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Random Quote: It's a boat, it's supposed to leak money.
It looks like we may be relocating to Florida for a new job. The good news is we'll be able to boat all year long, but the bad news is we will sell our cruiser, then probably buy something a little smaller after we settle down there.
How does one select a good broker to sell our boat? The boat is located in an area where there are many local brokers to choose from, and in fact our marina has there own brokerage business. What are the other factors that are inmportant to choosing a broker? I'm sure I'll want to choose someone who I can develop a good relationship with, someone I can trust. I was thinking of talking to three brokers first before choosing one. It also appears to me that brokers tend to somewhat specialize in a certain size, and type of boat.
Also, what preparations should I make to present the boat in the best light? It currently is shrinkwrapped for winter storage and setting in the boatyard at my marina. I was thinking I would remove the shrinkwrap and put up the canvas to make it more accessible.
What are your suggestions?
There are a lot of factors that enter into that decision. Some that come to mind are:
Use a broker that tends to focus on your type of boat if you are in an area with several offices to choose from.
Check out how they advertise & where.
Cold call them about one of their listings (as if you were a potential buyer) and listen to how they represent the boat and themselves.
Once you narrow down a brokerage choice try and find the best salesperson within the brokerage to list with as they will be front & center during negotiations with potential buyers
Totally detail your boat, fix EVERYTHING, remove ALL personal stuff (clean out cabinets, etc.), make it extremely easy for brokers to show. Be reasonable in your pricing right from the start - you'll get a lot more action.
Call this guy. He has a great reputation. He handles boats across the country (several office locations) and has different selling plans to meet your needs. You can go full brokerage or you can only show the boat after he handles everything else. I think he has other sales plans too. Give him a call.
I know this business. I would recommend using someone local to you and the boat. If the broker has a yard or works as an independant out of a local marina, bring your boat to his location. It will be shown way more often. As someone else said clean the heck out of the boat and remove everything that you would not find on the boat if it was new in the showroom, except of course elctronics.
Avoid new boat dealers who accept brokerage boats, your boat always comes second to selling one of their new boats and most times they won't even advertise your boat. The exception is as I said before if the broker is an indepentant business working out of a marina or new boat dealer, he makes his money selling the pre-owned boats first.
#1 if you are going to be in Florida, the broker you select needs to be licensed in Florida before he can represent a boat there.
#2) ask for referenences. Talk to both sellers and buyers he has worked for
#3) The broker should be a member of YBAA, Yacht Brokers Association of America. If so you can check with YBAA if there has been any complaints about thsi broker.
#4) Try to find a broker that will represent you as a buyer. Not represent the seller and you. If he is working for both, he has a contract to represent the seller, not you, so his fiduciary duty lies with them. Not you.
#5) Do independant research in locating a Marine Surveyor. Find one that is has a real SOB reputation among sellers but is fair to buyers. G. Slakoff (may have it spelled wrong) ccomes to mind. Makes selling brokers quake when they see his name......or at least used to.
#5) If making an offer to purchase make sure you use the YBAA standard forms. They are the best I have seen in being fair to all parties.
#6) good Luck!! There are a bunch of great brokers and brokerage houses in Florida, but like any other business, there are some sharks in the water. Beware the sharks.
Hope this helps............and NO, I will not represent you.
Steve.......Boat sales, yacht broker, yacht consultant, member of YBAA.
Give Bill Watson of Stuart Yacht Sales a call. He has the most professional package for buyers and sellers that I have ever seen. Really seems to know the boats and the market. He was a very big help to us even after we decided to buy a boat directly from the builder.
All good advice so far! I've worked with five different boat brokers and can honestly say, IMHO, these Guys are worse than used car dealers! I know, I know. How can I be so judgemental?
Of the five Brokers... only one was a decent business person. Sorry for the negative attitude. From my experience Boat Brokers will promise you anything...just to get your listing.
Agree to the selling price. Then have the Broker show you how he can SELL at that price before you sign him up.
__________________ 31/33 Duffy under construction at Atlantic Boat
A broker that is doing his job will pull up comparable sales data from a multiple listing site, such as Yachtworld. He can get the lisitng price, the actual transaction price, date it was placed on the market and the date it was reported sold. He may also pull up the original listing with the full specifications and then compare them to your boat or teh one you are looking at. Using this information, along with data providev in BUC, ABOS and Powerboat Guide he should be able to advise you of a fair asking price and a fair take number. What I have experienced is that most owners have an inflated perception of what their boat is worth and what they feel they should net, after negotiations, brokerage fees and any adjustments that may be necessary after survey(s). But, then there is the broker that will simply list the boat for what the owner wants without doing any research at all, then beat on teh owner to lower the price becase no on is looking at his listing. Happens too often in boats and homes. Find a broker that knows how to obtain this data and is willing to share it with you. I print the data and make put together a listing presentation for my clients then sit down and discuss it. If teh seller is unreasonable adn insists that his boat is worth WAY much more, I will respectfully decline his listing. I don't make a dime until the boat is sold an paid for, having a ton of listings that sit unsold is not profitable, nor am I doing justice to the owner by taking his listing. Just a few thoughts from one that has been there.
If you end up looking for a broker in south Florida, I would recommend Drew Baldwin. drewbaldwin@msn.com>
I never met him in person, but I did buy a boat through him, sight unseen, and with no unpleasant surprises on delivery. He was a straight up guy with me.
It looks like we may be relocating to Florida for a new job. The good news is we'll be able to boat all year long, but the bad news is we will sell our cruiser, then probably buy something a little smaller after we settle down there.
How does one select a good broker to sell our boat? The boat is located in an area where there are many local brokers to choose from, and in fact our marina has there own brokerage business. What are the other factors that are inmportant to choosing a broker? I'm sure I'll want to choose someone who I can develop a good relationship with, someone I can trust. I was thinking of talking to three brokers first before choosing one. It also appears to me that brokers tend to somewhat specialize in a certain size, and type of boat.
Also, what preparations should I make to present the boat in the best light? It currently is shrinkwrapped for winter storage and setting in the boatyard at my marina. I was thinking I would remove the shrinkwrap and put up the canvas to make it more accessible.
What are your suggestions?
Where is your existing boat located?
What is your existing boat?
As I'm understanding your post, your moving to Florida, however your boat is remaining for sale in your present location?
How to select a boat broker? 
