For Floridians who are looking into yachts for sale in Florida, you’re on the right path. A yacht can become a huge pleasure and source of fun in your life. It can be a door to exploration, leisure, and the ability to understand the Sunshine State in a new way from a new perspective. On a yacht, you can host parties, go for a dip, enjoy delicious food, or even source your ingredients straight from the ocean and put them onto the grill.
A yacht can be a huge cost and a large investment. Looking into yacht sales in Florida takes a lot of responsibility and knowledge in approaching the buying and selling aspect of the industry. At Aspire Yacht Sales, we take the work out of researching and buying, help you find the right yacht, and get you set up with legal paperwork to ride away into the sunset. It’s important to be aware of the important steps before selling your yacht in Florida.
If you’re considering selling a yacht in Florida, you need to understand some key components that we’ll go over below. We’ll also analyze some ways you can up your selling game, especially within the Florida borders.
Buying or Selling: Opt for a broker
Yacht buyers or yacht sellers will always benefit from using a licensed and certified Florida yacht dealer like Aspire Yacht Sales. Buyers see the self-esteem boost and confidence that comes with working with a yacht broker who has experience and knowledge. Sellers can expect a competitive advantage by working with someone who understands how to make a yacht stand out among the rest and has connections to qualified buyers.
Review a Florida yacht broker’s license by searching for their license number in the Florida DBPR’s records. If they have salespeople under their belt, review their salesperson licenses as well which they’re required to have. Avoid at all costs working with a yacht broker or salesperson who has a suspended license or tries to make excuses for a lack of licensure.
When you work with a yacht broker with a certification from the Yacht Brokers Association of America (YBAA), you’re in good hands. This is the typical gold standard for all yacht sales experts. When you work with a certified yacht broker like one from Aspire Yacht Sales, you’re dealing with someone who has proven experience in the industry for at least two years and has passed a written exam.
Clean the yacht before selling
The inside, outside, and mechanics of your yacht need to be in the best condition before listing the vessel. There are some steps sellers take to ensure a yacht is in its best condition to appeal to buyers, such as:
- Having a clean interior, including the bilge and engine room
- Taking away all personal touches and getting rid of clutter to enhance the space
- Waxing the boat’s exterior, repairing gel coats, and cleaning the hull
- Checking that caulking and sealants are in great condition
- Replacing dock lines
A professional boat detailer can access the hard-to-reach areas and ensure the interior and exterior of the yacht look great. If the yacht is smaller, owners can opt to detail it themselves, although it’s vital to do your own preparation on the proper cleaning techniques for your yacht model.
A marine mechanic ultimately needs to carry out a detailed inspection before the vessel is listed. Even if the boat runs smoothly, there may be hidden mechanical issues that only a trained professional will notice. Ensure that any and all repairs can be completed by a professional prior to sale, and get them documented in writing by your mechanic.
Market research is a must
It’s difficult to find the right value on a yacht, unlike assessing the value of a car or truck. Ensure that you understand the asking price for your vessel and back it up with reasons why.
A variety of factors affect the value and cost of a yacht, including but not limited to:
- Yacht size
- Make, model, and manufacturing year of the yacht
- How well the boat has been maintained
- The area of Florida in which the vessel is being sold
- The season that the vessel is being sold
- Amount of time the vessel has been for sale
Sellers can look at yachts of similar models and sizes on yacht listing sites to get an idea of the potential value of their yacht, but the best option is usually to work with a qualified Florida yacht broker. Brokers have access to years of yacht sales data that helps them find a realistic asking price for your vessel, and they know how to evaluate a vessel’s condition in ways that a layperson usually doesn’t.
Make sure your listing includes high-quality photos and key information.
A yacht’s online listing is sometimes the first and only chance a buyer can glimpse the vessel before seeing it in person. It’s important to take the time to craft a listing that stands out to buyers, highlights the vessel, and provides all the necessary information, and a Florida yacht broker can help with all of this.
With a professional photographer taking HD photos of your yacht both inside and out, clean and well-lit photography can help you highlight the vessel’s best features. Other boats and marina don’t need to be featured. The listing needs to have updated information on the vessel including make, model, year, and engine specifications. Have this information including title and registration at the ready before you go to a broker to list your yacht on the market.
Overall
A yacht broker has to have enough qualifications to earn CPYB certification, including passing a written exam and showing at least two years of experience in the industry. If you’re opting to sell a yacht in Fort Lauderdale, you need the best guidance you can get and you need connections to help you sell. An experienced yacht broker can help you get there. A yacht broker typically needs to be qualified, understand your needs, and understand the industry. Aspire Yacht Sales can help. Contact us today to take the steps to sell your vessel the right way.
