How do I check out a broker?

[TrailsEnd]

We have found a boat in the adjacent state and are flying out next week to see it. It is being sold by a broker who sounds like a really nice person, has a good looking website with many listings, but the fact remains, we haven't met him in person. Is there a way to check this person out? Should we find a bank to handle the escrow rather than the broker? How do we know if he is legitimate before sending a deposit off.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[fwebster]

BOat/US has a consumer advocate who catalogs marine industry complaints. You might check with Caroline Ajootian there. She also moderates the consumer affairs portion of their forum and is pretty easy to get to that way.

You might just talk to the broker and ask him the same questions. Most who have a lot of listings, a website, a place of business, land lines, a fax line, etc. are straight. Also, most states require licensing and maintenance of an escrow account to segregate his funds from those help as a deposit that others have rights to. If he is licensed, then he meets some minimum level of requirements for the state he operates in.

I'm from a different part of the country than you, but down here we rely a lot on first impressions and looking someone in the eye to measure them.

Good luck shopping..............

 

[TrailsEnd]

Thanks!