Why choose Yacht Sales Australia? – Because we sell boats!

We have the East Coast covered, with offices right in the heart of Sydney at Middle Harbour Yacht Club NSW and at Newport Marina QLD we are well positioned to market your boat to the largest boating communities. We have seven experienced brokers working as a team to sell your boat for you. We advertise your boat extensively via our own web site www.yachtsalesaustralia.com, as well as www.boatpoint.com, and www.yachtandboat.com, in addition to ensuring it’s linked to other sites both nationally and internationally. Our websites are updated in house by our own brokers on a daily basis, ensuring it’s completely up to date. We also advertise in hard copy media.

We are all boaties who understand the industry and operate to maximise your return with as little fuss as possible. Yacht Sales Australia are 100% committed to achieving results as quickly as possible. We are results orientated. We are working for you, and will keep you up to date with the whole process. While you may be dealing with one primary contact you can also feel secure in that there are many more working away for you behind the scenes. We are all active members of local boating & yacht clubs.

How can I check your credentials?

Simply check our web site, we have up to date unsolicited testimonials from our vendors and buyers. Look at the quality and quantity of vessels we have listed on our websites. Or simply phone us and have a chat.

How do I list my boat with Yacht Sales Australia?

You can get the ball rolling by either calling us, drop into one of our offices or simply start filling out the details in list your boat here on the web site. We will arrange a time to meet you, inspect your boat, go over the specifications and take the pictures. Once the price has been agreed to you will be required to sign an Authority to Sell document which then legally allows us to sell your boat on your behalf. We will then compile the advertisements for approval, publish and start selling!

How much will it cost?

Nothing until we sell your boat! There are no upfront costs unless you wish to buy additional advertising. Our commissions are based on the Queensland Marine Brokers Association’s recommendation whereby the vendor pays the Broker a commission only on the successful sale of the vessel as follows: Commission shall be charged on the final sale price at a rate of 10% plus GST for the first $50,000 (minimum $2500 + GST) and on the following scale for the remainder:

• $50,000 to $99,999 8% + GST
• $100,000 to $199,999 7% + GST
• $200,000 to $299,999 6% + GST
• $300,000 and over 5% + GST

What are your normal selling procedures?

A written and signed contract to purchase the vessel is completed. This will include dates within a reasonable time frame for survey, sea trials, payment and settlement/completion. The contract to purchase will have terms “subject to” included, normally: satisfactory survey, sea trials and sometimes subject to finance.

The contract/offer is submitted to the vendor, upon acceptance the purchaser is obliged to pay a 10% deposit. The purchaser selects a surveyor and in conjunction with the vendor, surveyor and broker a day/time is agreed to for haul out and survey, this is carried out at the purchaser’s expense. (This is not done until the deposit has cleared into Yacht Sales Australia’s trust account).

Sea trials are conducted after survey once the vessel has been relaunched, any costs associated with the sea trial is at the vendor’s expense. (Any other inspections required, i.e. rigging survey or mechanical inspections should be arranged to take place on or before this date)

On satisfactory completion of the survey and sea trials (and any other special conditions that were included in the contract) the purchaser signs off as accepting the vessel. The purchaser, (unless otherwise indicated within 48 hours of survey and sea trials), is then deemed to have purchased the vessel. Settlement takes place after the balance of funds owing are showing as “cleared funds” in the Broker’s trust account before or on the settlement date agreed to in the offer to purchase. Transfer documents, bill of sale, boat keys etc and ownership is passed on to the purchaser at settlement.

Should I sell privately, Multi list with more than one Broker, or sell exclusively through one brokerage?

Selling Privately

Selling privately means that you will not be paying any brokerage fees however buyers expect to get a bargain through a private sale so inevitably you will not be offered as much. You will have to make time to allow for, what could be, many inspections until the right buyer comes along. It is difficult for the inexperienced to qualify serious buyers and inevitably will show the boat to many time wasters.

We find that direct negotiations between owners and buyers can be very awkward as owners are too attached to their boat to negotiate with a clear head. This is a business transaction and emotions should not play a part. You are also isolated from the security of having proper contractual arrangements and transfers made on your behalf by a broker.

Multi Listings:

The perception is that the more brokers you have the boat listed with the more buyers you attract, this is not the case. In reality, serious buyers will search the internet and be attracted to the best presented and most informative listings. There is unfortunately an aura of desperation if the same boat appears multiple times under numerous brokers sites.

In addition, most reputable brokers will have an added commitment to exclusive listings. Statistically, multi listed boats sell slower than exclusively listed boats. This is down to the fact that as a sole listing, Brokers will invest more time and money into getting the job done.

Sole Listings:

Having an exclusive Broker means that you have your own Broker, we work for you and we are directly responsible to you for the boat. Only one set of keys in the market means greater security and no arguments if hatches are left open etc. As an exclusive Broker we will be very aware of our sole responsibility to keep the boat in a proper state for inspections and ensure it is left that way afterwards. We can concentrate on getting a good price knowing that our hard work will get rewarded.

Statistically we sell more sole listings than multi listings; this is due in part to the increased advertising and effort put in by the team knowing that the effort is secured.

What can I do to help the process?

The best possible way you can help in the selling process is to have the boat available for inspections in as clean and tidy condition as possible. We cannot emphasise this enough, a clean, polished well maintained vessel will always create more interest than one that appears neglected. First impressions are very important in selling your boat. We realise that, along with routine maintenance issues, keeping the boat clean and tidy (clutter free) does takes some effort, so we can arrange one off detailing or regular cleaning for you if required.

If you choose to do the cleaning yourself here are some tips:

Keep the boat clean, uncluttered and presentable at all times. Be careful not to just do a cosmetic job. Buyers have the habit of looking in nooks and crannies that you may not have seen since you bought the boat. If you are serious about selling the boat, have it looking its best, spend the time (or money) having it thoroughly cleaned from tip to toe and keep it that way while it s on the market. (We can recommend cleaners should you require)

The head:

Although not always of primary importance, a smelly boat will put buyers off straight away. Keep your toilet gleaming and condition so it is odour free. Should it smell this may indicate trouble hoses and or sewerage systems that will put buyers off. It is worth having the head working and functioning odour free to make a good impression.

The bilge:

The most forgotten area in most boats. Most knowledgeable buyers will look into the bilge as it says a lot about how the boat has been maintained. A clean dry bilge is ideal.

The Inboard Engine:

The second most forgotten area in most boats. A clean shiny well painted engine sings chapters of self expression for the boats maintenance. Oily greasy engines send alarm signals. Wipe everything down, even the smallest spaces, get out your old toothbrush and get the greasy dust out between all the hard to reach areas. It should be clean, smell clean and be gleaming.

Outboard Motors:

All motors will be tested and in the case of outboards they are no different. The general rule of thumb is, if it is built by one of the main manufacturers, less than say 15hp and well maintained they are generally bullet proof. It is however important that it runs smoothly so make sure you have fresh (less than 1 month old) fuel on board!

Cabin:

Make sure everything works, electric lights, any navigation equipment. Make sure the stove is working and freshly polished. Tidy up all storage lockers even those rarely used ones and take off ALL items that are not needed on board the boat. Too much clutter creates a bad impression. Just as important as Clean is de-clutter. De-clutter everything, neatness and cleanliness sells.

Sails:

Most boats used for cruising do not have perfect sails, its one of those basic facts. However a seller’s assessment of good condition and that of the buyer may vary wildly. A little known fact is that it costs very little to have a sail maker clean and repair sails and can also give an unbiased report on the whole sail wardrobe. We can arrange this for you through our partner Doyle Sails.

Listing equipment:

Do not list equipment on the specification sheet if it is in poor condition or does not work. If something is broken, repair it or take it off the boat.

Availability:

We recognize that it is your boat and after all you still may want to go off into the big blue. Please do let us know in advance (if possible) if you are planning to take your boat out. After all we can t sell it if its not there.

Service Manuals:

Any information to back up the boat has been well maintained will help you sell her. If possible leave copies of any paperwork including service history with us to display to buyers.

Trust us:

After all we are here to help you. Ask us what can you do that is not too expensive but will help you to help us sell the boat? We know what we are talking about and it is often easy for us to see small things that can make a big difference.