Page 31 - DECEMBER 2020 SF WSJ INSERT_Brochure

3. CLEAN, DE-CLUTTER, AND PREPARE THE INTERIOR FOR SHOWING.
Remove all personal belongings including family pictures, wall hangings, tools, galley appliances, etc. Make sure that dressers, pantries, cabinets, hanging lockers, live wells, and storage compartments are empty and cleaned, and that sinks, showers and counters are spotless. Carpet should be cleaned or replaced if worn out. Curtains and upholstery need cleaning as well, especially if you have pets or smokers aboard. When walls are covered with pictures, storage areas crammed with junk, and books and magazines are left scattered about it makes the interior of any boat seem smaller Make sure any unpleasant odors are removed before showing. Finally, before showing your boat remove everything that is not included in the sale. More than a few high-dollar sales have been scuttled at the last minute by a .disagreement over who gets the $100 binoculars you left lying on the salon table.
4. ORGANIZE ALL MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE RECORDS.
It’s a good idea to put a notebook together showing all the details of your boat’s
history: upgrades, spare parts inventory, warranty information, etc. Organize and make sure the factory supplied sys- tems and equipment manuals and plumbing and wiring schematics are available. Also, keep the title and registration nearby to avoid any delays when it’s time to close the sale.Maintenance and service records are great sales tools — the more information you can provide about your boat’s service history, the better. A well-maintained boat may sell on its own, but a full set of maintenance records will give a buyer the extra level confidence he needs to make an offer on your boat.
5. LOCATE THE BOAT TO WHERE IT’S EASY TO SHOW.
When the boat has been cleaned and polished, all repairs completed, and the interior cleared of your personal belongings, it’s time to consider location. No matter what preparations you’ve made to insure a great first impression, putting your boat in a run-down marina to save a few dollars on slip rental may render all of your hard work meaningless.
Locating your boat in a full-service marina with luxury amenities
and top-shelf facilities will go a long way toward creating the best
possible selling environment. Hiding you boat in some backwater
marina in a hard-to-reach area may also dramatically reduce the traffic you need to get the boat sold.
Boats are a wonderful place to enjoy friends and family and the peace of mind being on the water brings. But, when it’s time to sell, don’t start your clean-up efforts then, take advantage of these tips and more so you will be able to get maximum value upon resale.
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