As temperatures fall this winter, so, sadly, do boat sales. As our guide to ideal seasons for buying and selling made clear, the depths of winter tend to spell downtime for the boat market – with many instead wintering their boat ready for a long hibernation. That said, this can make it the ideal time for further maintenance, upgrades and other key preparations to make sure that, come spring, you’re in a strong position to make a good sale. Is that worth the effort? Read our guide and decide.
Why prepare your boat for sale during winter?
In some ways, the boat market isn’t entirely different from real estate. In property, it’s par for the course to put some work – and possibly some investment – into your house before selling, especially in a soft market. You’d want your house to shine above other competition, so why not your boat? Those who don’t make the effort in the winter are likely to fall behind other sellers who are better prepared, and may end up receiving less for their boat in the spring. So if you really want to corner the market, consider putting time and/or money this winter into organising and tackling those tasks that will help your boat sell.
Fix any outstanding issues
First, get your boat to square one by tackling any key problems. Feel like there are too many to solve in one season? Then take each in turn and ask yourself, “Would I buy a boat with this problem, and if the answer is yes, at what discount?” Many buyers will hire a surveyor to go over your boat with a fine-tooth comb before buying, at which point these problems will come to light. So why not eliminate them now? At the very least, being aware of issues and pricing your boat accordingly will give you more confidence during negotiations.
Stage the product
Tell the buyer your boat means something, and make it shine. De-clutter, de-personalise, and organise your equipment. Get rid of those rust stains. Organise your chart table. Finally, consider preparing a binder (or digital equivalent) with equipment lists, warranties and maintenance records that you can hand to a prospective buyer to make a good first impression. Small defects that attract unwanted attention can make people think “What else must be wrong?” Don’t give them that chance.
Prepare to get the word out
Fixed any issues? Gathered all the right paperwork? Made things clean and tidy? Even then it can still be intimidating to get the boat to market, so figure out everything you need. Will you sell privately, with a broker, or at a dealership? If privately, what do you need for your ad? Great pictures and video, as well as a thoughtfully written listing, will go a long way.
For a summary of general advice, see also our complete seller’s guide. When you’re ready, head to our marketplace to post your listing.
Image credits: Palle Knudsen via Unsplash; Tekton via Unsplash; Baptiste Valthier via Pexels; Pxhere
