There are TWO WAYS to bring your boat to market whether YOU CHOOSE TO SELL IT YOUR SELF OR GIVE IT TO A BROKER.
The first way is AS IS. The boat is advertised “AS IS” and where is for a price. The buyer, under supervision, may inspect the boat and have it surveyed if he so chooses, conduct mechanical evaluations etc.
When a boat is sold this way it carries with it, a psychological shortcoming. The axiom that is always present is that “YOUR USED BOAT WILL BECOME SOMEONE ELSE’S NEW BOAT”.
When a boat is brought to market “AS IS” it has a tendency to draw what the industry refers to as “bottom fishers”. These buyers are concerned about finding a boat for a price below market. How much below market depends a variety of factors that include how “USED” the boat is, what brand and model it is, and the need of the owner to sell the boat; ie., how motivated the seller is.
New boat dealers who take used boats in trade, do not remarket the trade “AS IS:” They invest to make the boat look as nice as possible. This is the case with used boats, used cars, even pre owned homes.
It is interesting to note that pre owned homes are rarely referred to as USED HOMES. Follow this concept through to the sale of your boat and it is easy then to understand that your used boat will sell for the best price when it is marketed as someones used boat.
