Finding the Right Broker When Selling Your Yacht

By Alex Sutcliffe

When it comes to selling your yacht, it’s important to find a broker who is a good fit, both for you and your vessel.  A good broker is professional, knowledgeable and has networks and contacts the world over.  So how do you go about choosing a broker, and what other factors should you consider?

Selling your yacht – how to pick the right broker

Ideally, the broker you choose for selling your yacht should be a certified professional who is experienced in selling vessels of a similar size and type. This way they will already know the market and have a good understanding of your needs. Make sure to read some of their client testimonials beforehand and study their yacht listings, and find out how many similar vessels they’ve sold.

Experience and Professionalism

Your broker will be charged with guiding you towards an asking price that will attract serious buyers and offer you full value. The best yacht brokers have access to multiple listing services and will know the range of asking prices for the make, model and year of your vessel. 

Take note of any unique or extra services offered by brokerage firms when selling your yacht – do they work as a team, for example, pooling all the knowledge, contacts and experience of their brokers on your behalf, and allowing for the free flow of information, better lead generation and increased efficiency?  Look for the ones who’ll go the extra mile on your account.  

Honesty and Integrity

A professional broker will inspect your vessel and create a full specification sheet listing all its features. They will obtain its full history, from where and how it’s been used and the number of previous owners, to whether there have been any major repairs or even collisions. They

will outline any problems with full clarity, and ensure that your asking price reflects the cost of any necessary repairs.

Effective Marketing Tools

Luxury yacht brokers are passionate about their work and have access to a range of effective marketing tools to attract potential buyers when selling your yacht. They know what clients are looking for and will be sure to show your yacht at her best, with beautiful, quality photographs and professionally-produced video tours that accentuate her unique features.  This way, any potential clients know what to expect before making possibly time-consuming journeys to see for themselves.  

The best brokers have proven three-dimensional marketing strategies for their superyacht sales, combining traditional print media with a cutting-edge web presence, while integrating social media with global marketing campaigns. Importantly, they will already have global reach and numerous contacts the world over, participating in the largest annual global boat shows. They will also work with builders and brokerages the world over to provide the best results for their clients.

Since selling your yacht can take time, it’s important to choose a broker who is professional, personable and responsive, and who enjoys dealing with clients. The right broker should become a trusted partner in this venture, and one who’ll make the entire process run as smoothly as possible.