When it’s time for you to say goodbye to your ship, boat, or other aquatic vessel there are a few things you can do to make the transition go as quickly and smoothly as possible while ensuring you get the best payout. If you want the best deal for your boat, you need to make sure it’s in the best shape it can be in before you put it out on the market. Here are a few tips to help you make sure you’re on the right track.
Optimize Functionality
Is your vessel a few years past its prime? Selling an older boat should be no problem, much like selling and older car, but you need to make sure the vessel you’re selling is in appropriate condition for your potential buyers. A drained battery, broken lights, and a few rusted pieces may not have turned you off during ownership, but these are simple and inexpensive fixes can have a major impact on whether or not someone else wants to buy it. It’s worth it to spend the little bit of extra time and money just to ensure that your potential buyers fall in love. Unless you’re selling a boat for parts, make sure it’s water ready before you even begin the process of trying to find a buyer.
Clean It Up
Once the functionality of your vessel is up to par, it’s time to worry about the cosmetic side of things. Boats are great to have for the family, but kids and years of use sure can wreck a boat fast. Scratches, dents, paint chips, years of filth, junk, and more can make your once prized possession look more like something straight off an episode of hoarders. If you hope to make the best impression with potential buyers, you need to remember what it is they are looking for. They might just as easily be able to go out and buy a brand new boat, so why choose yours unless it’s worth it. Clean, clean, and clean some more. Imagine as if you were looking to purchase a nice used boat, what would you think about the current condition yours is in? Would you love it and be desperate to buy it, or be totally put off by that weird smell…
Determine Worth
It’s useless to try and come up with your own price tag. An older boat, or a boat that is damaged in any way will never fetch the same price as a when you first purchased it. As new boats with new features continuously enter the market, prices and preferences flux dramatically. It’s important that you research everything you can about the current market and what your specific vessel is worth new and used. Make sure to also factor in location and other variables that can affect your bottom line. A brand new boat in Michigan might not be the same price as the same boat in Kansas, but then again, why would anyone buy a boat in Kansas?
Advertise Smart
Your customer base might be a little limited if you choose to only advertise on Craigslist. In a world of social media the potential for creating compelling marketing content is incredible. Do a bit of research and you will find that some people will pay more for a product just because of the way it’s advertised. Try out a bunch of different methods to attract attention to your sale. The worst thing that can happen is that, well, there is no worst thing, but the best thing that could happen is a bidding war where in you get a payout significantly larger than your original asking price. All it takes is a little creativity and a lot of patience, it doesn’t always work that way but it’s worth it to at least try.
Be a Good Salesman
Service with a smile. If you seem genuinely disinterested in selling someone your boat, they might start to get the idea that perhaps they shouldn’t be as excited as they feel about the purchase. Get potential buyers excited! Talk vaguely about the barrage of other potential buyers and make sure to really upsell your ship to draw people in. The better they feel about the decision to purchase your boat, the more they start to feel desperate for it, thus you are more likely to win in the final pricing negotiations. Just make sure you never outright lie to a potential buyer, that’s no fun for anyone and can ruin your reputation, as well as your chances of making any future sales.
Having a full and detailed report of the quality of your ship can go a long way in encouraging buyers, and can give them much needed peace of mind. If you have a boat to sell and are looking for a marine surveyor, call Christian today at 1.810.531.0992 or fill out the form in the sidebar to schedule your free consultation.