Choosing a yacht buyer's broker can be a daunting task; there are a large number of us out there. How do you make a good decision? Here you will find advice on how to choose the best one for you.
A yacht buyer's broker will tell you that we are middlemen, but that is a modest portrayal. A yacht buyer's broker is a tightrope walker, attempting to present a nice showing for buyers in an environment where one mistake could ruin our reputations. The top yacht buyer's broker - the person who is in the business for a living, not as a hobby - understands that those who enjoy spending time on the water have not purchased their last vessel.
When the current game plan is completed, the yacht broker anticipates that another paycheck will be delivered using the same used boat buyer at some point in the future. So, despite compelling moments when others might be tempted to sacrifice quality to close the sale, this broker is determined to do the best job possible. We don't sell to a single person on a single occasion; we prefer repeat business. We form long-term alliances.
There are several methods for locating a yacht buyer's broker who respects your trust. You can look for native wisdom, as any seasoned captain knows. Look for yacht owners who have used a broker and still have great things to say about him or them. That is a truly admirable proposal.
If you're on Facebook, look into joining a cruising group, such as the Atlantic Powerboat Club or Live Aboard Boats; you'll find a lot of helpful people there. Seek the advice of marine yards or other professionals in the area. Individuals' money is handled by yacht brokers. They provide individuals with advice - about the business community, about boats, and a specific yacht. Search the web for brokers who offer a buyer's service, and then inquire about references that the broker has helped with in the past. Find a broker who owns a vessel; you'll know he knows what he's talking about.
A large number of yacht brokers do not own or have ever owned a yacht. Send an email to a broker and see how quickly he or she responds. Follow-up the e-mail with a phone call in a day or two; however, keep in mind that email messages frequently lose their sense of purpose in cyberspace. Take note of how long it takes the yacht broker to return your call. Make an effort to meet with the yacht broker in person and see if there is a mutual interest. Begin a conversation; do you truly like each other; do you have the capacity to do business together?
If a one-on-one meeting is not possible, have a lengthy phone conversation with the yacht broker to get to know him; I welcome these types of calls. Ask the broker if he uses a real system to locate vessels, and if so, how he does it in great detail. If he says no, he's just winging it. We devised a ten-step procedure that works every time.
In any case, make sure to work with a yacht broker who understands the type of boat you're looking for.
What can a buyer expect from a yacht buyer's broker? If you've hired a yacht buyer's broker to assist you in your search, you can expect to be questioned about your wants and needs at first. This is how we do things. You may believe you know exactly what vessel you want, but we will do you a favor by showing you several comparable yachts in stock. There are frequently yachts that you were unaware of that are even more similar to your ideal vessel. If possible, the yacht broker will also confirm that the yachts he or she presents to you are reasonable, both financially and in terms of your ability to operate them safely.
The main thing we do for you, the used boat buyer, is making sure the seller follows through on the contract. To hold your deposit, first-rate yacht brokers use an escrow checking account. That is the requirement under Florida law. With that assumption, you'll have enough time to find a surveyor to inspect the vessel. During that time, we hold your deposit in our escrow account and do not mix it with other funds.
As a yacht buyer's broker, we must protect you from fraud, misrepresentation, and unethical practices to the best of our ability.
A broker for a yacht buyer cannot tell a used boat buyer what he does not know. It is the boat seller's responsibility to inform us of any known issues with the boat. Nonetheless, we are always trying to figure these things out. The gist of it is that when you ask if there are any problems with the yacht, you should expect an honest answer, but make sure to question.
