Are you considering selling your boat? Whether you sell with a broker or sell privately, there are several things you should consider before putting up the “For Sale” sign. The last thing you want to do is place your boat on the market prematurely and have it sit without any traction. When a boat stays on the market for an extended period of time, customers start to wonder if there is something wrong with it that is preventing the sale. We tend to run into the same problems year after year, so we decided to put together a list of our top five tips for selling a boat.
1. Looks, Matter
When prospective buyers come to see your boat for the first time, you want them to be impressed by how great your boat looks! From the minute a customer sees your boat, whether online, on paper, or in person, they are creating an opinion. A freshly cleaned and decluttered boat can win over buyers, while a neglected appearance can turn them away. Forcing customers to look beyond an unkempt boat will not do you any favors in the selling process (not to mention, people often associate poor looks with poor mechanical upkeep). Here are some things you should consider doing while your boat is on the market:
- Do a deep interior and exterior cleaning. Enlist the help of a professional detailer if you want your boat to really stand out. Look at your boat through the eyes of the buyer and try to notice the small details. Get the boat waxed, have the carpet cleaned, examine caulking, remove dirt and grime from the engine room and bilge, replace dock lines and clean cords and wires. All these little things add up to make your boat more sellable.
- Remove personal items. Buyers need to be able to envision themselves as the owner of your boat. Your personal items (clothes, pictures, collectibles, etc.) are great to you, but should be removed before listing.
- Declutter. Make sure that cabinets, dressers, pantries, fish-boxes, live wells, and storage compartments are empty, and throw out any trash. When storage areas are crammed with junk, it makes the boat look like it lacks space!
- Consider Staging. You do not want clutter or personal items on the boat, but you also don’t want it to look barren. By adding decorative pillows, centerpieces, pictures, fresh bedding and towels, you can add some extra charm for buyers.
How a broker can help: When you spend every day selling boats, you learn exactly what buyers are looking for when they do walkthroughs. An experienced broker will go through your boat with you and give you suggestions on what you can do to improve your chances on the market. They will notice the things that you have overlooked and can give you advice on how to fix them.