YOUR BOAT LOOKS LIKE A PIG PEN!

Alright, Let me say up front that I have got nothing against pigs. Pigs are generally clean animals and there are several factors about their nature that contribute to how they can take a nice square patch of fenced grass and turn it into a less than desirable area very quickly.

They are 1) voracious eaters, 2) they are rooting animals that dig for food and 3) need water or mud to help control their own body temperature.

Now I'm not making ANY inferences between pigs and boat owners other than to say that when we're in our own element we tend to be somewhat less tidy than when we're trying to impress guests!

MATE, YOUR BOAT LOOKS LIKE A PIG PEN!

It’s a well-known fact that when two identical items are presented for sale but one is just dirtier than the other, the buyer will prefer the clean one even if subconsciously. Common sense right? Well, you would be surprised how many people seem to forget it.

This applies equally to real estate, luxury cars or the subject of this post, your pride and joy, your recreational pleasure boat. As a professional boat broker I see boats every day that are presented to me by owners who think that they are ready for sale but are actually in a condition that I would NOT want to live in, let alone present to a guest or a buyer. Examples range from food crumbs and cooking splatter in the galley, dirty heads, crumpled clothing on the floor, even half empty beer bottles sitting around. Mould and grease marks are common too.

WOULD YOU BUY A PIG PEN?

There are many different motivations for selling your boat which include lack of free time, wanting to upgrade to a better or bigger one, ill health and even having just plainly lost interest. No matter what your reason, you MUST put in the extra effort during the 'for sale' period to ensure that you get the best possible outcome. If you can't do it yourself then engage a professional to do it on your behalf. Professional detailers and managers do cost money but you WILL see a better sales result than you would otherwise.

HAVE THE BEST LOOKING PIG PEN

The best way you can help in the selling process is to have the boat available for inspections as clean and tidy as absolutely possible. I cannot emphasise this enough, a clean, polished and obviously well looked after vessel will always create more interest than one that appears neglected. For some reason many people equate 'clean, tidy and shiny' to 'well maintained'!

Importantly, the less that a buyer can use against you in the negotiation process such as items of faulty equipment, evidence of poor maintenance or lack of care, WILL result in you or your broker being able to hold the asking price.

First impressions are very important in selling your boat. Your boat should ideally be presented like a new-boat showroom would present her, not the way you normally like to keep her. I'm specifically referring to the normal day-to-day items that you leave lying around so that they are easy to hand for daily use. Put these away in cupboards or drawers (or even declutter and take them home). Keep bench tops clear, beds made and convertible features set to their most appealing setting.

PRO TIP #1: Many boat owners take their dogs with them on board. I have even seen people bring their cat away for the weekend.

Put all the feeding bowls, chew toys and pet beds away so that you leave no signs behind. If you're a smoker, empty and remove all the ashtrays to keep the boat smelling fresher.

It takes effort to do the routine maintenance, keep your boat clean and tidy (clutter free), so if you're not up for doing it all yourself, arrange for professionals to do a pre-sale detail and regular bi-weekly washing.

YOU CAN PUT LIPSTICK ON A PIG 

But it's still a pig! Ok, so you've decided that you will perform your cleaning and detailing yourself; make sure that it’s not just a cosmetic job. Buyers have the habit of looking in nooks and crannies that you may not have seen since you bought your boat. Even lift the carpets and clean under them, move the coffee machine and clean under it etc.

Here's a few tips to have her looking 'slicker than a greased pig' if you're serious about getting top dollar for her:

TIP #1 - THE HEAD

A smelly boat will put buyers off straight away. Keep your toilet gleaming and in odour-free condition. Should it smell at all, this may indicate trouble with hoses or sewerage systems that will put buyers off. It is worth ensuring that the head is fully functional to make a good impression. Don't forget to replace your charcoal filter on the holding tank's vent. You should do this regularly to keep smells at bay.

TIP #2 - THE BILGES

This is the most forgotten area in many boats. Most knowledgeable buyers will inspect the bilges as this area says a lot about how the boat has been maintained. A clean dry bilge is ideal, so degrease them and remove any "high tide" marks that could indicate water has been sitting for some time. Certain stains may need a careful acid wash. Don't forget to clean the bilges underneath and behind your engines! It's sometime difficult but it will pay dividends.

TIP #3 - ENGINE(S)

The second most forgotten area in most boats is the engine room. A clean, shiny, well-painted engine sings chapters of self-expression for the boats maintenance. Oily, greasy engines send alarm signals (no pun intended). Wipe everything down, even the smallest spaces, get out your old toothbrush and get the grease out of all the hard to reach areas. It should be clean, smell clean and be gleaming. This includes ancillary equipment such as your generator, hot water tank, hydraulic pumps and reservoirs, and most importantly, all the batteries.

TIP #4 - OUTBOARD MOTOR

All engines will be tested during the marine survey phase of the sale, outboards are no different. If your outboard is built by one of the well-known manufacturers, has a capacity of less than about 15hp, and is well maintained then they are generally bullet proof. It is however important that it starts easily and runs smoothly so make sure you have fresh (less than a couple of months old) fuel in the tank.

TIP #5 - CABINS

Make sure everything works, including electric lights and any navigation equipment. Replace ANY blown lightbulbs. Make sure the stove is working and freshly polished. Tidy up all storage lockers even those rarely used ones and remove ALL items that are not needed aboard the boat. Too much clutter creates a bad impression. Having no clutter is just as important as cleanliness because they are inspecting the boat after all, not your personal belongings. De-clutter everything because as mentioned earlier, neatness and cleanliness sells!

TIP #6 - DOCUMENTATION

Any information that supports your claims that the boat has been well maintained will help you sell her at higher retained value. Have copies of any paperwork including service history invoices ready to show buyers. Gather all the vessel and equipment manuals or operation guides that you have retained and place them into a binder or folder to pass onto the new owner. Leave them in the boat so they can peruse them during the inspection. This adds further credibility to your claims.

PRO TIP #2: Don't Tell Porkys!

If any equipment on your vessel is in poor condition or does not work, you should repair it or take it off the boat. If you aren't in a financial position to repair or replace a particular item, then flag it with your broker.

Don't try to hide the fact that something doesn't work very well or "works fine after a good thump". Your broker will assess the situation and make a recommendation.

This is VERY important as it will cause major disruption to the sale when such withheld information becomes known during the the survey process.

It WILL become known as surveyors are very thorough and I have seen vessel sales fall through because of an occurrence like this.

Even if the item isn't necessarily a major problem it plants seeds of doubt in the purchaser's mind and they begin to become concerned about other things that you must be trying to hide. Yes, it's possibly paranoid behaviour but certainly will become present in the buyers thoughts.

DON'T JUST HANG AROUND AT FEEDING TIME

Although she’s your boat and you may still wish to use her from time to time. Please let your broker know in advance that you are planning to take your boat out and that she will be unavailable for a period. This helps schedule inspections around your usage and always means that she will be presented in the best possible light.

Don't be tempted to make an arrangement to bring the boat back to the marina for a showing during the middle of your weekend away because you cannot possibly have the boat spic and span when you have loaded her up with grog, food, guests and kids!

In summary, it is a simple concept: a clean and tidy boat presented at the right price will attract more attention than a dirty one that is cluttered and smelly. After that crucial first impression gets a purchaser interested, it comes down to carefully moving through the various steps in the sales process resulting in a successful sale so that you'll be 'happy as a pig in mud'!

Time to cast off then ...

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If you would like to chat with me about any of the things that I’ve mentioned in this article, please get in touch. I quite enjoy helping other boaters out and it’s definitely a fundamental part of why I do what I do.

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About the Author:

Although he grew up in the bush, Steve has over 30 years boating experience with sailing yachts and powerboats since moving to Sydney.

He started in the marine industry managing one of the largest marinas in this city, which has over 350 boats.

From there he moved into boat sales and has now worked with 100’s of clients throughout Australia and New Zealand, selling dozens of boats both outright and in syndicates.

Contact Steve: www.stevewilliams.com.au or www.williamsyacht.com