Selling a boat isn’t as simple and fast compared to selling a car. A prospective buyer can’t just go for a drive around the block, look in the glove box, and scrutinise the service records before making up his mind to buy the vehicle.
The reason why boats are harder to sell is that boats need more than just simple inspections to check if it’s seaworthy and boats are more often costlier than cars. Aside from these factors, there are many more valid reasons that influence the price of the boat which can also affect how a buyer will want to buy the boat.
Because of this, a lot of boat owners are struggling to sell their boats fast. It can take months or years before they sold them and oftentimes, those boats are already discounted way below the original asking price.
If you’ve had your used boat listed for sale for some time and nothing seems to be happening, and looks like no one is looking, and your enquiry rate is all but non-existent, there could be a few reasons (other than what was mentioned above) for this.
The easier it is to dispose of and sell the boat, the lower the amount you will tend to receive. A balance must be found factoring convenience to the seller, the risk to the buyer, condition, warranty, ease of purchase and costs to bring the boat anywhere and if it’s in a reliable condition.
It’s time to take a closer look at your sales strategy and see if any improvements could be made to get that boat sold and into someone else’s hands Here are the common reasons why your boat is not selling and what you can change to get the offers coming:
You Didn’t Present Your Boat Well
This can be a tricky one for many owners to see and even admit. How do you even know how your boat presents to unbiased, clueless eyes? Try to get a friend or someone you trust to have a look and judge your listing with impartial opinions. Ask them how do they feel looking at your boat or the pictures you posted.
Aside from having someone review your presentation, you need to make sure your boat is ready and presentable enough for boat listings.
Make sure there is less clutter in your boat. While everything may have a purpose, if there are too many personal touches it may be off-putting to a prospective buyer. Try to take out as many items as possible to give the boat a cleaner, sleeker look. Opt for a minimalist vibe.
Clean down any surfaces that have not had a proper clean in a while, and by that, it means beyond the usual maintenance clean. You need to have everything looking new as much as possible. Wash and polish all the surfaces in the boat as much as possible.
Your Asking Price
The first thing people notice on your listing is the selling price and if it is too high, they generally will look no further. And if the boat’s price doesn’t match the market, it is floating dead on the water (no pun intended).
People now have access to an unprecedented amount of information. It only takes a few simple searches to find hundreds and thousands of boats for sale. If your boat tops the list when sorted by the price you can guarantee people are going to be skimming past it. It will become the comparison boat for people to look at yours and think, well this other boat is ten per cent cheaper!
Aim to list your boat high on the median side of the offerings for the best traction. This will show your boat as being better than most and offer the buyer some negotiation room.
Equipment and Gear at End of Life
Have you noticed in boat advertisem*nts it says ‘low hours’ on the boat motor engine and other marine equipment? This is because people like to think that everything is new and working properly, and want to avoid buying something that has a heap of problems.
If your mechanical equipment is older, regardless of its functionality, people are going to put a lower valuation on it. A solution is to lower your price accordingly, have the equipment inspected by a professional or replace it.
Be honest and upfront, if the equipment needs to be replaced, say so. You will get a lot more respect from a potential buyer by being upfront, instead of seemingly trying to hide it.
Your Boat Has Only Limited Access to Prospective Buyers
While the far out-of-the-way marina that your boat generally is docked in might be great for you, it might not be all that beneficial for prospective buyers that want to view it. People don’t really have the energy or motivation to want to travel or take long routes and processes to see a boat, especially if there are boats for sale that are more accessible. Strategize where you place your boat; consider a short-term berth in an area that has a lot more foot traffic and you will see an increasing number of people viewing your boat.
