| 1. Reach out and touch someone - No one | | | | |
| expects you to take out an ad on the Super | | | | 8. That's my line,, and I'm stickin to it - |
| Bowl to sell your boat, but you do need to | | | | If your boat has had repairs, list them. |
| spend money if you intend to sell your boat. | | | | Every used boat has seen it's share of dings |
| Determine what you can afford to spend to | | | | and dents. Ignoring these will only create |
| market your boat and commit to an effective | | | | suspicion amongst your potential buyers. By |
| marketing program. Use a combination of the | | | | listing your repairs, you avoid potential |
| Internet, local shoppers and boat classifieds | | | | blunders later when a survey brings the |
| listings in local papers. | | | | problem to surface. |
| | | | |
| 2. Mr. Clean - A clean boat is much closer to | | | | 9. Cool hand Luke - If you don't have the |
| sold than a dirty one. It's amazing how much | | | | stomach for people climbing all over your |
| money some boaters will spend to market their | | | | boat, only to criticize the condition or |
| boat then they don't even clean it up | | | | worse yet say nothing, then you need a Boat |
| properly. If your not willing to do it | | | | Broker. Brokers don't have emotional |
| right, pay a professional detailer a few | | | | attachments, and they have more available |
| hundred to clean it up right. | | | | time to meet with potential clients than you |
| | | | do. So if you don't have the stomach for it, |
| 3. Whisper Sweet Nothings - Many boaters over | | | | hand it off to a cooler hand. |
| look those little things that make a used | | | | |
| boat appealing to a used boat buyer. | | | | 10. Don't be an Average Joe - Every other |
| Remember that most new boats don't come with | | | | seller of used boat all say the same thing. |
| all the frills. These little things can go | | | | My boat has a heater, fish finder, radar, |
| far in securing a sale for your used boat. | | | | etc. Use words to describe why these things |
| Keep in mind that mentioning that you include | | | | are important. Remember many used boat |
| a radar, fish finder, downriggers etc. often | | | | buyers are inexperienced boaters and many are |
| spur a new boat buyer to think twice about | | | | first time buyers who don't understand what |
| the new vs. used market. | | | | these features do. Use words like "Eagle II |
| | | | fish finders identifies the depth of each |
| 4. One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingy - Have | | | | fish and comes with temperature gauge and |
| you ever called a seller and found that they | | | | speed control allowing you to control your |
| weren't home or they had an answering | | | | lure depth and speed" or "Heater provides |
| machine. If you are serious about selling | | | | three minute warm up of interior cabin for |
| your boat, answer the phone. If you're not | | | | early morning or late fall cruising." |
| going to be home, then forward your calls to | | | | |
| a cell phone. Don't have a cell phone ... | | | | 11. A Three Hour Tour - If your boat is in |
| get one! If you don't answer the phone when | | | | the water at the time you are selling, offer |
| the prospect is ready to buy, you just wasted | | | | to take the potential buyer for a ride. |
| a whole lot of money for nothing... | | | | State this in your ad and entice them to come |
| | | | out for a ride. Nothing works better to get |
| 5. the Price is Right - More boaters make | | | | the customer emotionally involved with your |
| mistakes in pricing their boat too high for | | | | boat than a free ride. |
| the market. Do a search on the internet for | | | | |
| similar boats and be sure yours has some | | | | 12. And the Survey Says... - If you've owned |
| advantage over the others. It may be price, | | | | your boat for more than 5 years, it is |
| or it may be features. If it isn't one or | | | | strongly suggested that you have a survey |
| the other then you're keeping your boat for | | | | done on the boat before you list it. A |
| another year! | | | | survey can point out potential road blocks in |
| | | | the sale of your boat. This is especially |
| 6. Fun, Fun, Fun - When the customer comes | | | | true for Yacht and High Performance boats. |
| out to see the boat, make the experience fun. | | | | Lets say you spend $500-$1000 to market your |
| Have a poster on board with photos of your | | | | boat only to find out that a potential buy |
| fun experiences on the boat. People buy | | | | could not get financing because your boat |
| based on emotion, so give it to them. If you | | | | have a problem due to their survey. Not only |
| are selling a fishing boat, don't take all | | | | have you lost your advertising investment, |
| the equipment off the boat, have the rods in | | | | but now you need to make the repairs. Doing |
| the rod holders, have photos of all the | | | | a survey first can bring potential problems |
| trophy fish you caught out for them to see | | | | to the surface. |
| and discuss. Share your experiences with | | | | |
| your customer. | | | | 13. As The World Turns - Every boater who |
| | | | places an ad thinks that it will sell |
| 7. Say Cheese - If you don't show photos on | | | | quickly. The reality is that boats take |
| the internet of your boat, don't bother. | | | | about 3 months to find a partner. That is |
| Very few people will buy a boat without | | | | provided the right person sees the boat. Be |
| seeing photos first. Would you look for a | | | | patient and most of all, be sure that when |
| boat with just text? Take four photos and | | | | you get that opportunity to show your boat |
| have them included in your listing. Photos | | | | you haven't misplaced all the other tips we |
| should be exterior side view, rear shot, helm | | | | shared with you. |
| and interior. | | | | |