The Olson Yacht Group Guide to Preparing Your Boat for Sale

The Olson Yacht Group Guide to Preparing Your Boat for Sale

You love your current yacht. You couldn’t be happier with her.

But then, there you were, strolling the docks at the boat show, pulling into a marina, or sitting at anchor with a few other yachts, and suddenly you saw her — your next “perfect yacht.” It was love at first sight. And you can’t get her out of your mind.

Now there’s nothing else to do but list and sell your current yacht.

If you’ve never sold a boat or listed with a brokerage before, it might seem easy – just turn over the keys, sit back, and wait for the broker to run a few ads and find the right buyer, and – Poof! – you’re that much closer to owning that new dream yacht.

It can sometimes be that easy – but it isn’t always.

You see, your yacht is as unique as you are – and it requires an experienced, knowledgeable, and focused team to price it, market it, and position it perfectly in front of the right buyer.

But you, as the owner, will need to do a few things to get her ready to list, show, and sell successfully.

Here is our guide to preparing your yacht for sale.

Understand what drives a buying decision.

According to Professor Emeritus Gerald Zaltman of Harvard Business School, 95 percent of any buying decision relies on hundreds lightning-fast mini-decisions we make subconsciously, based on input we get from our senses.

In other words, every decision to buy is emotional, based on how we “feel.” Once we “feel good” about making that buying decision, we justify it with logic and reason.

That means you’re going to have to work on how your boat looks, sounds, smells, and feels when a potential buyer steps aboard, to create the kind of sensory input that helps actively imagine your boat as theirs. In other words, you need to work to create and manage the sensory and emotional impressions that make a buyer feel good about buying it.

And in yacht sales just like in life, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So, let’s look at how to make your boat create the best first impression possible.

Create an action plan.

It’s always a good idea to create a master plan to help you avoid overwhelm as you consider everything that needs to be done to make your boat ready to list, show, and sell.

Using a worksheet, spreadsheet, clipboard, or master file, create a page for every single area of your boat: mechanical, electronic, electrical, plumbing, galley, staterooms, heads, decks, cockpit, lazarette, engine spaces, flybridge, pilothouse, engine room, bilges, and so on.

Then, walk through your boat deck by deck – starting forward and working aft – and with your list in hand make notes of anything that needs to be cleaned, repaired, replaced, or upgraded.

Once you have a master “to do” list, prioritize each item on your list as follows:

A – Must-do: Items essential for operational, security, or safety reasons.

B – Nice to do: Items that will enhance the emotional appeal of the boat.

C – Want to do: Items that are not necessarily important to the overall look and feel of your boat.

As you prioritize, jot down who will be responsible for each item on your list: yourself, your crew, a hired contractor, or other professional, and set a due date for the completion.

Make sure everything works.

The “A” priority for any needed work on your boat is to make sure that everything starts the first time and works as it should.

From zippers and snaps on canvas to generators and bow thrusters, everything on your boat has to work right to make a buyer feel good. Remember, that broken zipper you’ve been putting up with, a tender outboard you have to pull more than once or twice to start, or a weird crackle in the stereo speaker are all creating emotional “mini-decisions” in your potential buyer’s mind.

While it’s usually done at the final stages of the sales process, consider a survey before  you list your boat, especially if it’s been awhile since your last survey. That way you can identify and fix potential “deal breakers” before they rear their ugly heads as potential buyers walk through the boat, and avoid surprises when they’re close to a deal.

Not only does every piece of mechanical, electric, and electronic equipment need to work, your mooring lines, ground tackle, davits, windlasses, winches, dinghies, outboards, and any equipment or tools included in the sale need to be checked to make sure they function as planned.

Clean, wax, polish, and shine everything like a jewel.

If your boat needs any cosmetic repairs, make them. Fill and match dings in the gelcoat, repair any cracks in the caulking, and remove any stains on the non-skid.

A fresh coat or two of varnish on brightwork and gleaming stainless, brass or bronze makes the boat a standout at the dock – especially when details like hatch hinges, anchor housing, boarding ladders, and tank caps are included.

New mooring lines, welcome mats, fenders, fasteners, or other exterior accessories will also enhance your boat’s dock appeal, as will sparkling clean windows, port lights, and portholes.

And every window, port light, or porthole should be sparkling clean.

Don’t forget to pay attention to the hidden spaces like bilges, engine room spaces, and tool storage areas, making sure to clear away clutter, clean, and even paint them if necessary.

Create a warm, inviting interior.

The minute potential buyers step inside your boat, they’ll begin to actively imagine what it might “feel like” to make your boat theirs. Staging your boat for a showing requires you to pay attention to how your boat looks, sounds, smells, and feels, so you can make it easy for those potential buyers to feel at home.

Not only do you need to clean, dust, and wipe down all the interior surfaces, including the bulkheads and headliner, you’ll want to clean and polish the oven, stove, sink, refrigerator, freezer, and other appliances so they gleam.

Get the carpet, upholstery, and any drapes or curtains professionally cleaned, and consider a fresh coat of white paint for any cupboard interiors.

To enhance the feeling of light, space, and roominess, open the curtains or shades, and remove any non-essential items from cabinets or cupboards.

Use potpourri, cinnamon, lemon peel, or fresh baked goods to make your boat smell fresh and inviting, and consider playing soft music like classical guitar or traditional jazz to create a calm, inviting mood.

Work with a qualified, professional broker.

Listing your yacht for sale needn’t be a complicated, overwhelming task. At Olson Yacht Group, we’re here to help you navigate a successful sale and make the process easy for you and the buyer alike.

We stay current with the yacht market, aware of local, national, and international trends. We’ll take advantage of advertising opportunities online, in industry publications, and at boat shows and special events to position your yacht in front of the right buyers at the right time in the right place.

For over 20 years, we’ve supervised the construction, delivery, and commissioning of more than 80% of all Offshore Yachts sold, more than any other brokerage worldwide. That gives us unparalleled knowledge, experience, and insight into what makes a yacht sell.

Many of our customers are second- and third-time buyers through Olson Yacht Group. That customer loyalty is a testament to the level of attention and service we offer as well as to the value we place on creating rewarding, long-term relationships with our customers.

When you join the Offshore family, you’ll have a committed partner to guide you through every step of your yacht ownership journey – from planning and designing to purchase and sale.

We welcome the chance to work with you. Call our West Coast Office at 949-673-5401 or our East Coast Office at 954-922-2662 to start the conversation.