my previous boats through Apollo Duck. (£25 to £35k )
I used my own Web page and provided quality images to illustrate the most important issues for each boat.

I could also provide both receipts and copious photographic evidence of all key work carried out during my ownership.

Both sold within a month at or near asking price to the first viewer without involvement of independent surveyors.

Back up purchasers were ready to follow.
If you have a well known class of boat then advertising through the owners association or facebook group can extend your exposure in the market.

If you accept any caller as a viewer you will waste your time. Decide who your target market is and be selective on that basis.

Boats and Outboards is rubbish.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Hmm - I sold my previous 3 boats via Boats and Outboards.co.uk - albeit the last one nearly 18 yrs ago... I've also sold lots of boating bits and pieces on ebay, which is now free for sellers.

 

[mrming]

Another recommendation for Apollo Duck. Am sure you will, but make sure the boat is clean, and uncluttered, then take good quality, well-lit photos of all the major areas above and below deck. If there’s an inboard engine, show it clearly. If outdoors, wait for a day with good weather, and don’t photograph the decks or cockpit when wet. These are your sales photos for the ad.

Then take lots more photos of every detail of the boat, good and bad, and add these to a shared folder such as Google Drive. Send these “detail photos” to any serious enquirer before arranging a viewing. This will save some time wasting on both sides, and anyone who does travel to view is more likely to be serious.

 

[michael_w]

Be honest about problems. They'll only get found by the surveyor and the purchaser can then beat you down on price. By informing the purchaser, they make their offer in full knowledge of the bad points and thus the price cannot be discounted.

 

[searocket]

We sold our previous sailing boat through theyachtmarket.com very easy to create the advert and a modest fee.
Good stats on number of advert views and the website handles comms with people interested (we only had genuine enquiries). Also successful sale.

 

[wallacebob]

I’m currently looking at adverts for older Mercs; most are clean, polished and presented beautifully. Some are full of junk and obviously never seen a bucket of water. Worst was pictures taken at night in a car park of the exterior only. I guessed that was a scam!
Good advert pictures are essential.

 

[oldgit]

Sold several boats via the usual suspects mentioned
Couple of tips.
You are not interested under any circumstances whatsoever in swaps/ PX .
Big Bold message in advert to this affect, in CAPITALS ... never does any harm.
To cull large amounts of timewasting chancers. All initial communications by email only.
It helps greatly if the boat is kept nearbye.
A couple of mile round trip for you to show possible buyer your boat and a no show is fine, 50+ miles quickly loses its attractions.
Folks who arrange to look in a few days time or this weekend usually show.
Can I look at it today Mate.......Never Buy.

 

[wonkywinch]

I’m currently looking at adverts for older Mercs; most are clean, polished and presented beautifully. Some are full of junk and obviously never seen a bucket of water. Worst was pictures taken at night in a car park of the exterior only. I guessed that was a scam!
Good advert pictures are essential.

Something weird happened to the classic car market a few years back. Instead of being sold by a grease covered enthusiast who owned the car for years, most now being sold by classic car dealers and specialist auctions that sprung up everywhere to capitalise on the surge in prices.

I bought my TR5 from a private seller who carried out a body off resto himself but I sold it to a dealer as private ads attracted no interest.

 

[Greg2]

We have sold four of our five previous boats privately and used Boatsandoutboards and Yachtmarket.

To be fair, the first two attracted buyers from boatsandoutboards (if memory serves) but whilst being advertised more widely via sales sites of the other two we sold one to people we knew and the other (a Sealine S34) via the Sealine Forum.

As already said, do a good job of prep and if you want a swift sale offer in turnkey condition i.e. don’t scrimp on getting servicing etc done.
.