Yacht Seller’s Guide to Maximize Your Selling Price

To improve the resale value of your boat, follow these time-tested steps

1. MAKE YOUR BOAT SHINE.

First

impressions are critical — any yacht broker will tell you that the first few

minutes a buyer spends aboard your boat are the most important. Hire a

professional detailer and have them transform the exterior to pristine

condition. Make sure the decks are washed and free of unused lines and deck

equipment. A fresh wax job will take years off the boat’s real age and make it

appear much newer. This is also the time to pay close attention to the stained

decks commonly seen on sportfish vessels.

Look at your boat through the eyes of the buyer and

try to notice the small details. Polish all stainless and aluminum, clean the

teak, examine caulking, and remove dirt and grime from the engine room. The

goal is to make your boat appear to be very lightly used even though it may

have been well-loved for years.

A modest time investment in pre-sale maintenance canreturn thousands in resale value.

2. PERFORM REPAIRS AND COMPLETE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.

An extremely important step

you can take in preparing your boat for sale is to put all mechanical systems

in good working order. Make sure the engines start easily, the batteries are

serviceable, the engine oil is clean, and the electronics are in good working

order. Because the boat will be hauled for an inspection, have the bottom painted and zinks replaced in advance.

Buyers can be expected to notice problems with your boat and the small fixes you make prior to an inspection and sea trial can have a big impact on the closing price. If your diesel engines are nearing the 1000-hour service schedule have the work done before you put the boat on the market. Yes, it’s costly but buyers don't want to have to face this expense on a newly purchased boat. If there are repair or maintenance issues left unresolved you can bet the surveyor will find them.

3. CLEAN, DE-CLUTTER, AND PREPARE THE INTERIOR FOR SHOWING.

Remove

all personal belongings including family pictures, wall hangings, tools, galley

appliances, etc. Make sure that dressers, pantries, cabinets, hanging lockers,

live wells, and storage compartments are empty and cleaned, and that sinks,

showers and counters are spotless. Carpet should be cleaned or replaced if worn

out. Curtains

and upholstery need cleaning as well, especially if you have pets or smokers

aboard.

When walls are covered with pictures, storage areas crammed with junk, and

books and magazines are left scattered about it makes the interior of any boat

seem smaller. Make sure any unpleasant odors are removed before showing.

Finally, before showing your boat remove everything that is not included in the sale. More than a few high-dollar sales have been scuttled at the last minute by a disagreement over who gets the $100 binoculars you left lying on the saloon table.

4.

ORGANIZE ALL MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE RECORDS.

It’s a good idea to put a

notebook together showing all the details of your boat’s history: upgrades,

spare parts inventory, warranty information, etc. Organize and make sure the

factory supplied systems and equipment manuals and plumbing and wiring

schematics are available. Also, keep the title and registration nearby to avoid

any delays when it’s time to close the sale.

Maintenance and service records are great sales tools — the more information you can provide about your boat’s service history, the better. A well-maintained boat may sell on its own, but a full set of maintenance records will give a buyer the extra level confidence he needs to make an offer on your boat.

5. LOCATE THE BOAT TO WHERE IT’S EASY TO SHOW.

When the boat has been

cleaned and polished, all repairs completed, and the interior cleared of your

personal belongings, it’s time to consider location. No matter what

preparations you’ve made to insure a great first impression, putting your boat

in a run-down marina to save a few dollars on slip rental may render all of

your hard work meaningless.

Locating your boat in a

full-service marina with luxury amenities and top-shelf facilities will go a

long way toward creating the best possible selling environment. Hiding you boat

in some backwater marina in a hard-to-reach area may also dramatically reduce

the traffic you need to get the boat sold.

Boats are a wonderful place toenjoy friends and family and the peace of mind being on the water brings.

But, when it’s time to sell,

don’t start your clean-up efforts then, take advantage of these

tips and more so you will be able to get maximum value upon resale.