Selling a boat

[ghostlymoron]

Should you:-

a) advertise at a realistic price but be prepared to accept say 3% less for a quick sale
b) advertise at an inflated price and be prepared to drop significantly

I prefer option a) as I am a simple soul and believe this will attract more initial interest. My partner prefers b) as she thinks the buyer will then think he/she is getting a bargain.

 

[gjgm]

Should you:-

a) advertise at a realistic price but be prepared to accept say 3% less for a quick sale
b) advertise at an inflated price and be prepared to drop significantly

I prefer option a) as I am a simple soul and believe this will attract more initial interest. My partner prefers b) as she thinks the buyer will then think he/she is getting a bargain.

Put it on at a realistic price (whatever that is). What happens next, who knows.
If you put it on at an inflated price, why will people bother calling?

 

[AlistairC]

From bitter experience (Trying to sell a really nice Trapper 500, currently trying to give it away)

In this market, if you go in with a high price you will get zero interest, there are too many distressed sellers.

Go with the low price but expect to drop 5-10%

 

[gunman]

Go with a fair price, but remember, you and only you will decide what the boat sells for. You dont have to take 10% less just because the buyer expects it. Hold your ground if you reach a price you are happy with. Of course, it depends how desperate you are to sell and how keen they are to buy.

 

[Lakesailor]

Go with the low price but expect to drop 5-10%

At least. There are plenty of threads on here about vendors trying to sell boats that are badly presented for sale.
Try to do a really good job of cleaning her up for sale, and of advertising her. Don't just go for one option. If going the broker route do his work for him and get some nice pictures. Try to get a non-exclusive deal. You want as many windows of opportunity as possible.

 

[V1701]

Agree with Lakesailor and would add that if and only if yours is presented in very good, clean condition with up to date(ish) electronics, standing rigging, good engine and sails, etc. and if you're not in a great rush for the money, try at the higher end of what the make/model tends to be listed at. If you get the right exposure and there happens to be someone looking for a good example of that make/model then you might get close to the upper end. If after a few months you have little interest then lower the price...

 

[Richard10002]

Once I got shut of my useless broker, I advertised mine at a realistic price, only to find that I got offers of 10% to 20% less than asking.

The above was in Malta.

I brought her back to the UK, set the price at 15% more than my realistic price, got an offer of exactly my realistic price, then negotiated a bit off after survey.

In the end, I got exactly what I originally hoped for, as well as an exciting and interesting trip from Malta to Glasson Dock this time last year.

So I would suggest setting it about 15% above what you would settle for, and see what happens. Also be honest about what needs doing to the boat otherwise viewers will be disappointed and most likely walk away.

Whatever you do, your final goal has to be realistic, and this is probably less than most people hope for

My experience could be as much to do with trying to sell in Malta, as much as my pricing strategy