I Keep getting offers on my boat

[jimg]

I have no problem with being honest, but looking at a 23 year old boat through a zoomed in lens means you'd never buy one. You simply can't do it. You're almost showing microscopic grains of dirt.

Be sensible without lying.

Henry

What do you think of this one then? Same kind of vintage

http://www.boatshed.com/princess_414-boat-115273.html

 

[jfm]

I think Henry is right. You have to clean the boat to within an inch of its life and remove all personal effects and cabling (from the photos at least, but better still from the boat). This is quite tricky because a lot of UK boats do not get the same cleaning hours as med boats during their normal lfe so there can be some catching up to do. The beds should also be made properly (not like the princess 414 in the link just above) and there should be flowers.

I really don't think Boatshed does any favours to its clients on this. Sure, they do a great service to buyers looking to price chip, but that isn't the idea

 

[henryf]

What do you think of this one then? Same kind of vintage

http://www.boatshed.com/princess_414-boat-115273.html

It needs a toothbrush around the anchor and boatshed are trying desperately to put people off by including a load of essentially the same photos of an old engine room but that looks more like something you'd have a ride out to see, I have no idea on price, merely the state of the interior. Sort out the crud by the lower seal on the fridge door as well. Oh and I think boatshed want you to have a new steering wheel fitted on the flybridge as well.

If there's one thing I am learning it's who not to use to sell boats they really don't help you much do they. I dread to think what they are like when talking face to face to a potential buyer. "Now you do know it's a bit of a farm yard inside don't you, and I'd be lying if I didn't point out the fact that it's over priced and missed a service back in 1992"

Keep smiling

Henry

 

[hlb]

The boat had just had a £650 cleaning job.

I think most of the wires or scratches you see, is infact boatsheds logo, with the silly wavy line, that makes everything look like there is a scratch in it.

No idea where the poster talking about paint on the stantions, or stains in the upholstry, is comming from, theres hardly a mark on her, and definatly no paint.

I do agree, boatshed are a bit silly with there photo's.

But anyway, half the offers have been through Appoloduck, with only the picture in Salcolmbe on it.

One guy gave me an offer, which I said I would accept. But then he said, he wanted me to put it in writing, before he would come and look. I was not doing that, because I've been done before.

Nuther guy said he'd offer 40 grand, I said I'd accept 45, but still he would not visit.

My fear is, that these chancers, will want another ten grand off, If they ever come to look.

 

[David of Essex]

It needs a toothbrush around the anchor and boatshed are trying desperately to put people off by including a load of essentially the same photos of an old engine room but that looks more like something you'd have a ride out to see, I have no idea on price, merely the state of the interior. Sort out the crud by the lower seal on the fridge door as well. Oh and I think boatshed want you to have a new steering wheel fitted on the flybridge as well.

If there's one thing I am learning it's who not to use to sell boats they really don't help you much do they. I dread to think what they are like when talking face to face to a potential buyer. "Now you do know it's a bit of a farm yard inside don't you, and I'd be lying if I didn't point out the fact that it's over priced and missed a service back in 1992"

Keep smiling

Henry

You make some very good points for all of us to take notice of. It may seem a bit hurtful to the seller, but I would rather be hurt by words than pounds .
When selling boats is it better to sell the sizzle not the sausage?
David

 

[jfm]

The boat had just had a £650 cleaning job.

Sheesh that's a big cheque for a clean. It's a bummmer when they charge that and don't do it properly. The shower fitting in the aft cockpit needs the silicone cleaning with acetone and some s/s polish on the metalwork, and a proper detail clean. Alternatively, get BS to remove the picture. The swim platform teak would benefit from 2-part. You'd think you'd get that for £650.

I don't know if it's BS's job to "pose" the boat for photos but if you look at say the very last pic 46/46 it would be loads better if someone removed the brown mats on the floor, the black mats on the side deck steps, the brush, shorepower cable, the blue thing behind the ladder at the bottom, all the string on the ladder, and the yellow wire and other junk on the saloon carpet. And sandpaper the teak inserts to the patio door handles to make them golden brown again, like the teak steps which look nicely brown. And use a WA lens to make the thing look a bit bigger.

Overall I just don't think BS do their clients any favours with these pictures. Although it would be better to scream at the £650 mob and get them to do a proper job and then let BS snap away I suppose

This ad shows my old Sq58, which I sold 4 years ago, and which is now back up for sale. It's 8 years old, only had about 30 days out of the water in all that time, and 1000+hrs but check out how the pics show properly made beds, camera angled to show glossy surfaces, no silver/grey teak, zero owner's personal effects, flowers, boat properly cleaned or at least no camera closeups to show any dirt accidentally missed, slightly wide angle lens, etc. Some of the pics aren't perfect but they are way better than Boatshed's awful stuff (and there are some incorrect non Sq58 pics in the set eg the kitchen with light brown worktops is the wrong boat, doh, so the broker isn't perfect). You quite often see Uk yacht brokers just not knowing how to present a boat or not getting the owner to make the beds, but Boatshed are the worst of the pack imho

 

[epervier]

but Boatshed are the worst of the pack imho

I believe it's down to the individual broker, afterall Boatshed is a franchise, my experience of both buying and selling through Boatshed Poole was a very pleasurable experience Ian Welsh was professional, curtious, and smiles when he takes your money,that latter quality, for me is very important, there's nothing worse than someone making money out of you and is sour faced doing it.

 

[henryf]

The boat had just had a £650 cleaning job.

I think most of the wires or scratches you see, is infact boatsheds logo, with the silly wavy line, that makes everything look like there is a scratch in it.

No idea where the poster talking about paint on the stantions, or stains in the upholstry, is comming from, theres hardly a mark on her, and definatly no paint.

I do agree, boatshed are a bit silly with there photo's.

But anyway, half the offers have been through Appoloduck, with only the picture in Salcolmbe on it.

One guy gave me an offer, which I said I would accept. But then he said, he wanted me to put it in writing, before he would come and look. I was not doing that, because I've been done before.

Nuther guy said he'd offer 40 grand, I said I'd accept 45, but still he would not visit.

My fear is, that these chancers, will want another ten grand off, If they ever come to look.

Hi there.

As I said in my post the fabric "stains" may just be a trick of the camera. The stantion just looks tired, there are markings on the base and a bit of a crack in the GRP. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure in the flesh it looks fine. But I'm looking at the photos and so will be any potential buyers.

As JFM says there is a stain in the teak which would probably come out with a 2 part clean.

As I said in my initial post please don't take anything I've said as person criticism. I'm trying to be constructive in light of your initial post. I'm trying to see if there is anything that can be done to improve offers or to enthuse potential buyers.

You need to hear those magic words, "it's the best one I've seen" because from then on yours is first choice as opposed to one bought purely on price.

I genuinely wish you the best of luck.

Henry

 

[Bojangles]

This ad shows my old Sq58, which I sold 4 years ago, and which is now back up for sale. It's 8 years old, only had about 30 days out of the water in all that time, and 1000+hrs but check out how the pics show properly made beds, camera angled to show glossy surfaces, no silver/grey teak, zero owner's personal effects, flowers, boat properly cleaned or at least no camera closeups to show any dirt accidentally missed, slightly wide angle lens, etc. Some of the pics aren't perfect but they are way better than Boatshed's awful stuff (and there are some incorrect non Sq58 pics in the set eg the kitchen with light brown worktops is the wrong boat, doh, so the broker isn't perfect). You quite often see Uk yacht brokers just not knowing how to present a boat or not getting the owner to make the beds, but Boatshed are the worst of the pack imho[/QUOTE]

This is a very tempting ad, infact if I had the funds I think I would be arranging a viewing on this boat (who wouldn't?) Interesting to note the broker describes it as a "one owner" boat when we clearly know this isn't the case. Ok two owners doesnt make any difference to me but how reliable is the rest of the info from the brokers pitch?

I agree with the others comments re the photo's, they should only be there to convince someone to view, I'm never interested in a photo of a carpet/stanchion etc. I've looked at pictures of hundreds of boats over the last 3 years, I viewed 4 and bought 3 of them.

 

[hlb]

Boatshed did "pose" the boat, they shifted everything for the photo's and spent a long time doing it. I was not fit to do it.

But they seem to have a policy of finding, the worst bits that they can and taking a close up of that. Like, they photographed a close up of one of the few light fittings, that I have yet to find a new bezel for. But not of the five new ones or the flat screened 90 odd channeled telly.

But to be honest, my complaint is not against boatshed, on the whole I'm quite happy with them.

What I'm asking, is what do you do with folk offering 40 grand, when the boat was originally for sale for a low 65 grand. But they will not compromise and have not seen her.

 

[Bojangles]

Boatshed did "pose" the boat, they shifted everything for the photo's and spent a long time doing it. I was not fit to do it.

But they seem to have a policy of finding, the worst bits that they can and taking a close up of that. Like, they photographed a close up of one of the few light fittings, that I have yet to find a new bezel for. But not of the five new ones or the flat screened 90 odd channeled telly.

But to be honest, my complaint is not against boatshed, on the whole I'm quite happy with them.

What I'm asking, is what do you do with folk offering 40 grand, when the boat was originally for sale for a low 65 grand. But they will not compromise and have not seen her.

I don't think you can do anything with these type of people, other than try and convince them to view.

 

[Otter]

When we were contemplating a huge (for us) step up from mangy old Macwester to a family cruising cat we saw three at the same brokerage; I swear I had to spend days trying to persuade SWMBO out of the most unsuitable of the three - why? Because it looked absolutely gorgeous - dressed with fresh folded towels in the heads, glasses & cuttlery on the saloon table, not a scrap of personal stuff and cleaned to perfection. To be honest, I almost gave in. But after a lot of boats I could see past the issues on the other two and we bought one of those and cleaned it ourselves! The thing is, the owner of the one we bought had started out at £42,000 which was the lowest priced HT27 on the market - we ended up paying him £28,500.

 

[henryf]

This ad shows my old Sq58, which I sold 4 years ago, and which is now back up for sale. It's 8 years old, only had about 30 days out of the water in all that time, and 1000+hrs but check out how the pics show properly made beds, camera angled to show glossy surfaces, no silver/grey teak, zero owner's personal effects, flowers, boat properly cleaned or at least no camera closeups to show any dirt accidentally missed, slightly wide angle lens, etc. Some of the pics aren't perfect but they are way better than Boatshed's awful stuff (and there are some incorrect non Sq58 pics in the set eg the kitchen with light brown worktops is the wrong boat, doh, so the broker isn't perfect). You quite often see Uk yacht brokers just not knowing how to present a boat or not getting the owner to make the beds, but Boatshed are the worst of the pack imho

A lovely advert. It gets the juices flowing and sets things off on the right foot.

To the OP: Yes, I know this is worth 10 times the value of your boat and is much newer so we aren't expecting to see the same thing, although a couple of young fillies on the front deck.....

But most of it's peers are snapped with crud lying around and will pale in comparison. So instantly this is the one you want when surfing the web.

I have been trying to find the web page I set up for my Phantom 42. I'm on the boat so away from the PC to post up the photos.

Henry

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I think Henry is right. You have to clean the boat to within an inch of its life and remove all personal effects and cabling (from the photos at least, but better still from the boat). This is quite tricky because a lot of UK boats do not get the same cleaning hours as med boats during their normal lfe so there can be some catching up to do. The beds should also be made properly (not like the princess 414 in the link just above) and there should be flowers.

I really don't think Boatshed does any favours to its clients on this. Sure, they do a great service to buyers looking to price chip, but that isn't the idea

I agree with you and henryf. I don't have an issue with Boatshed presenting the boat in a warts and all way but they should remember that they are there to sell the boat first and foremost. IMHO, the biggest issue with hlb's boat is the appearance of personal effects in the photos, particularly foodstuffs. Part of the buying process is that a buyer subconciously imagines himself in the boat and it is much more difficult to do that if the sellers' personal effects are littering the boat. I think hlb should either have Boatshed delete any photos with personal effects on display or get the boat re photo'd without them. IMHO, the photos of the various blemishes on the boat are not too much of an issue. No buyer of a boat of this age is going to expect to see a brand new boat but, agreed, it doesn't look like a £650 cleaning job

 

[hlb]

I agree with you and henryf. I don't have an issue with Boatshed presenting the boat in a warts and all way but they should remember that they are there to sell the boat first and foremost. IMHO, the biggest issue with hlb's boat is the appearance of personal effects in the photos, particularly foodstuffs. Part of the buying process is that a buyer subconciously imagines himself in the boat and it is much more difficult to do that if the sellers' personal effects are littering the boat. I think hlb should either have Boatshed delete any photos with personal effects on display or get the boat re photo'd without them. IMHO, the photos of the various blemishes on the boat are not too much of an issue. No buyer of a boat of this age is going to expect to see a brand new boat but, agreed, it doesn't look like a £650 cleaning job

Yes this was mentioned, but as sales are very slow, boatshed recognised that, you can not be expected to not use the boat, for a very long time.

Mind, they did move nice cushions and stuff, they would probably have removed flowers as well.

The lazerette photo looks awfull, but could I leave the 1200 pound new Avon on the davits ??

Boatshed put alot of effort in to move personal stuff. The guy really worked hard.

But then why photo stuff they had not removed.

The bedroom is vertualy new, the dinette has never been sat in since refurbished. The saloon was all replaced about six years ago. Yet none of this shows in the photo's.

Yet the problem seems to be the market place, and how to deal with it.

Whilst I've offered a maybe far better boat, for far less than others. (where all the others referbished last year)

I've had her for about 13 years, she's been a fab boat, no sea has ever been a bother. No matter what sea, i've never felt out of control.

A Force 12 into Plymouth was not a problem. Only tieing up was.

 

[gjgm]

Isnt that Ernie Wise in picture 11 ?

 

[Chris_d]

I think a lot of people here are missing the point, a Princess 35 for £45!!!!!! its a bargain, remember its only a few years ago these were all £75K+ in fact a lot are still adverised at that price. Maybe that is the problem it's too cheap, there are many who can scrap together 30-40K and a bit of finance but 60-70K is another ball game, most genuine buyers with more cash may just not even bother looking because of the price, they will assume its a heep, and of course the location doesn't help.

 

[Greg2]

I think a lot of people here are missing the point, a Princess 35 for £45!!!!!! its a bargain, remember its only a few years ago these were all £75K+ in fact a lot are still adverised at that price. Maybe that is the problem it's too cheap, there are many who can scrap together 30-40K and a bit of finance but 60-70K is another ball game, most genuine buyers with more cash may just not even bother looking because of the price, they will assume its a heep, and of course the location doesn't help.

With the current economic climate and all the uncertainty that brings combined with a future that will only ever bring higher fuel costs motor boats are simply no longer worth what they once were IMHO. I appreciate that this is a bit of a harsh message to current owners and sellers but this is what the market is currently telling us.

I would consider myself a genuine buyer currently and whilst I accept that we are all different, lower priced boats are saying to me that the vendor may be more likely to be realistic and someone that you can potentially do business with. Those that are priced at the level they would have been five years ago suggest that the vendor may not be as open to a more realistic price or isn't really motivated to sell.

If I were in the market for a P35 then the price Haydn has advertised it at would attract me - condition would of course be an important factor but the price would get me interested.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

With the current economic climate and all the uncertainty that brings combined with a future that will only ever bring higher fuel costs motor boats are simply no longer worth what they once were IMHO. I appreciate that this is a bit of a harsh message to current owners and sellers but this is what the market is currently telling us.

Yup, I happened to spend the evening with a German yacht broker a few months ago, specialising in motor boats, and he said the same. First the European market for 30-70ft boats, particularly flybridge boats, is still very poor and second, any buyers out there are well aware of that fact and are not going to buy unless they think they are getting a bargain. Yes, many owners are going to have to readjust their thinking on what their boats are worth if they want to sell. Of course that isn't an issue if you are trading up as the saving on a larger boat should be even more but obviously it's a problem if you are trading down or getting out of the market altogether.
I agree that the market has changed and values will never get back to the same levels that they were pre 2008 and I also agree that the long term prospects for the value of gas guzzling power boats isn't bright either in an era of ever rising fuel costs and tighter emissions controls. There will always be exceptions of course. Certain models are enduringly popular and possibly IPS/sterndrive boats might retain their values better due to their inherently better fuel consumption (yes I know the jury is still out on IPS but overall it seems as if IPS saves fuel)

 

[Greg2]

There will always be exceptions of course. Certain models are enduringly popular and possibly IPS/sterndrive boats might retain their values better due to their inherently better fuel consumption (yes I know the jury is still out on IPS but overall it seems as if IPS saves fuel)

I tend to agree that sterndrive (and IPS) boats may fare a little better in the long run.The perennial shafts v sterndrive debate still raises its head on various fora and whilst shafts have many virtues (I have had both) the balance will inevitably swing in favour of sterndrive IMHO. Now that will probably spark a whole new debate....!!!