Is it s good time to sell?

[thomshap]

We're thinking of moving up from out little 21.7 to something with enough space to spend the odd night on, is this time of year a good time or will I just get a load of people offering me silly money as they'll think I want to shift it before the winter sets in.

 

[stownsend]

My listing has just come to the end on ebay yesterday (classified add for a 23 ft cabin cruiser), had 6 offers, all bar 1 was silly and were well off the mark. I'm also dubious of offers on ebay when someone has not seen the boat, you reply back to arrange the viewing and you don't hear anything back - what can you do but leave negative feedback as they are timewasters. It looks like some are starting to move, I'm just deciding if I'm going to relist her as we had 230 watchers.

Cheers

Stu

 

[ProDave]

what can you do but leave negative feedback as they are timewasters.

You can't leave negative feedback on ebay for buyers, let alone ones that don't buy.

 

[LittleSister]

I doubt that ebay is a good indication of the boat market, boats or, especially, 'buyers'.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Tough market conditions out there, and not the best time of year either... She'll sell if you price her realistically, but dont expect top dollar!

 

[little shack]

Things are tite for everyone at the moment.Wel unless your one of those people who are always going to have money.but if you have to take alittle less for your boat that is likely to be the same when you look at buying,swings and round abouts.You may get a bargain

 

[Lakesailor]

Forget ebay.
Stick it on Boats and Outboards and Apollo Duck.

Don't be greedy.

If it doesn't sell, try again later, but be aware that at present you'll be the cherry on the cake. In spring you'll just be part of a fruit salad.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

.... Don't be greedy....

That is the single best bit of advice in the current market. I have just sold my house (to the first viewer), priced very competitively, below my perceived value and below the price of similar properties in the area. I purchased a larger house at a reasonable bargain price as it was not selling because it was priced too high and by now the sellers needed to sell.

The above analogy I believe is relative to boat sales and purchases, especially at the mid to small end of the market. Folks with money are around and know that bargains can be had and are prepared to buy if the price is right from their perspective i.e a reasonable bargain.

I bought my boat at the start of the recession towards the end of 2008 for about £15k below the asking price. I believe it was a reasonable offer based on the age of the boat. The seller eventually realised that it would probably sit for another year, cost him about £5k to keep the boat and still have to sell at a lower price. He accepted my offer a few weeks later.

So in my opinion this is a good time to sell and buy providing you are realistic in the price. Make sure your boat is tidy, clean and shinny with all maintenance up to date and de cluttered. You need to be in the position where your boat compared to similar boats is the vessel of choice for prospective buyers at a good price for the buyer.

 

[stownsend]

She's been on Boats and Outboards etc... but as she is a starter boat (below £5K mark) its attacks first time buyers who don't really know what they want but know they want a boat, for example questions like where can we moor her, how much is insurance, what qualifications do we need etc....

What I'm trying to say is it depends on what market the OP's boat is in as to silly prices ?

Cheers

Stu

 

[ProDave]

its attacks first time buyers who don't really know what they want but know they want a boat, for example questions like where can we moor her, how much is insurance, what qualifications do we need etc....

And if you can answer all those questions, you might get a sale. I don't see the problem.

We all have to start somewhere, I only bought my (first) boat a year ago. Any seller who had helped me get started would have been more likely to sell their boat to me than somebody disinterested in helping.

 

[ghostlymoron]

You can't leave negative feedback on ebay for buyers, let alone ones that don't buy.

You can certainly leave feedback for both sellers and buyers.

 

[ProDave]

You can certainly leave feedback for both sellers and buyers.

but you can't any longer leave NEGATIVE feedback for buyers. Your choice now is positive feedback, or none at all.

 

[Jim@sea]

This year I have sold 2 Boats. I advertised both on Ebay and both on Boats & Outboards and with one in addition I also used Apollo Duck and Findafishingboat.
The problem I had to address was that although the first boat had absolutely nothing wrong with it when I first advertised it at £14K, no interest at all. So it was too dear. Then I dropped it to £12K still no interest. Then down to £10K (without the £2K Trailer) and had a few enquiries (from chancers) but only one person got off their backside and had a look at it. And I sold it for £8500. Was the price too low, could I have held out for more money. The answer is no. This was the only buyer.
There are an awful lot of old boats out their up for sale and prices are too high.
But perhaps like second hand cars, as no one is buying new the price of second hand is going up.
Boats could be like cars, would you buy a car without power steering, my boat was too slow, designed in 1980 fitted with a non turbo diesel engine (running perfectly) and it looked an old design, so in answer to your question "Is it a good time to sell" I would reply "Is it a good time to keep it" You are better with money in the bank.

 

[GrahamM376]

There are an awful lot of old boats out their up for sale and prices are too high.

Good time to buy but no to sell, lots of cheap boats out there if you ignore the asking price. A mates Bav 32 had been on brokerage in UK @ £49,950 for 12 months and has just sold for £36,000. Another friend in Portugal just lost £25,000 selling his Bav 37 after owning it for only 2 years.

 

[ghostlymoron]

but you can't any longer leave NEGATIVE feedback for buyers. Your choice now is positive feedback, or none at all.

Wow! That's odd. I suppose if you don't see a good positive score, you avoid them.

 

[stownsend]

And if you can answer all those questions, you might get a sale. I don't see the problem.

We all have to start somewhere, I only bought my (first) boat a year ago. Any seller who had helped me get started would have been more likely to sell their boat to me than somebody disinterested in helping.

I can say honestly any questions asked were answered and help given on how to get ito boating etc... it become annoying when some of the questions asked where at or after the viewing stage where basic research would have flagged the issues - one person even asked if we could store the boat for them for 6 months.

Cheers

Stu

 

[prv]

Wow! That's odd.

eBay is trying to move from being less of a forum to bring private buyers and sellers together as equals, to being more of a consumer shopping experience. Hence an increasing "customer is always right" shift in favour of the buyer.

Pete

 

[prv]

it become annoying when some of the questions asked where at or after the viewing stage where basic research would have flagged the issues

I recently advertised on eBay an "8 foot fibreglass dinghy". The only question I got through the eBay system was to ask what size my dinghy was.

I didn't reply. Someone that dense would only be a hassle to deal with if they won the auction. I didn't want to encourage him.

(It did sell, for a good price, to someone else.)

Pete

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Forget ebay.
Stick it on Boats and Outboards and Apollo Duck.

+1
If you put your ad' with your own website link with lots of good photos of an immaculately clean boat, with a full inventory, it helps

e.g.www.sailingscotty.com

good luck
S.

 

[PCUK]

If it's cheap enough it will sell so you've got to be desperate to sell now!