FALL FUN
How to Ride the Wave
of Demand & Get Top $$
for Your Boat
(BPT) - Not only is it peak boating season, but the
impact of COVID-19 has inspired a renewed interest in
boats from coast-to-coast as people start getting outside and
enjoying the water while maintaining social distancing.
Boat Trader - boating’s largest online marketplace -
confirmed this spike in demand in all regions across the
country and reported that their traffic in the second quarter
jumped 74% over 2019. Even areas less known for boating
are seeing record-high listing engagement. What’s more,
all boat types, new and used, are experiencing a buying
boom with center consoles, pontoons, and ski/wake boats
among the most popular segments in terms of lead volume.
Because many boat manufacturers around the world
were forced to reduce or halt production in the wake of the
global pandemic, the current rise in market activity suggests
there will be tighter inventory later in the year. As interest
in boating shows no signs of slowing and supply shrinks
as new boaters buy boats, the time is ripe for current boat
owners to ride this wave of demand and sell and upgrade
now before a possible waiting period for new models sets in.
What do surging boat sales mean for
boats currently sitting in driveways?
Buyers are snapping up affordable inventory:
Right now, as historic numbers of people are
looking to buy a boat, marketplace insight shows
the highest demand is for vessels priced under
$25,000, followed by boats under $50,000.
Sale prices are up: According to data from Boat
Trader, in May and June the average sale price per boat
sold in the used, under 26-foot category, increased
5.24% - more than $1,600 - over last year. Though
there are many factors that determine the sale price
of a boat, like condition, engine hours and age, this
trend is yet another signal that demand is strong.
Families want to go boating: Americans, to the tune of
more than 10 million boat shoppers per month, are relying
on the convenience of technology more than ever to get
on the water. For a minimal price, you can sell your boat
locally on Boat Trader and get up to 10 times the exposure
of free ads. The site also populates boat specs from the
manufacturer, making it easy to list and market your boat.
How to sell your boat faster and for top dollar
Beware the buzz: There’s a joke in real estate
about spotting watchwords in listings. For example,
“close to shopping,” could mean you can hear traffic
noise from the backyard. Be careful writing a boat
listing with phrases like “custom paint!” or “rebuilt
engine!” because, without explanations, these
well-meaning buzzwords can raise red flags.
Picture perfect: Upload multiple photos to
your boat listing and post the best photo first to
encourage maximum engagement. The “sweet spot”
falls between 11 and 25 photos, and in these times
of social distancing, share video tours. Listings with
video tours see more activity than those without.
Market price: Position your boat as the catch of
the day with competitive pricing. To determine an
accurate price range for your boat, look at listings
for similar boats in similar condition. For quick
research, use the Boat Trader Price Checker tool.
Be responsive: As the seller, it’s important that
you build trust with a potential buyer, which can
lead to a faster sale and willingness to pay more
money. Respond within 24 hours - if not sooner - to
keep interest high and attract that perfect sale.
The bottom line is this: Timing is everything. If selling
your boat has crossed your mind, either in order to upgrade
or put money in the bank, the time is now. Surging interest
in boating and limited inventories could mean faster sales
and more money in your pocket if you take action today.
22 LAKE WEDOWEE LIFE