Time to sell?

P

Polaris

Member
Mar 12, 2013
50
Pasadena, MD
Boat Info
none
Engines
7.4 Mercruiser, 330 hp, Bravo III
The wife and I are starting to think about "something bigger" (that doesn't happen to anyone else does it?) So, that first means selling our 1999 SR270. What are your thoughts about putting a boat on the market in the fall - vs. the winter or spring or summer? The broker with whom I have started discussions says, of course, that with people constantly shopping on the internet there is no bad time. Really?

In addition, wondering about how to pick and "manage" a broker. I have all too much experience finding and working with real estate brokers, so kind of know their tricks.
 
My boat was under contract last winter. The buyer was pushing for survey and sea trial during all the freezing and wet weather. The sea trial got pushed at least 6 times and never happened. Buyer ended up backing out of the contract. I recommend putting your boat somewhere able to accommodate the sea trial and do any repairs your boat may need. I had kept my boat on my lift and my creek was frozen over.
 
Polaris said:
The wife and I are starting to think about "something bigger" (that doesn't happen to anyone else does it?) So, that first means selling our 1999 SR270. What are your thoughts about putting a boat on the market in the fall - vs. the winter or spring or summer? The broker with whom I have started discussions says, of course, that with people constantly shopping on the internet there is no bad time. Really?

In addition, wondering about how to pick and "manage" a broker. I have all too much experience finding and working with real estate brokers, so kind of know their tricks.
Click to expand...

savvy buyers will often wait until fall or winter to purchase items such as boats that are largely seasonal and used primarily in the summer months to get better pricing....they know that boat owners that are considering selling their boats will be more open to lower selling prices to avoid the hassle and cost of winterizing a boat and also not wanting to pay for another year's slip or storage fees......

but the problem with waiting until the winter to sell a boat is that prospective buyers will want to have the boat inspected and to test the boat out in the water.....if you are in a area with freezing weather then you may be faced with winterizing the boat several times before it sells and scheduling an inspection could be difficult...

cliff
 
We purchased ours in the winter. Everything was contingent on a survey/sea trial once the water thawed. 10% refundable deposit was put down to take the boat off the market. This was all done through a dealer so if you're selling privately you would want a middle man to hold the money in escrow but I didn't feel like buying in the winter detracted from our experience and I wasn't haggling for a much lower price than if it would have been summer. I actually preferred having the deal done before spring broke it allowed us to have the boat delivered at the very beginning of the season.
 
I think the right time to sell your boat is as soon as you are sure you want to sell it. Typically a brokerage arrangement is 6-12 months. Unless they store and maintain the boat for you, there is no charge until they get it sold for the agreed price. Choosing the correct broker is a crap shoot unless you know someone. No offense to the good ones, but the profession is a den of thieves and Scallywags. We lucked into a great one here in CA. We were shopping a new used boat and had heard it all. "Great deal", "Won't last long", "Two other buyers want to see it this weekend", "not many out there this clean", "seller is thinking of pulling the listing". Geese, there must be a book. Words of caution the word "new" is used to describe anything added by the seller, even if it was added ten years ago. The word "Bristol" means it had $25 wash and a vacuum. "Low Hours" does not tell you jack about maintenance or upkeep. Finally, we met a broker who showed us a boat, and gave us his card! No tired pitch Just said what he knew about the boat and invited us to make an offer, or let him know if we wanted to see any other listings. Then he walked us to the car and said "have a good evening". He is still our good friend to this day. I have crewed for him on several deliveries. We have purchased three boats, and sold two, using him as our broker. When you sell your 270 get all your crap out of it and make sure it is clean. Stage the interior so whoever looks at it has a shot at convincing his wife. Make sure the bilge is dry and clean and has new oil pads. Buy a can of black paint, some FSR (and a pack of little brushes). Be prepared to hear some unpleasant stuff about your baby. For some reason potential buyers like to tell you everything they do not like about your boat. Remember NOT to do that when you are a potential buyer.
If you are serious, get a survey, work the survey. You can ask questions. Ask what does not work, ask to see service records, ask how she handles choppy conditions. There is no reason to be insulting or rude. Until you buy, you are a guest on their boat. Act like it. Shopping boats can be great fun. Do not get in a hurry. Look at lots of them. Give the right one a chance to find you.
 
Last edited:
The best time to sell anything is as soon as you are serious about doing it. It makes you more motivated.
You may get less money for it at certain times of the year, but you can make that up on the discounted off season purchase price of your next boat.
It's called give a deal to get a deal.
As with most things, your first serious offer is usually your best offer. If you don't take that first deal you can sit on it a long time, and may regret it.
Everyone wants to get the most for what they are selling, and then turn around and steal what they are buying.
While that sometimes happens, it is more likely that that particular strategy could mean you take forever to sell.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,247
Messages
1,429,263
Members
61,128
Latest member
greenworld
Back
Top