Deciding to sell your yacht might be a very emotional or maybe relieving one. No matter what your reason for the decision is, there are a few things that you should do before you contact a broker if you want one. However, this is something that could be determined by the size of the boat, location, time, and many other factors discussed in our topic why it is a good idea to hire a yacht broker.
So here are five crucial things you should do before contacting a yacht broker.
#1 Clean your boat.
This is the first thing you should do. Make her spotless.
- Wash the vessel, wax her, and make her shine.
- Don’t forget to lift any hatches and wipe up the dust under, revealing bad maintenance if not cleaned.
- Clean the interior, change the air conditioning filters for better airflow and cooling effect and fresher smell, clean the drains for a better flow, empty the holding tank, and any garbage bins.
- It is a good idea to empty any storage lockers in order to show how spacious they are.
- Put any personal item away.
- Pay special attention to the engine room and the bilge.
- Don’t leave any oily leaks and dirt in the bilge as it would give a terrible impression.
- Invest in carpet wash or change as it would result in a much more wonderful and pleasant smell.
#2 Fix anything which needs to be repaired.
Check all equipment and in case of being broken, fix it, or replace it with a new one if possible.
It is a good idea to repair any cosmetic issues such as
- creaking or falling doors,
- broken handles,
- torn window seals, etc.
It is better to have all these fixed before seen by a potential buyer.
Having your boat in spotless condition will get better value.
- Go through the regular maintenance for engines and generators.
- Make sure watermakers, heaters, vacuum flush, fridges function correctly.
However, if any interior changes need to be done, consult a broker who is aware of the current trends because specific, not well-thought changes might decrease the boat’s attractiveness.
#3 Use your boat.
If you are selling your boat, you might not be using her enough, resulting in low engine hours. Although we usually hear, “Oh, this boat has too many engine hours, this is not good,” very low engine hours can also be an issue.
A boat that has not been used tends to have different problems with the
- pumps,
- rust,
- dried seals, etc.
Get your boat in the water and get a few days wandering in the ocean. On the other side, if you have been using your boat, show how proud you are of having such a loyal partner in your adventures.
#4 Documentation.
Before you put your yacht for sale, whether with a broker or not, make sure that you collect all the documentation in one place.
A history of any
- repairs,
- refits,
- maintenance interventions and
- invoices of any purchased items
would add value to your boat. Make a boat portfolio with press releases if existing, make a list of any tournaments or events she has been participating in.
#5 Search the market.
Before reaching out to a yacht broker, do your own search and compare your boat with similar yachts on the market.
This will give you an idea of what a reasonable asking price would be. Then once your boat has been valued and the price has been determined, you can ask questions about why there are deviations (if such) from the regular pricing on the market.
Once you have gone through these five steps, we believe it is a good idea to find a yacht broker. Then a good yacht broker would advise you what an attractive price for your motor yacht or sailboat would be, where would be good to keep her – some marinas tend to be more appealing to customers, and there is a more prominent clients flow, is it a good time of the year to sell and any other topics which would be of the yacht broker’s expertise.
Check also out our article about yacht broker fees explained.
