Life has changed a lot in the past few decades. The analog way of sailing life—listing our yachts for sale in the paper—is long gone. Instead, you must figure out how to market your boat, fill out a complicated stack of paperwork, and make a sale in a digital world. Alternatively, you can let an expert help.

Boat brokers existed before the selling process grew more complicated, but they are even more important now than ever. They understand every step of the selling process, including the nuanced paperwork. While you may feel nervous about putting something as precious as your boat into their hands, they will do an excellent job of finding you the best sale. Keep reading to learn what to expect when working with a broker to sell your yacht beyond just a solid sale price.

Realistically Price Your Boat

The first step to selling your boat is to decide the best, most realistic price. Boat brokers are professionals, and they have detailed knowledge regarding recent boat sales. They can use this knowledge to survey your boat and provide a realistic valuation. Boats in good condition are typically easier to price, and the broker can provide a quick but accurate price. If your boat needs work, a broker may need to consult with a maintenance professional before providing a realistic price. While this process can take longer, you can trust that the result is accurate. The more accurate the price, even if it takes longer to get, the faster you can secure a sale.

Suggest Pre-Advertising Improvements

Whether your broker quickly provided a price or consulted with a maintenance professional, they will suggest improvements you can make before they start advertising your boat. The suggested improvements aren’t an insult to your yacht. Your broker simply wants to ensure that your boat looks its best to catch the attention of buyers. They may suggest cosmetic improvements such as thoroughly cleaning the outside. If your boat needs more work, they may suggest you do some of that work or hire a professional to do so, such as upgrading an outdated electrical system. Once you make the improvements, the broker can feel more confident in their marketing to get you a good sale.

Craft an Effective Marketing Strategy

No one used to worry about marketing strategies when selling their boats. They just placed a simple, informative ad and let those interested in it answer. With so many new and used boats on the market now and the internet providing a plethora of choices for buyers, you need an effective marketing strategy. Your broker will craft that strategy using the channels they think are best. For example, they may create more print and Facebook ads if they think your boat will appeal to older buyers. If they’re trying to appeal to younger buyers, they may focus on more digital marketing. Regardless, they should take high-quality photos and videos that will interest buyers. Ask your broker about their strategy so that you understand which steps they want to take.

Write an Accurate Spec

The last task to handle before your boat listing goes live is to write an accurate spec. While you know your boat well, boat brokers are professionals. They will know the basics about the type of boat you have, so it won’t take them long to learn the specifics. After learning everything possible about your boat, they can write an accurate spec to inform potential buyers. While you may want your broker to gloss over details such as paint chips or an older motor, they must deliver an accurate, informative spec to potential buyers. Otherwise, those buyers could turn away as soon as they come to see your boat, wasting everyone’s time.

Show Your Boat, Assisting With Sea Trials and Marine Surveys

You may worry that an accurate spec could discourage some buyers from wanting to see your boat. While some people may skip your listing in favor of a newer, shinier option, your boat will still receive showing requests. When they make those requests, expect your broker to handle them. They’ll schedule the showing, and if a potential sale looks serious, they will also assist with sea trials and marine surveys. You can relax and focus on other important matters, such as work or family, while they do the hard work.

Communicate Offers and Negotiate Pricing

After a serious showing, the interested buyer should reach out to your broker with an offer. Your broker will then communicate that offer to you. You can decide whether to accept, decline, or negotiate. The interested buyer may also want to negotiate, even though your yacht listing is accurate. If you’re unsure what you want to do with an offer, you can ask your broker. They are experts at negotiating, and they will do so to ensure you get the best price. Most brokers work on commission based on the final sale price, so they will make sure potential buyers don’t cheat you out of a good price.

Provide Professional Paperwork Experience

Once everyone agrees to an offer, paperwork comes into play. Yacht sales come with plenty of paperwork, from ownership certificates to agency contracts and title transfers. Your broker will handle all this paperwork, although you must provide some of the original documents and your signature. Try to gather relevant paperwork beforehand so that you can quickly hand it over to your broker upon accepting the offer.

Transfer Sale Profits to You

Most of the time, brokers handle the sale and deduct their commission, so they initially receive the sale profits. Once the money is in their account and they remove the agreed-upon commission, they should then transfer the rest of the sale profits to you. Sometimes this stage involves paperwork, but as we stated above, brokers are paperwork experts. You will receive your money quickly and efficiently following the sale.

When working with a broker to sell your yacht, you should expect an easy experience. While your broker will take many steps to ensure a quick, good sale, you can let them handle most of the process and relax. If you need relaxing boat sales and services, RJ Nautical can act as your broker. We are reliable and experienced, so you can trust us to help you sell your yacht.