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| Getting
Ready To Sell Your Boat |
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Maintenance |
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When
selling your boat you should remember that appearances count a lot. A clean
and well maintained boat will sell sooner and for a better price than one
that appears rough around the edges. |
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Cosmetics |
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All
exterior surfaces must be clean and shine. Fiberglass and metal should sparkle.
Don't forget the windows, and especially port lights and hatches. Mineral
deposits on glass looks dingy |
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- Put
a fresh coat of varnish on brightwork and clean and oil the teak.
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Enclosures and canvas should be in good shape. Damaged goods should
be repaired, replaced or removed.
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Hoist new flags and pennants. Rags are the sign of a poorly regarded
boat.
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Shampoo the carpet and have the drapes and bunk covers cleaned.
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Replace worn-out accessories. Often a few dollars spent can make the
difference.
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Clear out all unnecessary clutter and gear. If it's not included in
the sale, get it off the boat.
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Clean drawers and stowage bins.
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bilge must be spotless. Use oil-absorb pads under the machinery.
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Clean, prime and paint the engines and generator.
- Pump
out the shower sump to eliminate the sour water smell.
- Clean
out debris in hatch bindings and scuppers.
- A
clean bottom will make the boat perform better during sea trials.
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Mechanical |
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Buyers
will want to switch on everything at some point, including those items you
haven't used in awhile, so be prepared. The less it is used, the better
the chance it will fail when you go to use it. |
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- Make
sure all gauges function properly.
- Replace
worried-looking hoses and clamps.
- Clean
out the raw-water strainers.
- Change
oil and fuel filters.
- Have
the boat fueled and ready for a thorough sea trial on short notice.
- Gather
all paperwork for mechanical systems together and store in a binder.
- Have
maintenance records handy and readable. Prepare a list of spare parts
and extra equipment, such as props, shafts and filters.
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| Preparing
Your Boat Listing/Ad |
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Boat
Basics: Listing Check List |
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We
have put together a Check List Sheet to help you gather the information
need to write an effective listing for your boat. |
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Download
and Print the Check List Sheet (MSWord File) |
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Your
Selling Price |
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More
boaters make mistakes in pricing their boat too high for the market. Do
a search on the internet for similar boats and be sure yours has some
advantage over the others. It may be price, or it may be features. |
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BUCValu |
bucvalu.com
is one of the standard used boat price guides. You must register to use
it but there is no charge and the privacy policy is reasonable. It helps
to read the FAQ before searching for a boat. |
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NADA |
NADAguides.com
is another of the standard used boat price guides. Be aware its web site
is busy with ads and annoying pop-ups. You also have to work through several
pages to get a specific boat's value. |
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ABOS |
ABOS
Marine Blue Books, is not available online to consumers |
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****
Important **** |
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Include
a price
- Some people believe that asking buyers to "Call for Price"
will increase response and allow them an opportunity to personally
sell their boat. .....THIS IS NOT TRUE.....
In fact, online boat shoppers will bypass a boat with no price
in favor of a boat seller who includes a price. |
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Writing
Your Ad |
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When
creating your listing, complete as much of the Check List Sheet
as
possible, especially information involving the engines. For the description/condition
and additional features, do a complete walk through of the boat and list
the standard equipment and features area by area. Don't forget electronics,
upgrades and information about the condition of the boat! |
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We
have provide many of the standard information fields, such as LOA to Fuel
type etc. so just go a head and enter the information in the field provided.
(On the Check List Sheet : Basic Information Section). |
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The
Description |
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This
is the area most people find the hardness to complete. If you completed
the Check List Sheet you are already 80% done. (Boat General, Electronic,
Communication, Fishing Sections). Add them into the Description Area:
You can also highlight brands if you want. |
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Now
for the hard part; The Opening Paragraph....Don't
Panic. Just Answer some Easy Question: Why do you like your boat? What
made you buy this boat? What did you use the boat for? Fishing, Crusing,
Diving etc. |
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Photographs |
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Taking
a good photo is an essential when selling your Boat. If a buyer doesn't
get a good look at what you're selling, they may just pass it over. Our
Basic Listing ($25.00 for 4 weeks) includes space for 9 photos. We have
compiled a few tips below to help you in your quest to attract buyers. Clean
boats are better to photograph than dirty ones. |
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When
and How to photograph your boat for best Results. |
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Take
your Photos Early in the Morning or Late in the Day, Not a Midday. A nice
over cast day is best. By taking your photos at these times will provide
the best color matches and with little to no glare.
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What
to photograph? |
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Exterior
Side Views, Rear Shot, Helm, Engine, Interior |
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The
Digital Camera |
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Your
Basic Digital Camera will mostly have a setting for Landscapes, this is
the setting you will want to use. Now some also have a lighting setting
as well, set it for the conditions of the day you a shooting, cloudy , partly
sunny or shade. |
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| Adding
Your Listing to theBoatingExchange.com |
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You
can list your Boat by navigating to the category where you want your boat
listed, and then choosing the Post
an Ad link.
Note:
Not all categories allow items to be listed directly within them.
Only those categories that allow listings to be added have an Post
an Ad link.
Once
you choose the correct category for your boat, simply follow all
the onscreen instructions to add your boat. All options that have
an associated charge will note that charge when you choose it. Use the
Help
links if you are confused by any options.
Once
you have entered all the information about your Boat, you will be
presented with a preview screen where you can review all of the information
you have entered and options you have chosen. Use the Back button to go
back and make any necessary changes. Do not press the Finish button
until you are absolutely sure that all of the information is correct.
You will not be able to change or edit any information once you press
the Finish button, and your account will immediately be charged
with any applicable charges.
Once
you press the Finish button your ad will be listed immediately and
you will be presented with a link to where you can view your ad, and a
receipt for what you have been charged for adding the ad. It is
highly recommended that you print out this receipt as a record of your
transaction. |
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| Handling
Enquires |
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Be
there for buyers! |
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Email |
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The
Message Base is an internal email system that allows you to connect with
other users on our site. When you are interested in an item, when you click
on the link to contact the seller, this is how your information gets passed.
Privacy for our users is very important to us, and the Message base helps
maintain that standard, allowing you to communicate without revealing your
email address. To view and or edit the Message Base, click "here".
In the right side column, look under "Email & Messaging".
You must be logged in to view your messages. |
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Phone |
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Answering
machines are handy, but a live person is better when it comes to selling.
Return messages promptly. Keep records of who you talk to and follow up
on inquiries |
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| The
Sale |
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The
Sales Agreement — Get It In Writing! |
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Selling
your boat can be a relaxed, positive experience, but don’t rely
upon a handshake and a “gentlemen’s agreement” when
it comes to finalizing the deal. |
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First,
write a sales agreement, outlining the terms of the sale and the obligations
of the buyer and seller. |
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Ask
for cashier’s or certified checks for both the deposit and the
final payment. Stick to an agreed-upon closing date
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Be
prepared to renegotiate the sales price when it comes to items that
need repair or when the boat has a less-than-satisfactory marine survey.
If you agree to make repairs prior to the sale, for your own protection,
spell out your obligation in terms of exactly what is to be done and
how much you will spend. Written estimates are helpful.
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Do
you have personal items on the boat — the ship’s clock that’s
been in your family for generations, for example — that you don’t
plan to include? Attach to the sales agreement a list of all the accessories
that convey and have both parties sign it. |
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Unless
you can afford the loss, don’t offer to finance the boat! The risk
involved is not worth the often small amount of interest you stand to gain.
And, if you have a boat loan outstanding, the lender may not permit this
arrangement. |
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