Next, repair anything that needs it. Don’t allow a potential
buyer to pass over your boat for something as simple as a
livewell pump that doesn’t work, or a depth finder that won’t
read bottom. That sends a bad message and will often kill a deal.
Another tip: Invest in new add-ons where needed. For
example, while purchasing a new GPS might not be an
option, the mount that holds that GPS could be in need of
replacement, and a new one would dress up the entire unit.
The same goes for a new trolling motor mount or transom
saver on the outboard.
3. advertise like a pro
Once everything is spit-shined, it’s time to photograph the
boat. This is often what separates you from your competi-
tors. A quick glance at the leading online boat sale sites
reveals the truth: Most photos stink. They’re out of focus,
poorly lit or just don’t show a lot. Those are quickly passed
over, regardless of the quality of the boat being advertised.
Start by choosing a good background, the best being lake-
side. Position your boat where it glistens in the late-day sun with
a pretty lake as the background, and you’re in business. If the
lake looks “bassy,” all the better. You want a potential buyer to
immediately equate your boat with a good fishing experience.
Be sure to capture a photo of the full side of the boat, as
well as angles from front and back. A real eye-catcher is a
photo of the keel and hull from down low – almost ground
level. Rear photos concentrating on the outboard are also
particularly appealing to a bass boat crowd in love with speed.
Once overview photos are generated, be sure to snap sev-
eral shots of the boat’s interior, as well as key pieces of equip-
ment such as depth finders (with clean screens) and shallow-
water anchors. These items are often the final key in a sale.
With photos in hand, it’s time to advertise. While word of
mouth and good salesmanship were once keys, today it’s all
about the internet. Nearly all of today’s shoppers consult top
online sales sites before making a purchase, so you’re guar-
anteed your boat will get viewed if you post it on such a site.
For the bass boat market, nothing tops bassboatcentral.com.
The sites probass.net and iboats.com also do well. In addition,
numerous national giants such as boattrader.com get good traf-
fic due to their huge reach. Some are free; others require a fee
that’s usually well worth the money. Sign up, check the sites fre-
quently and reply to questions and emails from potential buyers
as soon as they come in.
Finally, knowing when to advertise is also important. The
vast majority of used boats sales occur in early spring, and
nearly none are sold from Thanksgiving through the first of
the year.
4. price the rig reasonably
Determining a price for your used boat is one of the most
important factors in generating a sale. The initial price must be
realistic and competitive, as starting high and coming down is
a sign of trouble to buyers who often monitor ads for weeks.
As a rule, compare your boat’s potential asking price to that
of others of the same year with the same outboard make, and
don’t overestimate the value of add-ons. You might have paid
thousands for the latest high-tech graphs, for example, but they
aren’t as valuable to the next buyer, and only contribute a small
percentage to the overall value of a used boat. In addition, buy-
ers will often use those features as an angle when haggling
price, so it’s important to remain flexible with regard to options.
Swallowing the cost might be necessary to make the deal.
5. be accommodating
When it comes time to show your boat to a potential
buyer, be prepared to sell. Make yourself available for a view-
ing, and do so in a clean, well-lit area. Have a definitive bill of
sale for both parties when the time comes, and only release
titles or MSOs (manufacturer’s statement of origin) when
payment clears to avoid fraud. If paperwork needs to be
mailed, do so with tracking and signature of receipt required
for all items.
With buyers more educated than ever and large numbers of
used bass boats going on the market every spring, selling can
be tough. Separate yourself from the competition, and remain
professional and accountable throughout the transaction.
It’s the first step toward funding your dream rig.
A little shine and some basic
repairs can go a long way
toward making a quick sale.
november-deCember 2017 I flWfIshIng.Com
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