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Is It Time To Sell Your Narrowboat?
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Tue Jan 21, 2025 at 10:07am

Have you decided that you are going to sell your narrowboat or widebeam?

There are two ways to sell your narrowboat or widebeam, and in this blog we will discuss both options so you have a clearer picture of which method is going to work best for you if and when you decide to sell.

Privately

If you decide to sell your boat privately, you'll get the benefit of saving the cost of using a broker. But you'll need to be super organised to guarantee a sale at the right price!

You will have to manage all the marketing and viewings which can be very time consuming. Think carefully about the design of your advert and the photos you'll include this can really make or break a deal. Your advert should be well thought out; the title should be clear and includes the features you think buyers are most likely to be searching for, for example the make, year, model, size, etc. Your description must include all desirable features and justify the sale price, it should also stand out from other boats that are similar to yours.

Research what the market value is of boats like yours. If you are not sure or have little experience of pricing, then discuss this with other experienced boaters to estimate whether your price is realistic, optimistic or indeed pessimistic. You need to price the boat fairly and leave some room for negotiation.

Make sure you have all the maintenance records and other paperwork that detail your boat’s history, including any declarations of conformity or Post construction assessment certificates. Without this boat documentation you may not be able to back up your asking price when it comes to negotiating the sale.

Be prepared to organise for the boat to have a survey. This will require the use of a dry dock or a haul out. You will need to pay for using this service, but the buyer is responsible for paying & getting the surveyor to inspect the vessel. Organising this can be quite a challenge and it’s worth noting that a brokerage company would be able to handle all this for you.

Lastly be prepared to deal with a lot of time wasters, you will be amazed at how many people are just window shopping and not actually in a position to put in an offer and buy a boat.

Brokerage Company

By contacting a brokerage company they can deal with EVERYTHING from the marketing, viewings, surveys, negotiating and all the paper work that is required to get a boat sold quickly and at the right price.

*The benefits of using a professional brokerage company:

  • They will have a wide customer base with buyers waiting to buy.
  • Most will offer you a FREE Valuation
  • They will use marketing tools such as: websites, social media, magazine adverts, mailing lists, etc.
  • Lots are open 7 days a week and will be able to deal with all the viewings (including the time wasters!)
  • Most will provide free moorings at their marina whilst the boat is being marketed.
  • The experienced and knowledgeable sales team will be able to get you the best price for your boat.
  • They will be able to sort out having a survey carried out in their dry dock, or slipway.
  • They will have engineers on hand to sort out repairs or will be able to point you in the direction of someone who can help.
  • Some can offer you part exchange deals depending on the age and condition of your boat
  • Some can buy your boat for cash (depending on the age and condition of the boat)

All of the above is offered by Whilton marina, but all brokers operate differently, so please check their terms of business first.    

Some FAQs that might be on your mind can be answered here

It is very important to take the advice of the experts when it comes to the pricing of your boat. Overpriced boats just don’t sell, it’s that simple. So if you are looking for a quick sale, then use a brokerage company and take the advice of the broker that values your boat.

If you would like a FREE Valuation, give us a call today on 01327 842577, or fill in our online form - we are more than happy to come and see you.