Unrealistic Boat Buyers?

[Lakesailor]

I've got my little tub advertised for sale. It's an 18' bilge keeler with outboard and good 4 wheel braked trailer.
It doesn't have a lot of value and I'm only looking for about £1.5K.
(This is not an advert by the way)
I am amazed by the unrealistic people who come to view it. At this kind of price any normal person would expect a bit of tidying to do. As we only day-sail the cabin is in need of a good going over and a Custom's search (long before we got it) has left some repairs in the cabin sole and bunk area to be finished off. But the boat is smart, floats and sails. Ideal for bogging about.
Take off the value of the trailer and the Honda and the boat stands at about £800.
At present buyers seem to want the traditional Rolls royce for Mini money. Would I attract more realistic buyers by advertising it as a project?

 

[paulrossall]

I think you could be asking too little for the boat. I sold my Skipper 17 with trailer and 6hp outboard for £1950 some 6 years ago. Boat was in reasonable condition but was built in the late 1960s.
If you ask say £2150 or near offer yyou might get a better response and then can take an offer when buyer pionts out the work that wants doing.
Asking a low but realistic price results in some folk thinking the boat must be no good because it is cheap. A bog standard sailing dinghy like a Wayfarer would cost more than you are asking. IMHO

PS I would advertise it on Boatsandoutbords

 

[RupertW]

The one thing that gets drummed into most buyers by brokers is to have the boat completely clean and tidy with little or no smell, otherwise people assume that everything in the boat has been neglected, from the hull to the engine to the sails.

You probably have everything spick and span but that little bit extra might make the difference.

 

[capt_courageous]

The demands they make have nothing to do with the sale price. 9 out of 10 prospective boat buyers are dreamers or tyre - or should that be keel - kickers. We had one guy who wanted us to throw in our mooring.

 

[Lakesailor]

Yeah, had the mooring one already. Then, "Well, could you get a mooring for me?" Keel kickers about sums it up.
Amazing how many people who have absolutely no experience of sailing are calling. I know everyone starts somewhere, but thinking of buying a boat without even knowing if you like sailing is a dreamer's perogative.
I think the price may be low, but it does need some tidying inside, ideal for a messer and day sailor. In the same way as houses in particular areas are limited by a maximum value, this model seems to have a ceiling price, even for ones with a trim cabin £2K is about the tops.

Of course I'll put the same time and effort into selling a cheap boat like this as I would if it was a £50K boat, so my return is nil really. But I've spotted a boat I want and although I could do the deal I've then got 3 boats and that's getting a bit much. So it will have to go.

Bugs me. I don't mess people about. I go and look if I'm seriously interested. If I want it I make an offer and do the deal. If I don't I say so and walk away.
Some people think for a desultry offer they get the boat and an instructor and facilitator rolled into one. Harumph

 

[Sans Bateau]

I think pvr has the answer, its too cheap. Sell too cheap and you will appeal to people with no money. As it is so cheap (inexpensive) serious buyers may be put off. Up the price and leave yourself some room to haggle.

At the sort on money you are asking if anyone starts being stupid, be polite but suggest that perhaps they should start being realistic about what they can buy for their money. Then if they still continue being stupid, tell them to 'go forth and multiply' /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[snowleopard]

Just the same thing when you sell a cheap car. People think that because it's below list price they are going to get a top spec car for a bargain price. In one case A car with a couple of stains on the driver's seat was totally unsellable - a cheap set of seat covers transformed it!



I've found that very few people can see beyond a bit of supreficial tat or grime. I find myself doing it sometimes, for example I saw a small boat in scruffy condition recently and my initial reaction was to run like hell. When I actually worked out what it would take to get it into reasonable condition it came down to less than a week's work.

Moral - do the cosmetic work before selling.

 

[Lakesailor]

You could be right on the low price. If it doesn't attract a nicer class of buyer I'll re-advertise at a bit more.
It's smart enough

 

[freedom44]

It looks like the price has increased!

 

[Swagman]

[ QUOTE ]
It looks like the price has increased!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes - but £58,981 is possibly too much...........
JOHN

 

[nct1]

Try thinking a bit different

You are not selling a boat that needs some TLC, there are very few people looking for a boat that needs some TLC and those that do will expect bargain basement prices as you have found.

What you are selling is a lifestyle statement, and your product needs to match the lifestyle statement the seller wants to make.

They want a shiney boat, with everything that appears to be properly attached and maintained, so that they will have a hassel free season. They want to impress the Joneses next door.

Spend a weekend completing the boat so that there appears to be nothing left to do on it, and you will find it sells much easier.

I learned this when selling my first house, it was in good condition, but some of the paintwork was a bit flakey, tons of people saw it, but no offers, so I spent a weekend painting any paintwork that did not look pristine, and the very next person who saw it, bought it, and all it took was a lick of paint.

 

[Lakesailor]

I can always come down.

 

[Nauti Fox]

I thought you had made good progress seeing though it used to look like this

 

[TrueBlue]

Serious question -

Is it not perhaps, the wrong time of the year regardless of the value?

Certainly there's not a lot on offer on eBay at the moment

 

[AlienP2]

Just been through a similar experience. My father has been trying to sell his 17 ft trailer sailer for at least 6 months. Went only last week, for well below the asking price.

Anyway, my point is, the boat went to a good home and isn't going to rot away in a front garden somewhere. Young family with dad getting back into the hobby after a fews years of work and home-making. This fact and not having to deal with anymore time-wasters was the clincher.

 

[Lakesailor]

That's my outlook. Good buyer, know what they're hoping to achieve. Get a bit of use from it.


TruBlue

"is it not perhaps, the wrong time of the year regardless of the value?
Certainly there's not a lot on offer on eBay at the moment "

Less boats on the market, possibly less buyers, but the moment is right for me and a percentage drop isn't a big deal on a cheap boat. It's not costing me to have it for sale and I might find a buyer. It's on the water so I can still use it.

 

[manimbored]

It certianly looks like a good boat
If its any consolation i would buy it..... if i had any money

 

[Lakesailor]

Well, I would sell it to you, under the same constraint. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[capt_courageous]

Fellow sufferer
I actually got a guy who really did expect to get a few sailing lessons thrown in. Happily at all times I maintain a Saintly calm when dealing with such time wasting ar**********oles.

 

[JKay]

[--word removed--] hull licking biscuit spittin' barstewards /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

cheers Joe