selling your boat? hint, CLEAN IT UP

[labrador]

My wife and I took a trip up through the mid Atlantic states this weekend to look at a few boats we saw on YW. 5 -53s and a trawler on the schedule. No wonder these havent sold in over a year!!!! 2 were so dirty I wouldn't even consider going on if not for having a broker go out of his way to show the boats to me. Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't consider putting something up for sale unless it was clean enough to eat off the cabin sole. Maybe thats why my boat sold in under 90 days! These guys want almost 300k and it looks dirtier than a doghouse in my back yard, my dogs do sleep in my house. Wonder what the maintaince was like if they cant vacumn and clean the mold growing on the aft deck. A little 409 would go a long way!!!! The trawler was the biggest joke. Wanted 200k and the entire flybridge was comprised and rotting away. Smelled like something you get when you have a party and the sewer backs up. I thought at the prices they were asking, I would see creme puffs! Not on your life!!!!!!!!

 

[ThirdHatt]

GREAT advice! I too am shocked at the condition that many "sellers" keep their boats in while they are on the market. How can a broker do his job if a seller cannot simply have the boat presentable when it is to be shown? Amazing.

Sorry to hear that your trip did not turn up anything nice. Everyone keeps saying that this is the time to buy a boat and while I agree it is still hard to find a really nice boat with a serious seller AND a fair price!

GOOD LUCK!

 

[MikeP]

We looked at several 53 when we were buying that should have been "condemned" by the NHS! My wife refused to even go aboard one of them. I did and she was right not to.

I think the realtor thing is good advice - good "curb appeal" clean inside, and smelling like freshly baked cookies! If you can't do the baked cookies, at least NOT smelling like mold, mildew, waste tank vent or bilge water!

 

[labrador]

Mike, I should have asked if you were going to be around when I was in the Annapolis area. I would like to show my wife what a "clean" boat looks like! From your posts you keep yours in top notch condition! Maybe when we get up that way again I could impose upon you? Always ready to meet others on the forum anyway. In any case, the search goes on.

 

[GJH]

Hey wait a minute Skip... you and Giga have been on my boat.. hmm, and now are you suggesting she hasn't seen a clean boat?

Yes, we too saw some real heaps when we shopped; but that made this boat really stand out... but that was then, and now.. uh you got me worried..

But when she goes on the market in a few weeks, I guarantee she will be sparkly.. or something...

 

[labrador]

Sorry George, didn't mean to put you in that group! We were looking at 53s!!! If a 56 is in the picture, yours would be #1 on the list. No problem with yours and Anns housekeeping!!!! Love that boat however it may be priced above what we want to spend. Just remember what I said about when and if you want to sell. You never know!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MikeP]

I'll be back on the boat for 2 weeks from Oct 11 to Oct 25. If you are in the area then you are welcome aboard. I'll be there again for a week beginning the 7th or 8th of Dec to winterize if you're there...

Won't be back aboard until late May but that will be for 8 weeks!

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I'm glad someone brought this up. I never try to sell anything without getting it to look it's best. What is wrong with people? How do they expect to sell a boat if it looks and smells bad?

 

[SeaEric]

I'm curious to know which boats you looked at. There sure are some real "beauties" out there that have been around and on the market for-ever.

 

[labrador]

Eric, I'll pm you the list. No need to air dirty laundry on this thread.

 

[labrador]

Thanks Mike, Don't know if those dates fit in or not right now. If they do I'll pm you to give you advance notice.
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