Selling Your Boat
The Benefits of Listing with Boat-Chek

• Provides you with emails from prospective clients
• Allows you to edit your classified section
• Allows you to add comments and images after your boat has been reviewed
• Provides a hit count of viewers for your listing
• Provides a Quick-Link for use on other websites that link back to your listing
• Provides a printable summary or review for display
• Reduces "On-Market" time of your Listing
• Saves time and traveling expense by having your boats reviewed
• Reduces exposure to customer dissatisfaction
• Better information Equals Realistic Pricing Resulting in More Sales

Tips for Selling Your Boat

Selling your boat may be as difficult if not more so than buying one, but most sellers just slap on a price and play the waiting game. This only results in wasted classified dollars and possibly even a poor sale. To avoid the common mistakes and to make sure you get what you're boat's worth, read through the tips below.

Advertise
Just because your boat is for sale, doesn't mean it will be sold. You have to spend a little money to get the word out. So consider your budget and try a combination of internet, local ads, and newspaper classifieds.

Make a Good Impression
Clean boats sell faster than dirty ones. If you aren't able/willing to do the job yourself, realize that it may be worth your wile to hire a professional.

It's the Little Things
Remember that new boats don't usually come with all the frills. If you're including additional equipment say so! The buyer may be more inclined to buy the full package to avoid the hassle and probably extra cost of going out and collecting equipment themselves.

Answer the Call
If you're taking the time and money of advertising your boat - make sure you answer the phone! Prospective buyers may not call back if they get an answering machine, busy signal, or just plain nothing. This means that all those advertising dollars are being wasted, so if you're usually out and about consider having calls forwarded to a cell phone.

Do Your Research
Check out what similar boats are listed at. Remember that your vessel needs to have an edge over the competition. Either it's better in price, or it's better in condition and features; but it better be one or the other if you want it to sell.

Don't Underestimate a Little Character
Buying a boat is usually an emotional purchase. If you're selling a fishing boat, leave the rods and photos of your trips so the prospective buyer can visualize. They may also serve as an ice breaker to make you seem less like a sales person.

Picture Perfect
Most buyers won't even check out a boat they haven't first seen photos of, so make sure to include them in your listings. It is recommended to absolutely include a side shot, one of the rear, the helm, and also an interior. This will give viewers an idea of the overall condition and features.

Be Honest
If there are minor or even major problems, note them up front. Most used boats have needed repairs at some point, and ignoring problems will only make you look bad when a survey brings them to the surface.

Hire a Professional
If you don't have the time, patience, or understanding to let potential buyer after potential buyer come by to criticize your vessel, consider hiring a broker to do the job for you. They'll be more available to show the boat and won't be offended if a browser picks at dings and dents.

Be Specific and Descriptive
Don't just say your boat comes with a radar or whatever other features. Be specific about the type and use of the equipment, painting a picture of why it's a great addition to your offer. Many potential customers may also be first time buyers, in which case it may benefit you to go into detail rather than assuming they know what an Eagle II Fish Finder does exactly.

Take it For a Test Drive
If your boat is in the water, offer to go for a ride. This allows the potential buyer to see what the boat can do (that it really works) and will also get them emotionally excited about the purchase.

Survey Twice, Advertise Once
Before you even list the boat, and particularly if it's over 5 years old, have your vessel surveyor reviewed. This will eliminate any surprises on your end when the buyer does their survey. It may also save you money in the long run instead of spending money on advertising, only to see the deal fall through because the buyer can't get financing on a vessel needing repairs.

It Takes Time
You aren't going to sell your boat overnight. The generally rule is that it takes about 3 months before the right buyer comes along, so don't be discouraged even if you've passed that mark. Just remember to hold on to the rest of these tips for when the time does come.