Hello all, and welcome to our new blog site. As owner of Latitude Yacht Brokerage, I am excited about this platform that will enable our customers and readers to take advantage of our collective 150+ years of experience in helping people buy and sell yachts. Please sign up for regular post notifications, and your comments on the posts are welcome.
We look forward to sharing our know-how with you and making your boat buying or selling experience better.
-Ryan Miller Owner, Latitude Yacht Brokerage
Sellers that don’t prepare their boat to get viewed and inspected by prospective buyers are putting the showing and sale at risk. Your boat will receive better offers and sell quicker if you consider the following low cost, low effort suggestions:
I. Last out, First In! – Speak with your boatyard when signing your winter storage contract about delaying haul out dates and staging the boat in an area that it accessibly for early launch. This might attract a late Fall buyer to go to survey and sea trial before winterization or encourage a wintertime buyer to act early and survey the boat on land before launching for a sea trial.
II. Declutter – Remove as much as possible from the boat. A boat that is open and can be inspected in all areas is more likely to have a positive impact on a prospect. Your boat will be very memorable when compared to others that are a mess and difficult to easily inspect. If taking all of your gear off the boat is difficult or not practical, find one spot on the boat to put everything. The best is one spot that can be sectioned off from the main cabin – V-Berth, aft cabin or cockpit locker.
III. Clean – A surface cleaning is easy and must be done. Additionally, these other spots have a huge impact: Bilge - Really get in there and get it dry and clean. Engine Sump – Clean, degrease, dry and put in new drip pads.
VI. Odor – Your boat should not smell! Do not make the mistake and cover the smell with car fresheners or pot-pouri. Get to the source and replace hoses. Black and Gray water hoses do not last forever. Waste and organisms permeate the hose and cause the smell. This is the most expensive and effort detail on this list but it must be done. Smelly boats do not sell.
V. Stage – Many people remove fabrics, cushions and mattresses in the off-season. When your boat is for sale, you should keep them aboard. The first impression of the buyers is very important. The cushions and fabrics installed give it a warm, comfortable and livability feel that give the buyer a better idea of what it will be like to be onboard in season. Remember these buyers are looking at your boat in the off-season and it is probably cold and gray out. A comfortable, clean, uncluttered boat gets them feeling good about the boating season ahead.
VI. Lighting – Boat’s are naturally dark below decks during the winter. Sun is low in the sku and most likely the boat is either covered or indoors with poor lighting. Keep batteries onboard and charged so lights can be turned on. Have flashlights available.
VII. Exterior Wood Work – Exterior varnish is huge effort and expense. If your teak needs some attention you should as a minimum strip or sand down to bear wood. It will allow the next owner to decide if they want varnish, oil or just let it go gray.
VIII. Hull – Make sure all the growth is off the hull and that the waterline and prop/shaft is clear of stains and debris. Go one step further and paint your bottom and install fresh zincs in the fall, making the boat look ready to go!
IX. Safety – Think safety and ease of access for all parties boarding your boat during layup. Make sure lifelines and deck gear is secured. Is there space to set up a ladder near a gate or transom? Is the ground level under the boat for ladder footings? If the boat is covered, how can the ladder be secured? If shrinkwrapped, make sure the door is properly installed for ease of access. These are all things to think about in advance when speaking with your boatyard and preparing the boat for winter viewings.
If you follow these simple, low effort suggestions, you will increase your chances of a great showing, a possible offer and sale!