I`m gonna be a yacht broker

Blue5

Blue5

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After a bit of extended cruising we decided that our present boat may not suit our needs so thought we would put it on the market.

Went into a brokerage to find out the costs and had to sit down!!

Brokerage: Our fees are 10% + VAT and that is not negotiable be it a dinghy or superyacht.

Me: So that is 12% we will lose.

Brokerage: No, I said 10% + VAT

Me: Can you get the broker to phone me.

Brokerage: Yes providing you are not wasting his time by trying to negotiate as he is very busy.

So I left my phone number and e-mail but no contact so I assume this is a really good business to be in and I am now trying to decide if I try and sell the boat myself privately.

I know this is akin to masonic secrecy but what is the sensible % to sell a boat at this time.
 
Did you ask what they will do for that 12%? I'd assume for that much money they won't do the standard:
  • taking pics on their phone in 10 minutes with boat not having been tidied
  • Put a picture in their window
  • if someone phones, let them see the boat
  • If they want it, give them paper to sign
  • accept money for the above

It may be value for money if they also:
  • Tidy and clean the boat before pictures
  • take pictures with a proper camera
  • advertise in several magazines, websites etc on your behalf
  • if someone phones, SUGGEST they see the boat
  • handle all contact with purchaser
  • complete all paperwork etc

Some brokers could be worth the money, most seem to be failed estate agents who are happy to show boats with water and dirt in the bilges and add no value whatsoever.
 
Have a word with Jonic, of this forum. He sold our boat this spring for us in less than 2 weeks (after we had tried to sell in ourselves using all the free websites etc for a month with no responses). His rates were a lot less than 10 (or 12)% and he was really helpful in guiding us through the whole process, forms, handling the money etc - I cannot recommend him enough.
 
AliM said:
Have a word with Jonic, of this forum. He sold our boat this spring for us in less than 2 weeks (after we had tried to sell in ourselves using all the free websites etc for a month with no responses). His rates were a lot less than 10 (or 12)% and he was really helpful in guiding us through the whole process, forms, handling the money etc - I cannot recommend him enough.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ali!

Full details of the high level of service I offer are here

.....and I take decent photos :)

12947463.jpg
 
A True Professional and Sailor !

John is a shining light in what can sometimes be murky waters. Known him for many years and he does his best, always!
cheers
Graham
 
lustyd said:
[*]taking pics on their phone in 10 minutes with boat not having been tidied
Click to expand...

Sorry, I'll have to take issue with this one.

Since when was it a brokers job to tidy your boat up?

I don't see estate agents coming around with the hoover and feather duster before they take the images, so why should a broker?

It's your property, if you want to sell it, you tidy your boat up and leave it as a potential purchaser would like to find it.

Sorry if that seemed like a rant:rolleyes: I just remembered all the yachts we saw which the owners couldn't be bothered to tidy or remove their kit from before putting the yacht up for sale.

You'll notice I saw that as lazy owners, not lazy brokers. If the boat is untidy it means she hasn't been looked after, if she hasn't been looked after who knows what will go wrong next?

Yes the broker should inform the owner they might want to help themselves by leaving the boat clean and tidy, and also say they will improve their chances of selling if they remove all their personal possessions as it's easier for a buyer to see the boat as theirs.

But would I expect a broker to tidy up the boat and clear out my gear?

No way!
 
snooks said:
I don't see estate agents coming around with the hoover and feather duster before they take the images, so why should a broker?
Click to expand...
No - but they do sometimes suggest slightly better placements of some items - in order to show off the room ... (or hide something else!)

But they should offer a valet service (they don't have to do it themselves) and/or suggest the owner clears his mess up ...

One boat we looked at had empty beer bottles loose under the cooker and the engine oil had small shards of metal in it....

The outside of the boat was grubby - because it was in a yard and nobody had bothered to hose it down to get rid of the dirt on a regular basis ...

SD Marine sold ours - we gave them the boat in a clean and presentable condition - they would've told us if we needed to do any additional cleaning inside whilst she was in their yard and they hosed down the decks when required (as they did for all their boats in the yard) - this makes sense as it keeps the outside looking clean and presentable without a huge amount of effort on the brokers part - but also means you haven't got owners cleaning the boats all weekend - getting in the way of customers and making the place wet.
 
snooks said:
Sorry, I'll have to take issue with this one.

Since when was it a brokers job to tidy your boat up?

I don't see estate agents coming around with the hoover and feather duster before they take the images, so why should a broker?

It's your property, if you want to sell it, you tidy your boat up and leave it as a potential purchaser would like to find it.

Sorry if that seemed like a rant:rolleyes: I just remembered all the yachts we saw which the owners couldn't be bothered to tidy or remove their kit from before putting the yacht up for sale.

You'll notice I saw that as lazy owners, not lazy brokers. If the boat is untidy it means she hasn't been looked after, if she hasn't been looked after who knows what will go wrong next?

Yes the broker should inform the owner they might want to help themselves by leaving the boat clean and tidy, and also say they will improve their chances of selling if they remove all their personal possessions as it's easier for a buyer to see the boat as theirs.

But would I expect a broker to tidy up the boat and clear out my gear?

No way!
Click to expand...

You're right of course, but a good broker who wants to earn their money (and it's a heck of a lot of money at 10%!!) should put more effort in that taking a photo and posting adverts. At the very least they should make the owner do it prior to taking pics but do you REALLY think brokers are so busy they couldn't remove random ropes or fenders from a cabin before a shot? Or is it below them to give the bilge pump a couple of pulls to make the boat look less like it's sinking? No offence to brokers but the one in my marina spends a good deal of time sitting.
 
snooks said:
I can do better myself to be honest!:p

It does take me a couple of hour at the right time of day though;)
Click to expand...

So is that the exact state you found the boat in? I suppose you didn't pose the wine there because in your proffessional opinion the boat would make a better picture that way? You didn't turn on/off any lights or electronics, open/close any curtains? I suggest you probably did what was necessary to get a good picture because that is your job and proffession. I seem to recall that the job and proffession of a broker is to sell a boat so surely they would want to do whatever necessary to shift the boats, starting with asking the owner to clean and working up to cleaning or hiring a cleaner and passing on the costs?
 
Snooks - that's cheating - those were brand new boats. At least the top one was - taken just after the Southampton boat show last year. It had barely been sailed when you took that!
 
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