To Use a Broker or Sell Direct?

To add to this from a recent buyer (repeat what some have already said) we bought our boat a couple weeks ago. After striking out many times on boats listed at the normal places (Under contract/already sold)
#1. I decided to check out Facebook Marketplace. The boat had been posted up three hours earlier by a friend/local mechanic of the owner. Meant to be, right ? LOL I drove down and looked the next morning and had a deposit down before I left.
#2. We looked at a similar boat, a 4100 Maxum with diesels the week before on my lake. There is a fair chance that had the owner removed all of his crap from the inside that we would have been a buyer. I have had two houseboats and two cruisers, all years ago and would like to think I could look beyond a cluttered cabin. That may not be true and it may have cost him a sale. Something I will remember for sure when I go to sell.
 
Funny to look at pictures in ads on CL and boat trader with so much clutter. Anyone with two neurons to rub together knows first impressions mean everything!
Carpe Diem
 
Carpediem44DB said:
Funny to look at pictures in ads on CL and boat trader with so much clutter. Anyone with two neurons to rub together knows first impressions mean everything!
Carpe Diem
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I looked at one in winter storage. Didn't even bother to take the inflatable float toys out of the cabin. Kind of hard to see everything with all that crap in the way.
 
Golfman25 said:
I looked at one in winter storage. Didn't even bother to take the inflatable float toys out of the cabin. Kind of hard to see everything with all that crap in the way.
Click to expand...

When looking for our last boat we looked at one still shrink wrapped in April that had open bags of potato chips in the cabinets! YUM!!!!
 
I haven't looked at many boats but at least the pre-owned ones for sale at the marina I'm located are somewhat cleaned up by a group hired by the marina. When I bought my 98 290 DA they had it looking pretty presentable on the sales dock. The previous owner still had a few bits in the closets and storage compartments but the boat looked very good and even better once they did the final cleaning before I took possession.

If I would have walked onto a filthy boat or one that smelled bad I'd expect the price to be extremely cheap because in my mind I'm thinking this hasn't been maintained right off the start.
 
Bringing this thread back to life because I have my boat listed for sale. It's on marketplace, listed with anglers edgemarine which gets it on boat trader but so far no hits. I'm on the upper end of the price range for my model but still....

Thinking of listing with a broker but still can't quite figure out what value they would bring to me. Not to mention finding a "good" broker is a challenge to say the least.

Thoughts?
 
I sold the Carver myself with an ad on boat trader last October. The market was probably different then. I would use a broker perhaps if they specialize in my particular make and class of boat and by reputation were known to move boats fast and for top dollar. There is one drawback to selling yourself though I have experienced. When there is a problem or question about the boat, guess who's phone rings instead of the broker. 10:30 Easter morning the new owner called. They had just pulled out of the marina for a day cruise with guests and one engine ECU went into limp mode. I had to talk the owner through an engine shut down, code inquiry, reset and restart. The new owners are very nice folks and I have been happy to help them out of a jam or two since taking the 506 off my hands. It may sound like a hassle but I did save $30,000 in broker fees so I can spend a few minutes every once in a while on a phone call.
Carpe Diem
 
SeaNile said:
Bringing this thread back to life because I have my boat listed for sale. It's on marketplace, listed with anglers edgemarine which gets it on boat trader but so far no hits. I'm on the upper end of the price range for my model but still....

Thinking of listing with a broker but still can't quite figure out what value they would bring to me. Not to mention finding a "good" broker is a challenge to say the least.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Didn’t you just buy the thing? Did the broker who sold it provide any value? I would say their value is in handling all the bs — showings, tire kickers, etc. Then handling the financial aspects — deposits, loan closures, etc.

Bur your strategy might be to try to sell cheap and quick via marketplace. Increase the price to market value with the broker.
 
I’ve always sold thru local SR dealer. Here’s the boat, send me a check. Every boat went in a week. And anyone coming into the place has to walk past all the used row.
 
I wasn't planning on using a broker when I sold my 420 but was approached by one I know and trust who said he had a cash buyer if I was interested. I told him ok, but this is want I want in my pocket, which was high retail, so you'll need to see if your commission is flexible enough to support that.

Turns out it was a godsend because I got hurt during the transaction and was completely unavailable to attend any of the details of a sale. The broker moved the boat to another marina, attended the surveys and sea trials, and even organized the shipping of the boat. I just electronically signed documents and cashed the check.

He definitely earned his money.
 
Mine will go using a broker most likely. I'll let it be known around the marina and here a couple of weeks in advance of listing just in case there's someone with interest. That'll happen during the 24 or 25 season.
 
And then there is this. The one in slip next to me going for 7k. Probably told the wife he will sell boat. “But honey I can’t find any buyers.”
IMG_1960.jpeg
 
With my boat up on boat trader I'm not sure what else a broker can do for me? I don't mind the showings, questions, emails, etc., If a broker had a buyer lined up and ready to go and approached me, well that is a different story.

Am I missing something here?
 
SeaNile said:
With my boat up on boat trader I'm not sure what else a broker can do for me? I don't mind the showings, questions, emails, etc., If a broker had a buyer lined up and ready to go and approached me, well that is a different story.

Am I missing something here?
Click to expand...
I don't think so. I was in sales most of my life and I'm done with that and no longer have the patience to work a deal.
There are two or three brokers in my area that I would/will consider once the time comes
 
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