So when is the second hand market going to start?

[ceeagr]

Had my old boat on the market for 6 months now and slowly reduced the price till she is now at 60% of the price i paid two years ago. Is it just that boats don't sell until March?

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[broadcaster]

Hi,

A broker told me that boat sales really start from next month, but presentation is the real key to selling it. Make sure everything is clean and working, clear out all your personal stuff and kitchen stores.

Andy



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[Althorne]

Ceeagr, is it possible that when you bought your boat you paid too much for it and it's still falling back to it's appropriate price!

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[Aja]

As secondhand Legends and Bavarias and Jeanneaus and Benetoes start flooding the market - and they were 'relatively' cheap for their size to start with - the only way for second hand values is down.

Bugger.

Donald

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[milltech]

I think often the problem is that the number of people looking for any particular boat is limited and mostly they've seen what's about. Dropping the price a bit at a time is a painful exercise that just follows the market down, my advice in the future would be to hold your price, (after all everyone can make an offer), then if and when you want to make a reduction make it significant and make sure the broker lets everyone who has viewed know about the new price.

I had a little problem a couple of years ago and did that to the price with instant result, even had a little competition going in the end.

Also maybe like a good car dealer, move it somewhere new. Maybe see if you can get to the boat to meet clients yourself, get the heating on, coffee pot on the go, lights bright, all the welcome mat signals.

I've been on so many cold, dismal, damp boats, especially at this time of year. It's hard to feel good about something when it's too cold to take your gloves off when sitting in the saloon shivering.

Only an opinion, I'm not the worlds best salesman. Probably the worst actually.

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[chriscallender]

With a broker or private sale? If private, where are you advertising? If with a broker, maybe consider not giving them sole agency or whatever its called even though the commission is more. How many viewings have you had, what was the feedback like?

In my experience real bargains always sell regardless of time of year, I have occasionally seen boats in the brokers on a Sat, thought wow, thats *really* cheap then there is a sold sign on it next weekend... even in winter.

Some of the possibilites are

- noone knows it is for sale - advertise better, kick the broker's ass or change brokerage.
- you paid too much and 60% of what you paid is still not a bargain
- something cosmetic is really putting people off - needs cleaned for example. Maybe a professional valet would help.
- the boat is something very specialist that has a very limited market I'm thinking here of unconventional designs and rigs. Then yes, in that case even a bargain may be hard to sell.

Chris

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[jonjo]

I think you mentioned this boat recently, a Bavaria 40?




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