This notion that if it's a good idea than someone else would have done it is absurd. That would rule out every advancement and invention, ever.
Example:
There was a CHB 34 posted on this forum for sale in Seattle two years ago. Boathouse kept, never used and had 25+- hours on the engine. It was on the market a few months before I learned of it. Went out there and inspected the boat and it was in fact a pristine, never used all original 34. Bought her, spent a week decorating her and adding a few items and sold her in two months for over three times what I paid. Her owner is thrilled with his "perfect" boat.
There are bargins all over YW that have sat for years. Often it is a matter of a very small market for a particular boat, a difficult viewing location or owner clutter or poor housekeeping that is hiding the great boat that lies underneath.
OK, you're a broker... This is what you do for a living.
Why aren't you and all the rest of the professionals out there buying up all these "bargains" and re-selling them? The answer is simple... Professionals will buy a true "bargain" when they find it and re-sell it. Thats because a true bargain has enough difference in the price you can get it for and the price you can sell it for to make it worthwhile.
Case in point is the boat you mentioned. Didn't you buy that boat and re-sell it? Yes, that boat was a bargain.
The rest of the boats out there, especially the ones that have been listed for some time are boats that represent a fair value for the dollar(or are overpriced), and are just waiting for a buyer to come along that wants that particular boat.
My statement also stands, in that MOST of the boats that are older, and priced lower than the competition are priced lower for a reason.
This thread is about why some buyers are ignored by often more than one broker. My opinion is that is because these buyers are
shopping and not
buying. Perpetual boat shoppers are great, but they do not make a broker a dime unless he can find them their mythical unicorn, that rare boat that represents a true "bargain" that hasn't already been snatched up by someone who does this for a living.
Case in point, a guy that has been actively shopping for three years. Thats a non starter for anyone that makes money off of a sale. Others here that I've seen (and been) decide they want a larger boat, do their research and actually buy a boat that works for them.
Go look at my original posts from April 2011. I was the owner of a 28' cruiser that wanted to move up. I asked some questions here, and did some research, and in August I bought my current boat. That is a 4 month time line. Lots of others here do the exact same thing. They have a reasonable time line from idea to purchase. These are the kind of clients that a broker will spend time on, because brokers as you know need to sell actual boats to feed their families.
There is a time to do market research on your own, and a time to engage the services of a professional. In my opinion the time to engage the services of a professional is when you are actually ready, and intend to buy. Then it becomes the brokers job to find you the boat that best meets all of your needs.