Unrealistic Boat Buyers?

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
Of course it's annoying, people calling you & asking how little you'd take, even before they've seen it - but maybe they've a budget? or they're just chancers who never buy anything unless they can knock 40% off the price.

[/ QUOTE ] There are lots of people around here who like to deal a little bit in cheap boats. Hence determining if they can buy it and re-advertise at the asking price and still make a couple of quid. People who want to talk money before seeing the goods are a waste of space. I'd rather it went to someone who wanted to mess about in boats than top-up someone's holiday fund.
At this price level there are some absolute dogs. I know, I've seen them. I didn't buy too cleverley with this boat 3 years ago. I had to replace all the wheel bearings before I could bring the boat away. I took his word for it that the trailer was in good order. Some vendors are rogues but some are nature's gentlemen, and there aren't many of us left.

 

[aitchw]

[ QUOTE ]
Doing the cabin repairs had occured to me. Now I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable bloke and a newly painted cabin would alert me to possible hiddens dangers. I would prefer to see what is the problem and deal with that myself. Perhaps as you say more naive purchasers are just looking for something that appears tidy.


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I'm like you in that respect. Much more likely to buy if I don't think things have been hidden. BUT you only have to look at the serried ranks of tarted up old bangers (you will know about this, won't you? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Sorry, couldn't resist) that get sold to the unsuspecting to know that appearance frequently overules common sense.

At this end of the market I have the feeling that a smarten up/repair to those areas you have described might make the difference.

At least you would have the satisfaction of knowing that what is hidden poses no problem for the future owner.

All the best with it.

Howard

 

[Evadne]

[ QUOTE ]
Doing the cabin repairs had occured to me. Now I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable bloke and a newly painted cabin would alert me to possible hiddens dangers. I would prefer to see what is the problem and deal with that myself. Perhaps as you say more naive purchasers are just looking for something that appears tidy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Generally, I find myself agreeing with you but here I have to disagree. Boats, houses, cars and other major purchases consistently show up the same result: most people have no imagination and can only see the surface. If its dirty, smelly, damaged or the wrong colour then that will put a majority of people off. People like you are in the minority. Do the repairs, clean her and paint her and you will increase the number who will consider her. That's a separate issue to the "keel kickers" you started off talking about, who wouldn't or couldn't buy her anyway.

Secondly, having talked with a friend through his purchase last year, there are a lot of rose coloured spectacle wearers selling boats out there, who will brook no criticism of their pride and joy, however justified. I'm not saying you fall into this category, its just an observation, and some of your potential buyers will have met them.

 

[David_Jersey]

As said already, at that price lots of folk who are looking for a first boat and are inexperianced. And even for those who do know a little bit, it is much easier to "just have a look" - especially where it is something which is not well known.

Also folk do quickly learn that one persons VGC is another's "total wreck", so anything requiring "TLC" or a "bit of work" could mean anything. You can only cost things up by looking at her - and everyones skill level is different.

If it was me I would concentrate on tidying her up cosmetically as cheaply as possible (ie elbow grease!) - even if it means not attending to the hole in the bottom /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

£1500 is a fair bit for most people........... to spend on something which turns out to be only worth £50 as she needs £2k spent on her. (am not saying that it is not worth £1500! - as I have not seen the boat!!!)

 

[hlb]

We've got just the same, selling the barge. Last bloke asked for more and more pictures to be emailed. Then umpteen phone calls. Then he said he wanted a 65ft boat, not 49 ft. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif So why did he ask in the first place. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

That's it. Not that you have to try hard to satisfy, but that there was no need because the divvy is a plonker.

 

[hlb]

Another who looked at it whilst we were away, said the bilge was full of effluant. We rushed back to see what was wrong. It was brilliant white and spotlessly clean. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

It was him who was full of effluent! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PeteCooper]

Why not try it on e-Bay? There are often projects for sale - and I am not suggesting that yours is but I hope that you see what I mean. Set a reasonable reserve, lots of pictures and see what happens.

 

[graham]

keep trying ,unfortunately you have to keep dealing with turkeys until a genuine buyer turns up.Personally I wouldnt paint her or do anything .For £1500 She has to be a bargain.

 

[Sans Bateau]

At last common sense becomes the majority.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
If I sense displeasure from sellar I walk, it would have to be a real bargain to get me past a grumpy seller

[/ QUOTE ]

Absolutely understandable, but from the sellers point of view. If I ever came to sell my boat, even if upgrading, I would be very sad indeed as she has been in the family for a long time plus the amount of work I have and am putting into her.

Even with the best will in the world, watching people pulling her to bits trying to wangle a price reduction and playing the game, I would find it really difficult to do the fast food keep smiling and complimenting the customer tripe.

So the advice I guess goes both ways, don't pull the boat to bits and/or play games, sometimes selling the boat can be really hard.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Nautorius]

I had a similar experience when selling a Leisure 17. Mine was in average condition and was a bit scruffy. I put it up at £1300 and no one turned up to view (but lots of people rang up) When I told them about the true condition they said no thanks.

So it sat there. A few weeks later my father who had a mint one decided to sell his. So I worked out his was worth £1895 so put it up for £2350. In the end we had lots of buyers look and next to it was mine. When any one tried to haggle we said if you want a cheaper boat buy that one (i.e mine) in the end we sold them both on the same day. My fathers for £1850 and mine for £1450. We lost on his and gained on mine.

Just goes to show how queer folk are.....

Try Boats and Outboards in Projects or Ebay and be honest, someone will always fall in love with her.

Good luck,

Paul

 

[AlienP2]

Back to basics. How old are most second hand car salesmen? You could do their job easily. Take each step at a time.

Someone phones you up - they've seen the add. Ask what their experience is, how they want to use the boat (now you're a serious seller who is helping them with their problems). You can also put them off if you don't want to see them, but hey how much effort is it for you to get to your boat?

If they want the boat for a good reason (getting the family into boating?) tell them that this boat is just the thing, and tell them that is exactly how you got your family into sailing.

Salesmen call this 'the me too'. I actually saw it written down on a crib sheet when I bought my car from a Ford dealer. "You've got kids? Me to. How old? Yeah mine were that age when we bought it". This forms a bond between you and makes them more ready to part with cash.

Give them a bit of time to look round. Point out the good points (avoid the bl**dy obvious).

Close the deal. Hardest part as you need to change persona. Get a bit tough. Someone else coming to look tomorrow, friend of a chap at work - really serious. When I bought my car, they actually told there was a chap on the phone about to confirm his offer, quick give us your credit card!!! The salesmen were working in pairs to make this happen.

If they want time to think, get their number and phone them in a couple of days.

Trouble is you have to live with yourself for behaving like a spotty yoof of a car salesman. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Realistic Boat Buyers?

Just had a visit from a very nice man from Edinburgh who was very realistic about small boat buying.
I expect you're ahead of me here.
He has bought Substitute and given me money and will be returning in a week or two with a 4x4 to tow it away.
Shaved a bit off the asking price, but he was a Scot and I need the mooring available. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[landaftaf]

Re: Realistic Boat Buyers?

do you think he might have had the advantage of reading this thread ? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Realistic Boat Buyers?

I would like to think so.

 

[aitchw]

Re: Realistic Boat Buyers?

There you go. Patience rewarded. I am sure he'll have many happy hours with her.

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
Many Unrealistic Boat Buyers end up buying a boat - I think many Unrealistic Boat Sellers have no concept of how irritating it is to travel a long way to view a boat and on arrival discover the seller is unrealistic about its qualities.

[/ QUOTE ]That is so true. And look at the quality of workmanship you often see in boats 'meticulously maintained by a demanding owner'. Tatty woodwork that makes Argos flat pack look like the output from an up market joiners, untinned copper wiring terminated in chocolate blocks or, of you are lucky, crimps that have clearly been hand-crimped without a ratchet, thick wadges of silicone bath sealant around the kitchen sink, showers and basins, incompetent attempts to repair leaks on windscreens, windows, deck fittings.... And the proud owner honestly believes that his 'workmanship' is excellent, and that his boat is 'well maintained'. Sadly the majority of DIY work falls far short of acceptable standards.

 

[Lakesailor]

Well George, my new friend, and me are both delighted with my (his) boat which was as described and just what he wanted. He was realistic about what you get for £1500 and already had plans to replace the leaky windows and to add some of his joinery skills to the interior which I had truthfully described as needing a refurb.
The boat sails well, the motor starts 1st pull and the trailer is sound and capable.

The people who viewed but had wanted a trailer sailer at this price - and cheaper, if possible - which would not need any work and expected to be able to cruise for a week (in an 18foot boat) were wasting their own time and mine.