Adetheheat
Well-Known Member
If you want to sell a boat via a broker do they handle all the test drives by potential buyers and would they keep the boat with them through the process or would I have to keep it at my marina?
Thanks
Thanks
Selling a yacht via a broker - do they keep the boat at their yard
- Thread starter Adetheheat
- Start date
superheat6k
Well-Known Member
This will very broker to broker, but most would not have shore facilities.
'Test drives' are normally only provided for a buyer who has paid his deposit, and the precise terms are normally set out in the contract of sale. The boat selling process is completely different from a car. Most brokers would require the vendor present for a sea trial.
'Test drives' are normally only provided for a buyer who has paid his deposit, and the precise terms are normally set out in the contract of sale. The boat selling process is completely different from a car. Most brokers would require the vendor present for a sea trial.
Adetheheat
Well-Known Member
For the 'test drive' would the broker be on board as well? Or is it the owners job to talk about the boat in glowing terms?
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Test drives are not common. As already suggested, boats are sold "as seen". Potential buyers view the boat, make an offer subject to contract and survey. The contract may well specify a sea trial as part of the survey to ensure that the boat's systems work. Not common on sailing boats because most systems can be tested without going to sea, but just about essential on power boats as performance and condition of the engines is crucial to the value of the boat.
If you are employing a broker then you are paying him to sell your boat. No need for you to have any contact with potential buyers until you have an offer. It may well be that at this point a buyer might ask for a "run out", but this is unusual and entirely at your discretion. Your broker will probably advise against it as most buyers have made up their minds at the point of making an offer, because that requires a financial commitment.
Give your broker a fighting chance by providing as much information about the boat as you can, a clean set of papers showing its provenance and making sure the boat is clean, decluttered and presented in a way you would like to see it as a potential buyer.
If you are employing a broker then you are paying him to sell your boat. No need for you to have any contact with potential buyers until you have an offer. It may well be that at this point a buyer might ask for a "run out", but this is unusual and entirely at your discretion. Your broker will probably advise against it as most buyers have made up their minds at the point of making an offer, because that requires a financial commitment.
Give your broker a fighting chance by providing as much information about the boat as you can, a clean set of papers showing its provenance and making sure the boat is clean, decluttered and presented in a way you would like to see it as a potential buyer.
KompetentKrew
Well-Known Member
If a deposit has been paid then no further glowing terms are required!
I bought my boat in Holland. After I paid my deposit, the surveyor arranged with the broker to have it lifted out for his inspection, then back in the water and he watched the engine while we motored around the mere a bit.
I bought my boat in Holland. After I paid my deposit, the surveyor arranged with the broker to have it lifted out for his inspection, then back in the water and he watched the engine while we motored around the mere a bit.
ylop
Well-Known Member
many are based at a marina and have a good relationship - but I'd assume if its sitting on a berth the owner not the broker is paying for that.
No in my experience.
In my experience it was just the broker and buyer. It wasn't about selling the boat at that point it was an inspection/test. Just a pleasant 1/2 hours sail to get the sails out, run the engine properly and check a couple of things the surveyor suggested.
test drives before offer are not common - but satisfactory sea trials as a condition of the offer is very normal. We looked at a lot of boats with at least 4 different brokens and every one was expecting we would make an offer subject to survey and sea trial.
be aware if you want your surveyor to be part of the sea trial they will charge you extra.
presumably you want to see the sails out, the running rigging working etc. Common for surveyor to say "not inspected". My surveyor also gave me a small list of other points to check when she was underway.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Most brokers will have affiliation with a Yard, Marina or area ... giving choice of where ...
You then have choice of paying for boat to stay where Broker offers storage or keeping it where you decide. Some Brokers offered 'free storage' for a short period if Sole Brokerage agreed ...
As to 'test drives' ...... I would suggest that vast majority of 2nd hand boats are NOT Broker 'driven' ... that would bring in requirements of Insurance Cover and liabilities that most Brokers would want to avoid. Its a different matter with new boats, or boats in the higher leagues ! though. There is no 'owner seller' to do the demo.
Do not forget also that if boat is on-shore - that all fees / costs to get boat in / out of water for 'test drive' are responsibility of owner (usually paid by potential buyer).
[70521]
Well-Known Member
No, much like an estate agent does not gather all the houses they are selling into the one street.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
At our club.
Initially the the choosen broker will visit the boat on our moorings value the boat and give his (or frequently her ) advice on an asking price.
They will usually give a pretty accurate figuire, sometimes dependant on how fast a sale is required.
While the boat is on our moorings, the broker will either accompany any the seller and prospective buyer on a test drive or at the very least be hovering nearbye at the end of the trip when the owner takes the buyer for a run.
In one instance a broker actually made a round trip of 120 miles to ensure they were around when the seller and buyer got down to the nitty gritty after a trial run.
If the boat does not sell within a couple of months, due to desirabilty or price etc , the boat will normally be moved to the brokers sales pontoon or to a nearbye marina where the broker has an office or an agreement to hold boats for sale.
Many brokers do not charge a mooring fee for a specific period to entice sellers back to a sales pontoon outside their office.
If a real rock, the boat would usually end up on a nearbye hard to await its fate.
Some owners do go directly to a broker, not wishing to get involved with the sale, some will initially attempt to sell the boat themselves and if unsuccessful will then get a broker involved.
Those who have sold boats privately in the past, tend to do it again themselves using websites such as Boats and Outboards or Apollo Duck or for the brave Ebay. This will involve taking any prospective purchaser for a test drive.
Small Sealine Sports boat moored in front of me sold within a week of going on Apollo Duck including taking the proposed purchaser out for a run.
Initially the the choosen broker will visit the boat on our moorings value the boat and give his (or frequently her ) advice on an asking price.
They will usually give a pretty accurate figuire, sometimes dependant on how fast a sale is required.
While the boat is on our moorings, the broker will either accompany any the seller and prospective buyer on a test drive or at the very least be hovering nearbye at the end of the trip when the owner takes the buyer for a run.
In one instance a broker actually made a round trip of 120 miles to ensure they were around when the seller and buyer got down to the nitty gritty after a trial run.
If the boat does not sell within a couple of months, due to desirabilty or price etc , the boat will normally be moved to the brokers sales pontoon or to a nearbye marina where the broker has an office or an agreement to hold boats for sale.
Many brokers do not charge a mooring fee for a specific period to entice sellers back to a sales pontoon outside their office.
If a real rock, the boat would usually end up on a nearbye hard to await its fate.
Some owners do go directly to a broker, not wishing to get involved with the sale, some will initially attempt to sell the boat themselves and if unsuccessful will then get a broker involved.
Those who have sold boats privately in the past, tend to do it again themselves using websites such as Boats and Outboards or Apollo Duck or for the brave Ebay. This will involve taking any prospective purchaser for a test drive.
Small Sealine Sports boat moored in front of me sold within a week of going on Apollo Duck including taking the proposed purchaser out for a run.
