Problem broker

[dohenyboy]

Any suggestions for solving this problem. You find the boat you want, contact the broker on a boat you try to make an offer on, and you are ignored?

[Morgali]

See if you can talk to the marina and contact the owner directly.

[Celestialsailor]

I would guess Power yachts are not flying off the docks with fuel prices as they are. We'll be rolling into a recession in the next year and then he will start returning calls. You could even find a buyers broker and let him do the calling. Costs you nothing and the first broker half the commission.

[Baby tug]

I have Immense dislike for a brokers ,k If you live in the local area I would suggest tracking down the owner , the suggestion of finding a buyers broker sounds like a good idea except you’re walking right back into dealing with brokers again , I could explain to you exactly why I Dislike brokers however the moderators on these forms are strict about explaining yourself in a way that is Disrespectful , however they sell porn in the Adds on this forum , getting back to your normal question eliminating the broker out of the equation in my opinion would you be your best option , track down the owner , talk to a neighbor on the same Finger who might know who owns the boat , you can track them down some kind of way

[nightowle]

Contact the owner or manager of the brokerage. Make a complaint about the listing broker's inattentiveness.

[Bobby Lex]

I ran into this same problem when looking to buy a boat a couple of years ago. Several emails and phone messages went unreturned by one broker in particular. I finally resorted to hiring a buyer's broker and my problem was solved.

Although you don't get to pick the seller's broker -- so you're stuck with whatever level of professionalism or unprofessionalism you get. When you choose a buyer's broker -- you get to do your own research and pick one that is professional and responsive and can truly be of benefit during the buying process. Not all brokers are the same.

And as has been pointed out -- generally (though not always) -- the commission is split between the two brokers, so it shouldn't cost you anything to have a buyers broker represent you.

Bob

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by dohenyboy

Any suggestions for solving this problem. You find the boat you want, contact the broker on a boat you try to make an offer on, and you are ignored?

Originally Posted by nightowle

Contact the owner or manager of the brokerage. Make a complaint about the listing broker's inattentiveness.

Also, don't rely on e-mail. Try the phone, if you haven't already...

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

I would guess Power yachts are not flying off the docks with fuel prices as they are.

Sales are apparently still brisk, even if the speed of sale is slowing down a bit. More recently, boat listings are staying on yachtworld a bit longer, whereas over the last couple years listed boats were often actually sold even before the listing appeared.

-Chris

[Shrew]

Originally Posted by dohenyboy

You find the boat you want, contact the broker on a boat you try to make an offer on, and you are ignored?

Could you elaborate on how you attempted to contact the broker?

Just some suggestions:

1) Use the Phone, not E-mail.

2) If you leave a voicemail, indicate that you want to book an appointment with the broker to view 'some/a few' of the boats they are offering.

3) Don't mention a specific boat if you leave a message. If that boat is under contract or has a number of viewings already booked, you may not get called back.

4) Don't bother using the initial contact to start asking questions about boat(s). This is not the appropriate time for detailed questions. You may be attempting to save your time, but your technically wasting their time to avoid wasting yours. The initial contact is to book an appointment only. (You wouldn't start shouting questions while you're knocking on the door, so don't do that virtually).

5) don't use ambiguous verbiage. "We're thinking bout buying a boat", "We're looking around to figure out what we want", etc.

6) During initial contact, don't paint yourself into a corner listing a large list of requirements (We want a 40 foot boat, ready to cruise, updated electronics, new sails, recently repowered, Bristol condition, with a budget of $50K"). If you list a unicorn, you're not going to get called back.

I'm not saying this is what you did, I'm just suggesting what not to do.

[dohenyboy]

What I have done:
Saw the boat in person, next day called and emailed both the broker I dealt with and the owner, wrote up an offer using the CYBA form online and sent it Fed Ex to the broker. The brokerage company has been suspended by the state for failure to pay taxes.
Before I made an offer I had to line up a slip, so I have already got financially committed.

[Rumrace]

I have a little power boat with 500hp. It’s fun has two seats and an expired life raft. If the cost of gas was ever an issue for power boaters it’s a mutual laugh. I recall buying cigarettes and a gallon of gas for 37 cents. I quit smoking to buy more gas.
Priced out new sails for my Jeanneau, gas is cheaper to be honest.
My Broker is awesome. He will sell me my next boat. Sorry you have issues. I gave mine a deposit check said find me a boat. He found one in probate. Captain had passed away. I sold a big Sea Ray with twin 395 Cummins use more fuel in a season than this little 40hp will use in a lifetime
My Donzi at 3,000 RPM gets 3n per Imperial gallon. At full gallop 4300 it will consume its twin 20 gallon tanks inside 2 hours and not charge its twin 100amp crank batteries.
Quit applying logic to powerboating it’s what makes sailor speak boring

[psk125]

Maybe the boat was sold in June and they "forgot" to remove the listing. It can also take a while to remove listings from the web, even if the removal was initiated.

[Celestialsailor]

Another little trick brokers like to pull is not working with a buyers broker. This is, of course, without the seller knowing and thinking he is getting maximum exposure.

[skipperpete]

Originally Posted by dohenyboy

What I have done:

Saw the boat in person, next day called and emailed both the broker I dealt with and the owner, wrote up an offer using the CYBA form online and sent it Fed Ex to the broker. The brokerage company has been suspended by the state for failure to pay taxes.

Before I made an offer I had to line up a slip, so I have already got financially committed.

Maybe the current owner was unhappy with your offer and instructed the broker to dis engage. I delivered a 75’ motor cruiser that was listed for sale and the owner ( British) was adamant that he wouldn’t sell to anyone he didn’t approve of..... this included Russians and boat flippers. Maybe they worked out that you’re a lawyer and they were up to no good... brokers have various levels of integrity, one suspended because of IRS infractions comes in at the lowest of levels.
Pete

[goboatingnow]

Having transacted 9 boats ( buy and sell ) over 30 years in five countries. I can happily say Ive never had a broker not acknowledge an offer. By the time I have got to an offer stage I have built up a relationship with the broker and usually been shown the boat by him.

I always phone offers in followed up by email.

I don’t lowball sellers. I research my market , build reliable and realistic selling price intelligence

Most brokers will tell you over a pint that they can spot tyre kickers mile off , they are the bane of brokers

Tyre kicker traits

(A) dreamers with no real idea of what they want
(B) people with no budget

(C) people who “ throw in “ offers without any preliminary work examining the boat. (These are classic trawling offers usually lowballs )

(D) people the broker has no relationship with or comes across as not being serious.

(E) people to whom buying is a “ game” of screwing the lowest price above everything else.


I m sure there are bad egg brokers out there. I have found most are reliable honest people often dealing with idiots. They can get a bit cynical. !!

( ps I do find email only to be a very unreliable way to contact brokers. Many seem to struggle with email from initial enquiries. It’s usually alright once you get their personal email or ring them to point out you’ve sent them an email. )