There is no “best time” to put your boat on the market – sales happen throughout the year. If you were going to plan ahead though, Spring and Autumn are key times.
Miles Stratton talks us through the steps you can take to give your boat the WOW factor.
Selling a boat doesn’t require a full refit, but presentation is key. A clean, organised, well-presented boat allows a buyer to focus on their dream of being on the water, counting the days till they get the keys…
Ensuring your boat is properly prepared for viewings makes a real difference – not just in attracting buyers, but in achieving the best possible price.
I always advise customers that this exercise is the most important. It sets your boat apart from those who haven’t bothered, or don’t know what they should be doing. It’s more important than inventory, so worth spending time and some money doing it properly. Even if you need to hire in professionals, you will recoup more than you spend when it comes to an offer; it’ll hasten the sale, reducing storage fees.
It’s too easy to fall into the trap of thinking a buyer will see through the dirt and clutter if they’re really interested. The unfortunate fact is they have instantly switched off – they’ll tell you how nice your boat is (because they don’t want to offend you) and then run for the hills!
A dirty, untidy boat is an immediate switch off. At best, it encourages a low offer.
If they haven’t been bothered to clean the boat “what else haven’t they bothered with!”
Always ask yourself – How would I like a boat to look if I was interested in buying one.
Also, be aware the block to purchase is not usually the more experienced one, who seemingly is the buyer! You may need to impress the one being encouraged to get onboard with the prospect of buying a boat. First impressions for them are YES or NO.
Here’s how to WOW a potential buyer when they step aboard.
Make a Strong First Impression
The first few seconds of a viewing sets the tone. Buyers immediately notice whether a boat appears well cared for or not. The more you can improve the cosmetic look, the better the experience will be.
Unfortunately, this is an ongoing task whilst the boat is for sale, not something you can do once and forget!
- Fix anything that needs fixed (within reason).
- Give the boat a proper scrub with appropriate products. Deck, superstructure, cockpit. Consider if you can clean your canvas work yourself or need to get it laundered by a sailmaker. External teak can be brought back up using teak cleaning products.
- The hull – if you need to get a professional polish done to a dull hull it is worth spending the money.
- Tidy up lines, fenders and deck gear. Stow your deck lockers properly rather than presenting a guddle.
- Give cabins, saloon and heads a proper clean. Use polish, use toilet cleaner. The boat needs to be spotless and smell nice.
- Make sure your cooker and hob are as clean as possible.
- Clean inside lockers and under bunks.
- Lift the floorboards and clean the sole and make sure before every viewing it is dry.
- A clean, dry interior immediately reassures buyers that the boat has been looked after. It’s worth investing in an incandescent dehumidifier. I use one of these for my boat – Meaco DD8L
- Put all items onboard away in lockers or storage areas – if there isn’t room, take it home. Your important items are someone else’s untidy clutter. For example, put away dish washing items and vanity items in the heads, don’t leave tea towels over the cooker crash bar.
Boat cleaning products to consider –
Finally – it’s all in the detail.
- Keep your seat and berth cushions in. They need to be down in place before the viewer arrives.
- Have a minimalist look – a couple of decorative cushions and books neatly stowed on a shelf are nice. Homely but uncluttered.
- Use an inoffensive scent diffuser to make the boat smell nice. Akin to putting a pot of coffee on!
- Make sure the lights are on – and the heating if you have it.
Seek expert advice, and if time is limited, Miles Stratton Marine offers a dedicated detailing service and has a list of key contractors to give your boat the wow factor.
If you haven’t done any of this and happen to get an offer which is derisory but acceptable, your next challenge will be the surveyor. Surveyors, like buyers, need to be impressed. If they are not impressed and have to poke around in wet filthy bilges your buyer will get a very negative survey and walk away – or offer you even less!
Have Your Paperwork Ready
Ensure you’ve got the required documentation on hand before putting your boat on the market.
Don’t despair if you’ve exhausted your search for paperwork and not found all the relevant documents; in some cases, we may be able to recover them through the original owners or industry colleagues.
- VAT PAID – The original invoice showing when VAT was accounted for.
- BREXIT Day declaration confirming the boat’s location.
- BILL OF SALE from your purchase and previous purchases proving clear title. More than 5 years in consecutive Bill’s of Sale is required to register a vessel on the Part 1 MCA registry.
- BUILDER’S CERTIFICATE confirming the boat and its year of manufacture.
- DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY If your boat is built after 1st Jan 1998 – Declaration of conformity and CE or UKCA marking plate
Helpful documentation
- Owner’s manual and other useful manuals for boat equipment
- Maintenance/upgrade records and receipts
When listing your boat with Miles Stratton Marine, you can be confident you’re being represented by a broker with decades of experience. We prioritise communication, honesty and clear advice throughout the sales process, and take pride in operating according to ABYA’s Code of Practice. Being an ABYA Broker, we hold a dedicated client account for funds, which is ring-fenced and designated by the bank.
Miles, an accomplished sailor and sea farer, is often the first port of call for returning customers and has a wide network of contacts. Our boats are advertised globally on industry leading portals: Yachtworld’s Boats.com, Boatshop24, Boats and Outboards, Rightboat, The Yacht Market and Apollo Duck.
Talk to us today for a free market appraisal and advice on current market conditions.
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