| selling your boat, preparing your boat for sale, selling | | | | sells. It's up to you to choose the level of expense |
| boats, boat classified ads, boats for sale | | | | you're comfortable with in marketing and advertising |
| Whether you're selling a fishing boat, ski boat, cruiser, | | | | your boat. I recommend doing a combination of the |
| powerboat or just your everyday pontoon, there are | | | | above. For example; placing your boat near the |
| some basic things you need to do to be successful in | | | | street with a sign allows potential buyers to stop and |
| selling your boat. | | | | take a quick look. They can write down the phone |
| This article breaks it down into 6 basic steps. If you | | | | number and call to make an appointment to review |
| take this approach you'll sell your boat faster, easier | | | | the boat more thoroughly. You should also plan to |
| and get more for it. | | | | advertise on an online classified ad site or through the |
| Step 1 - Cleaning There's nothing more beneficial in | | | | newspapers. I like the online classifieds simply |
| making a boat saleable than getting it cleaned up | | | | because they're easy to use and they're viewable to |
| really well. This starts from the trailer to the cover | | | | everyone everywhere. Newspaper ads are |
| and everything in between. Wash and clean the trailer | | | | generally limited to a specific area or town. Another |
| thoroughly. Scrub and polish the hull. Boat dealers | | | | advantage to internet ads is you can print your color |
| and boating centers carry gel coat cleaners and | | | | photo ad, make copies and post them in your local |
| polishes that can remove the scale and residue build | | | | stores and bulletin boards. |
| up on the hull and restore is color and luster. Clean | | | | Step 6 - Selling and Negotiating There's some very |
| the carpets, the cup holders the storage areas under | | | | important basic rules to follow when you're trying to |
| the seats. Clean the outboard or out drive thoroughly. | | | | sell a boat. Potential buyers will try to contact you |
| Clean the windows. You should also wax the hull and | | | | either by phone or email. You have answer the |
| polish all railings - stainless or wood. Clean all | | | | phone when it rings. If you ignore it, the interested |
| amenities thoroughly - especially the head, galley and | | | | party will quickly move to the next available boat |
| sleeping area, if required. | | | | that fit's their requirements and there's a lot of boats |
| Step 2 - Maintenance and Repairs Make sure that | | | | on the market. Similarly with email, it's important to |
| everything is functional on the boat including lights, | | | | check for inquiries at least once a day if not more. |
| horn, radio, instruments, depth finders, fish finders, | | | | Quick responses to inquiries can bring a buyer to |
| GPS, bilge bumps, fans, blowers, etc. Ideally the boat | | | | view your boat and he or she could be the one. |
| should be fully functional when it's sold. No one wants | | | | When you do get an interested buyer it's important |
| to get stuck on the water due to a malfunction or | | | | to be open and sincere about why you're selling it, |
| failure. Your boat will sell much faster if everything is | | | | how long you've owned and how it's performed for |
| in good working order. The trailer should be well | | | | you. This builds a relationship and trust between you |
| maintained and in good working order including the | | | | and the potential buyer. This is critical in getting |
| winch, jack, lights and brakes, if equipped. Tires | | | | someone comfortable enough to make an offer. |
| should be good condition and inflated properly. All | | | | When the buyer does make an offer do not reject |
| wiring and lights should be functional and good order. | | | | the offer if it is lower than your set price. You should |
| If the trailer is missing paint or rusty it's a good idea | | | | counter their offer about 1/2 way between your |
| to give it fresh coat of paint. | | | | selling price and their offer price. The buyer may |
| Step 3 - Records Pull together all the receipts | | | | accept or counter again. If it's close to your original |
| related to the boat including the purchase receipts | | | | target price you should probably accept the offer. If |
| when you bought it, the owners manual and all | | | | the buyer asks what's the lowest you'll go, and a lot |
| maintenance and repair receipts. Having a good | | | | of people ask that, a good answer is, " I just listed it |
| record of all repairs and maintenance especially | | | | or I'm starting to get a lot of calls, so I'll take. (Use |
| winterizing, summarizing and repairs tells the buyer | | | | your original target)." The buyer is likely to accept it. |
| that the boat was taken care of very well. And it | | | | The art of negotiating and locking in the sale is |
| can have a huge impact in selling a boat quickly. | | | | psychological thing and it's very important. It's called |
| When a potential buyer comes to take a look at the | | | | getting a win-win result in a purchasing transaction. |
| boat, the thing he's thinking about in the back of his | | | | Most buyers will either offer you a lower offer or |
| mind is how many things have been broke on the | | | | many times will flat out ask what's the lowest you'll |
| boat and what's my chances of them breaking again. | | | | take for it. This is your chance to make a friend |
| You should explain in reasonable detail the things that | | | | and make the sale. |
| had to be fixed and how the boat was maintained. | | | | We'll that about covers it. A few last comments on |
| This can go along way in establishing trust between | | | | the monetary transaction. If the buyer offers you a |
| the potential buyer and yourself. The potential | | | | deposit, make sure you write out a receipt - 2 |
| buyer will appreciate the information and honesty and | | | | copies, one for you and one for the buyer. It's a |
| it can help a great deal in closing the sale. | | | | good idea to have these prepared before meeting |
| Step 4 - Pricing You probably have an idea of what | | | | potential buyers. You should prepare deposit receipts |
| you think your boat is worth or at least what you | | | | that provide a blank for the amount and set a time |
| think it should be worth. Well, that maybe or may | | | | limit for holding the boat after which the deposit is |
| not be the appropriate sales price for your boat. | | | | forfeited. Also prepare sale receipts in advance that |
| You should do some research in order to determine | | | | specify the key items below: |
| what the appropriate selling price should be. Check | | | | Ø Boat is being purchased in "As Is" condition |
| the local newspaper classifieds, your local used boat | | | | Ø No written or verbal warranty or guarantees |
| dealers and the Internet boat classified to find prices | | | | apply (unless mfg. Warranty is still in effect) |
| for similar boats. You're likely to see a range of prices | | | | Ø As of this day and time, legal ownership, |
| depending on the model, features, and condition of | | | | responsibility and liability is transferred to said |
| the boats. Based on those and your urgency to sell | | | | purchaser |
| the boat, you can set your sales price accordingly. | | | | Ø Purchaser is buying said boat for $______ and |
| You should set it a little higher than your target price | | | | accepts all responsibility and liability for said item |
| to give you room to negotiate the price down a bit. | | | | Ø Make sure both purchaser and seller sign it and |
| Buyers are always looking to get a bit of a price | | | | date it. |
| break on a boat they're considering to buy. You | | | | Ø Write down the buyers drivers license # on your |
| should allow for some room to negotiate. | | | | receipt |
| Step 5 - Advertising / Marketing You have a lot of | | | | Ø Specify Date, Time, Seller Name, Buyer Name |
| choices on how you'd like to advertise your boat. | | | | (blank), Boat Description |
| You can use the newspaper classifieds, however | | | | Last note about bank checks - lately some people |
| those run by the day or week and can get costly. | | | | are using laser printers to print false checks. It's |
| You can park the boat near the street with a sign | | | | becoming a fairly big problem. If the buyer is paying |
| and hope that someone driving by will see it and | | | | by check you should go to the issuing bank to make |
| hopefully buy it. Another option is to use Internet | | | | sure it clears. The bank will be able to tell you if |
| classified ads to market your boat and there's a wide | | | | more time is needed for the check to be cleared. |
| variety of sites that offer on line classified ads. | | | | Do not let the buyer take the boat until the check is |
| Some sites are free, but have limited exposure. | | | | confirmed and cleared by a bank. If the buyer is |
| Others charge a lot for listing your boat with several | | | | reluctant or resists in going to the bank, you should |
| pictures and then there's sites like ours that charge a | | | | insist on cash. |
| nominal fee and allow the ad to run until the boat | | | | |