Do you want to sell your boat and get the maximum amount for it? Good preparation makes all the difference. In this guide, you'll find 10 practical tips you can do yourself to make your boat attractive to buyers.
1. Make your boat spotless
A clean boat sells better. Invest time in cleaning the deck, interior and engine compartment. Use professional cleaning products and remove limescale and grease. With a fresh scent and shiny appearance, your boat will have a look and feel that makes it ready to sail away. And that immediately instills confidence for a good purchase.
2. Check and maintain the engine
The engine is the heart of a motorboat and the certainty of your sailing yacht. Have a maintenance service performed and show invoices to potential buyers. Demonstrating that your impeller has just been replaced, the oil is fresh, and everything has been checked provides more assurance that your boat has a well-functioning engine. Knowing that there are no unexpected costs associated with the engine increases the value of your boat and prevents buyers from backing out.
3. Take care of the paintwork
Paint damage, rust spot or dull paint? A new coat of paint or a polishing treatment makes your boat more attractive. It shows that the boat has been treated with love and care. That small spots have not had the chance to cause big problems. Small cosmetic improvements often yield a large return.
4. Gather all documentation
Make sure you have all the papers ready: proof of ownership, maintenance history, CE certificate and, if applicable, the VAT certificate. Also think of manuals for the onboard instruments, a water almanac or regional water charts. Transparency and complete documentation inspire confidence in potential buyers and can significantly speed up the sales process.
5. Take professional photos
Good photos are crucial. Choose a sunny day, photograph from multiple angles and show details. Remember to photograph the important boat features well, the galley, sleeping areas, cupboards, the engine, exhaust, swimming ladder, sails, etc etc. The more photos, the more clarity is offered about your boat. Consider taking (or having taken) a drone photo or video for a premium look and boat experience.
6. Determine a realistic price
Research similar boats on marketplaces. However, finding a boat in the same condition as yours is like finding a needle in a haystack. The prices are strongly determined by the tips on this page. But also by the investment of time, energy, warranty, and other costs you incur if you don't sell your boat. Setting too high a price scares off boat buyers, too low a price costs you money. The fairest way is to engage a marine surveyor. Or to have the entire sale handled by us as Yacht broker. Because our commission is based on the price we manage to agree upon for your boat, you can be sure that your boat will be sold for the best price.
7. Write a convincing advertisement
Writing a good advertisement is an art. Marketing experts have extensively researched what information is important. When selling a boat, it is important not only to describe the features but also to explain why that feature is important and what it offers you. A feature, for example, is that your boat has a bow thruster. The characteristic of the bow thruster is that it makes maneuvering your boat easier. But the important thing about a bow thruster is that as a buyer, you want that bow thruster because it offers you something. For example, that you can easily moor the boat by yourself.
Boat sales experts are masters at this. And that is the added value of a yacht broker.
8. Choose the right sales channel
There are many boat listing pages, and they are all the right sales channel. Marktplaats, magazines, boat platforms, sales jetties, or a specialized dealer? You reach buyers best through a combination of online and offline means. This way, you achieve maximum visibility.
The pitfall here is that you have to manage all channels and be able to handle complex planning. Answering responses from different channels, answering questions, scheduling viewings, and even point 9. scheduling a test drive. Of course, you can do all this yourself, but it takes a lot of time, effort and management, all of which a boat broker can do for you.
9. Schedule a test drive
Let buyers experience how well your boat sails. A positive experience increases the chance of a sale. A test drive is an important moment for buying a boat. To hold the helm, to hear the engine or to feel the wind caught by the sails. It gives the buyer confidence that they will make a good purchase with your boat. It is a service for which you have to make time. Interested boat buyers cannot always make it at the same times as you can. A yacht broker will do a test drive for you and has the time to facilitate it.
10. Be transparent about defects
Of course, it's nice when a boat is simply good, yet there are often small defects that can negatively affect the boating experience. Schepenkring has its own sailmaking shop and close ties with mechanics who are ready to do everything necessary to make your boat ready to sail and to sell it after inspection. Trust is crucial. Report small defects honestly and together with a yacht broker, you offer good solutions. This prevents discussions afterwards and strengthens your reliability for a safe purchase.
Register your boat for sale: No-cure no-pay
Do you want to start selling your sailboat or motorboat immediately? Then fill in our registration form. For launches, Rib, or other open boats, you can use the general boat sales registration form. For a sailing yacht/sailing yacht, you can fill in our specific sailing yacht sales form. Do you have a motor cruiser, or motor yacht for sale? Then fill in our motorboat sales registration form. After submitting the form, our nearest Schepenkring yacht broker will contact you to tell you how else we can help you with the sale of your boat.
With these 10 tips, you are ready to successfully sell your boat. Do you want to know more? Ask your question via our contact form or by calling: +31 320 711 340.
