How do I sell my boat quickly!

[Mainy]

Not sure I have the dates right, but this is your second 34, the first you bought in 04 and kept for 4 years, and you changed the name of this one in 2010? I would wonder why some photos are 5 years old then, and how recent are the other photos ?
I would share some slight reservations that others have made-namley is the advert a bit too personal. In one way I do think it helps suggest that you love the boat and have maintained it fully, but it is just a boat that you want to flog!
Like others , I have also had two boats. Thing is, when you have the new one, you lose all interest in the old one with the exception of wanting to be rid of it. You want to spend your time on the new one, not forever tidying up the old one everytime some ones says they might come and look at it. Yes, it would be nice to make a little extra cash, but buyers will not pay up because it is a nice example. They just will want to buy that one first, at a good price. Just my opinion, of course.

Hi gjgm. You do have the dates wrong. We have never bought brand new but our first boat was a 2004 model. We bought our current boat nearly three years ago and officially registered the name change in Dec 2013. Some pics are taken in October that year whilst almost all of the others are towards the end of last year. Whether we buy the other or not we will still maintain the boat to its current standard, as that is who we are and it would prove pointless not doing so.
Thanks again for your comments.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thanks Henry and let me clarify a few points. The pictures out at sea were taken in summer of 2013. Most of the other pics were taken around october time 2014 or later. The boat was out of the water just over a year ago where the entire boat was done in terms of legs service, bellows change, engine service, anti foul, anodes, teak sanded, whole of the hull and body compounded, sealed and polished. The props are bronze and were sprayed along with the legs after extensive advice from International paints. Purpose of my wife in pics is purely for people to relate to the foredeck cushion size. Point taken on the pricing and this will be altered this week along with the repeat of the high spec.
Great points and thanks.

Bronze props on outdrives?

 

[Nigelpickin]

Wow! are these comments from the same guy who posted some good constructive points previously!!!! How dare you mention scam alert and all this other nonsense. As for the paserelle, try reading it again!!!!!

I wouldn't worry too much Mainy, it's easy to take some of the comments on here personally. Some of the clique don't pull their punches and often they are wayward Mostly though, they are well intentioned.

The boat does stand out and at £125k for a 2007 high spec it is at least at the point where it is competing well In terms of specification and the price point is near enough the index for a buyer to consider an offer.

To some the extra 10 or 15 k would be the clincher, for me it would be a secondary issue...what is important is that you need the boat to stand out, either below he market index price or above the market index quality. I think you are right aim for the latter.

I would suggest that you consider a broker, if they are going to be a 6 - 10 percent consideration you might want to at least test the water. The big question is whether or not the location and offer of berth is a hook of any sort.
On the point regarding people in the photos, my view is that you are trying to sell a lifestyle idea so not a bad thing at all. I don't do it in my brands as they tend to date super fast but hopefully that will not be an issue for you.

We are set firm on wintering in Portimao winter 2016/17 so who knows, we may see you down there sometime.

Warmest

 

[henryf]

Wow! are these comments from the same guy who posted some good constructive points previously!!!! How dare you mention scam alert and all this other nonsense. As for the paserelle, try reading it again!!!!!

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting you are trying to scam someone, rather voicing what people might think. After a lifetime selling shiny things you wouldn't believe some of the stuff that's put off buyers !

The trick is to remove all the hurdles.

I haven't re-read the ad but I'm sure it said you'd removed the paserelle because the mooring in Portugal was the same as in the UK so you didn't need it.

I think some of the images, particularly the one of it underway with the wrong name on are fantastic but for me it's essential to have some images taken today so I know what I'm getting and whether it's worth coming to see. All too often people see things through their minds eye from when they purchased themselves. I want to make sure that isn't the case before flying off on a plane to have a look.

By saying it came out just over a year ago when it was polished etc. etc I'm thinking - so it's due to come out again for another going over. We take our boat out every year and have it anti-fouled, machine polished, G3 treated etc.

Please, please please don't misinterpret what I'm saying or the tone of my delivery. This is my world, I don't know much but I know what makes people say yes, and hopefully not just because it's cheap. Anyone can win a race to the bottom. The trick is to make what you have for sale the one everybody wants, then it's just a case of finding that 1 person needed to pay the money.

The bare bones are all there and for what it's worth I think having a/c etc does make it more desirable. Ask Jimmy, he ended up paying to fit it on his second hand Targa so there are people to whom it will appeal. Maybe in the UK a gas hob and frying pan are more desirable but the boat isn't in the UK, it's sitting on free moorings for a year in the Algarve. Yes, property down there might have taken a bit of a dive, but unlike property you can always move a boat around so they follow world prices to an extent. You bought the dream and stayed so why won't someone else? After all the Haines family have just moved a certain Swift Trawler 42 to your neck of the woods !

I wouldn't rush out and engage the services of a broker just yet providing you can deal with viewings and possibly a few of them. As has already been said the boat needs to be immaculate each time someone comes to view. First impressions count and any excuse they will walk. You want them to leave your boat thinking they have to own it. They think they are buying a brand new boat so show them that. All personal stuff removed, they want to think they are the only people to have slept in the bed or sat on the loo

Once again I genuinely wish you a quick sale and apologise if I failed to convey myself properly..



Henry

 

[CX54WEK]

If you really want to sell it quickly have you considered approaching some of the brokers who buy boats?

You wont get your asking price but you have alredy said your next boat is a bargain

 

[henryf]

If you really want to sell it quickly have you considered approaching some of the brokers who buy boats?

You wont get your asking price but you have alredy said your next boat is a bargain

I suspect the reality of a trade bid would be eye watering and could easily be beaten via the private sale route / giving the thing away.

Unlike cars the costs associated with buying and selling boats are very significant. Survey, storage, transport, prep, finance etc.

Henry

 

[AdeOlly]

How do I sell my boat quickly!

Simple,

I sold my Sunseeker in 2011, we cleaned it to death and then cleaned after every viewing, because condition/presentation is all, then priced it lower than any other (same model & year) on the market, gone in three weeks, with only a small chip on the price.

If you've been offered a bigger/better boat for small money, why do you want top dollar for yours?

Don't get greedy, priced realistically it will go, over priced it will just be another S34 albeit with lots of goodies, sat around waiting with all the others.

Harsh maybe, but it's the truth.

+1

I rather rashly agreed to buy our current P34 before selling our Hardy Seawings. The prospect of two boats at once loomed large, aarrghh. So, I entered it into the Swanwick used boat show, cleaned it, polished it, cleaned it again. Being a bit left field, there were no comparables to price against, but we'd had the boat listed prior with limited interest, so cut the price to make it good value against boats of similar age and size. It sold from a boat show viewing. Money in the bank a few weeks later, and that was 2011 when market possibly worse than now.

It's obviously tempting to hold out for the maximum amount of money, but IMO cost to change is what matters. If you hit the budget, be happy.

 

[Dick Atcherley]

I've never sold a boat, but I take the same view with my boat (when the evil day comes) as I have done with assorted cars, bikes and planes that I have owned, which is to ask 5% less that the market seems to suggest, and get the thing sold, PDQ.

Partly because by the time I get to the point where I'm happy to sell, I've already mentally moved on and want to stop looking at the car/bike/plane, and partly because the holding costs for these things can be eye-watering, so it makes sense to get out from under quickly rather than sit around amusing window-shoppers for the next six to twelve months, as I wait for the man prepared to stump-up that last shekel.

In addition, once these mechanical toys stop getting used regularly they start to go wrong, and you end up chasing good money after bad, fixing an object that you'd rather not look at any longer.

 

[lanerboy]

It wasn't the cheapest in Europe but it was probably the best value when you consider location/condition

It was the cheapest at one point when I reduced the price again but then soon after about 4 other boats followed suit my boat never sold until I reduced the price then it sold within 2 weeks. people think they know what there boats are worth but as stated its only worth what others think its worth not the seller

 

[Whitelighter]

It was the cheapest at one point when I reduced the price again but then soon after about 4 other boats followed suit my boat never sold until I reduced the price then it sold within 2 weeks. people think they know what there boats are worth but as stated its only worth what others think its worth not the seller

Maybe the one I'm thinking of came o after yours was sold then

 

[lanerboy]

Maybe the one I'm thinking of came o after yours was sold then

There are 3 or 4 cheaper than mine now same year etc etc it really is a buyers market at the minute, I know of a 2008 targa 47 that's gone for around 180k inc vat, ok the buyer of this boat was in the right place at the right time but it shows what's about if you have the cash

 

[Momac]

Bronze props on outdrives?

http://www.volvopenta.com/VOLVOPENT...NES/DRIVES/DPH_DUOPROP/Pages/dph_duoprop.aspx

.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

http://www.volvopenta.com/VOLVOPENT...NES/DRIVES/DPH_DUOPROP/Pages/dph_duoprop.aspx

.

Thanks. I know what nibral props are, I've got eight of them, but (and perhaps I'm being picky) nibral isn't the same as bronze.

 

[Cashbuyer]

Has it sold yet?

 

[Mainy]

Has it sold yet?

Not yet but its early days!

 

[Jim@sea]

Great website I would like to know how you did it as I could do with one to advertise my Farm/Equestrian Centre for Sale.
In my humble opinion your website is "over the top" If someone is interested there is nothing left for you to reply with further details.
I would change the emphasis of your advert/website from how wonderful the Algarve is to promoting the Motor Boat.
I was told by a Government Planning Decision Inspector that all these submissions they receive (sometimes 3 or 4 pages) the best ones are when they are confined to 1 A4 page, after that they get bored and lose interest.
With your boat's website there is one glaring omission. Where are the photos of the engines.

I would change what you say to, "Our F34 is probably the best F34 currently for sale at only £XXXX" and "We upgraded from our previous F34 for the Low Engine Hours and the much higher specification which this boat offered"

Perhaps Photoshop will allow you to remove the previous name as it is too confusing. Get rid of the photo of the bronze props and the fish thing swimming past the boat. Get rid of the "Throws" I hate Throws, make the cabins look empty. (minimalistic) Reduce the amount of photos of the coastline.

Right at the beginning.
"Our boat is located within an hour of XXX Airport, we could meet any interested buyer at the airport and if a sale is agreed we would refund the flight cost from the sale price"
"All VAT Documentation required is available"
"The twin Volvo Diesels (Type) have only done low engine hours, regularly serviced"

You have not mentioned how fast the boat goes.

Someone else has mentioned Sealines being UK Specific. I quite agree I had a French "Guy Couch" and when I tried to sell it over here nobody had heard of them.

As your boat is in Portugal I would advertise it everywhere. Apollo Duck, Boats & outboards. And EBay. I was struggling to sell our house in Brittany, we had it up for sale with 4 French Estate Agents, eventually I dropped the price and put it on EBay and I had over 120 enquiries. It was the EBay advert which found the buyer.
Good Luck.

 

[Whitelighter]

There are 3 or 4 cheaper than mine now same year etc etc it really is a buyers market at the minute, I know of a 2008 targa 47 that's gone for around 180k inc vat, ok the buyer of this boat was in the right place at the right time but it shows what's about if you have the cash

It's a confusing market for sure.

Can't wait to see what your next craft will be. Any closer to revealing?

 

[Mainy]

Great website I would like to know how you did it as I could do with one to advertise my Farm/Equestrian Centre for Sale.
In my humble opinion your website is "over the top" If someone is interested there is nothing left for you to reply with further details.
I would change the emphasis of your advert/website from how wonderful the Algarve is to promoting the Motor Boat.
I was told by a Government Planning Decision Inspector that all these submissions they receive (sometimes 3 or 4 pages) the best ones are when they are confined to 1 A4 page, after that they get bored and lose interest.
With your boat's website there is one glaring omission. Where are the photos of the engines.

I would change what you say to, "Our F34 is probably the best F34 currently for sale at only £XXXX" and "We upgraded from our previous F34 for the Low Engine Hours and the much higher specification which this boat offered"

Perhaps Photoshop will allow you to remove the previous name as it is too confusing. Get rid of the photo of the bronze props and the fish thing swimming past the boat. Get rid of the "Throws" I hate Throws, make the cabins look empty. (minimalistic) Reduce the amount of photos of the coastline.

Right at the beginning.
"Our boat is located within an hour of XXX Airport, we could meet any interested buyer at the airport and if a sale is agreed we would refund the flight cost from the sale price"
"All VAT Documentation required is available"
"The twin Volvo Diesels (Type) have only done low engine hours, regularly serviced"

You have not mentioned how fast the boat goes.

Someone else has mentioned Sealines being UK Specific. I quite agree I had a French "Guy Couch" and when I tried to sell it over here nobody had heard of them.

As your boat is in Portugal I would advertise it everywhere. Apollo Duck, Boats & outboards. And EBay. I was struggling to sell our house in Brittany, we had it up for sale with 4 French Estate Agents, eventually I dropped the price and put it on EBay and I had over 120 enquiries. It was the EBay advert which found the buyer.
Good Luck.

Thanks Jim. Some very useful points which I shall act upon hopefully today. Those are airport distance, refund, engine photos, two F34 quotes, ebay, VAT and will review the Algarve section and photos. If you need help with your website as mentioned, send me a message with your number and I shall call you. Boating is my hobby and property is my business.
Many thanks again.

 

[henryf]

Perhaps Photoshop will allow you to remove the previous name as it is too confusing.

Very easily

Henry

 

[lanerboy]

It's a confusing market for sure.

Can't wait to see what your next craft will be. Any closer to revealing?

soon hopefully