Selling a Boat Without a Broker
Create a Blog to Sell a Boat and Avoid Commissions or Expensive Ads
Apr 13, 2009
When the economy crashed on the rocky shores of the recession, "for sale" signs popped up on boats all across the country. In spite of the large inventory of used boats, with a little elbow grease, a free blog, and free Internet advertising, any boat owner can attract potential buyers and close a deal with very few expenses.
Take All Non-essentials Off the Boat
Brokers clean up the boats they are selling, and remove all non-essential items. The do-it-yourself boat seller should do the same. Scrub the exterior of the boat, and touch up the brightwork. Vacuum below decks including lockers and lazarettes. Wipe down interior surfaces with a good household cleaner, and clean the windows. Curb appeal matters.
Photograph the Boat
Take pictures of all essential items on the boat like the engine, sails, topsides, interior cabin and any special features the boat has. Also take photos of the boat at the dock, under way, and if possible, out of the water. Be upfront about the boat's short-comings, and include photos of those not-so-great elements too.
Create a Temporary Blog to Sell Your Boat
Next create a blog using a free blog site such as Google’s Blogspot. This blog is essentially a huge ad with detailed information about the boat and lots of photos. If the boat has special equipment, mention it, and link from the blog to the manufacturer's website so potential buyers can read about the equipment and see its value.
Additional pictures can be posted on a photo site like Flickr and linked from the blog. If there are on-line reviews of the boat or an owners' group, link to those as well. The more a potential buyer can see, and read about the boat, the better. This boat blog is an example of how a blog can be structured to feature a boat for sale.
Advertise on Craig’s List, Owner’s Groups, Other Free Marine Listings
Once the blog is created, advertise the boat far and wide on free sites like Craig’s List, or boat owners' groups and list-serves. Submit a brief message about the boat with a link to the boat's blog.
Paid Ads in Newspapers and Magazines Refer to the Blog
Newspapers and magazines charge for classified ads by the line or word. With a blog, the ad can be very brief. Simply state the year, length, make and model of the boat, along with the asking price, and a message referring the reader to the blog for more information and photos.
In spite of the economy, a used boat will sell if it is spruced up a bit, and advertised to the widest possible audience.
