Boating is one of Australia’s most passionate hobbies and pastimes, but sometimes it is just time to give up the boat! Sure boating can be fun but it can also become expensive so if you’re tight for money then selling your boat could free up a lot of extra finances. People sell boats for a number of different reasons, not just finances but when you need to sell your boat you need to know how. Whether you are selling because you need the extra cash or you’re selling because you’re updating your boat, how to sell your boat is very important! It’s time to put up the “Boat for sale” signs!

If you are planning on putting your boat for sale then you should remember that most of the people in your shoes have put far more time (and precious energy) buying their boat then they are selling it. Because of this a buyer cannot trust a price slapped on a boat. Most boat sellers have an idea of what price their boat is worth- and most of the time it is either way overpriced or way undervalued! If you put in the research, as soon as you put your boat for sale you will have the best opportunity to sell it at its potential value.

The worst thing you can do is to sit on a newspaper classified ad for weeks or even worse, months! Here are some of the main factors that will come into play when putting your boat for sale.

The price is ultimately the most important factor of the boat selling process for obvious reasons. If you set the wrong price on your machine then you will be setting yourself up for a disaster. The best way to avoid a pricing disaster when making your boat for sale is to check your local classified ads. Look around at what other people are selling similar boats for. If you put your boat to much higher then these, then you probably won’t get a bite -- so be careful. Another thing to consider: keep a copy of a few newspaper cut-outs of other boats so you can show potential buyers that you are the best price. Being prepared is always a good thing. Talking to boat dealers will also give you a strong perspective on what to expect for a price. Also, a lot of boat dealers are also in the market for buying new boats so you may get a sale out of them too!

With your boat for sale you must decide where to sell. You have a couple choices in this venue when you put your boat for sale. You can sell it yourself, sell it through a broker or trade it in for another boat. Most people either sell themselves or go for the trade in (if they were planning on getting a new boat in the first place). Your choice will depend on your preferences.

Selling your boat can turn out to be a great decision- so get your “Boat for Sale” signs ready!