Frustrated with yacht brokers

[Art]

To the tune of London Bridges Falling Down...

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Just sayen... with complete respect of course everyone, and, meant to be related to nothing but my short story on post 53

TedB_BC says it straight-up on post 76. Others have said it straight up in other ways.

As often quoted from movie "Jerry Maquire" - Show Me The Money$$$$

I believe there is probably at least some substance to all these months of many hundred postings... some how anyway... but just how - I'm simply not sure!

[ksanders]

Its an awful lot easier to tell if someone has the means to buy a quarter to half million dollar boat in person, sitting in front of the broker in his office. Little things.

Take for example the couple that wanders in wearing cutoff shorts and sandals, possibly some stubble on the guys face. First glance says that they are not capable of that kind of purchase.

But a smart broker will look closer. Is that an Omega, Bretling, Rolex, or other quality watch on his wrist? The Gal is dressed plainly but that might be a couple carat solitare diamond on her finger, and another couple carat solitars in her ears. without looking gaudy a gal can easily have 50K+ in diamonds on at any given time.

Folks do not need to be dressed to the nines to be prospective buyers, but the little things add up faster than any words out of their mouths. In general gals are easier to judge than guys. Guys often dont care how they look, but very few gals with the wherewithall to make that kind of purchase will be far from some serious diamonds.

Over the phone its gotta be a crap shoot. You get calls from dreamers every day. Its impossible to tell the prospective customers from the "entertainment shoppers" In person is another story altogether.

[sunchaser]

Originally Posted by ksanders

. Is that an Omega, Bretling, Rolex, or other quality watch on his wrist? .

Not always is a rich guy or gal wearing a Rolex. The standard yacht broker question, and a good one, is "Do you own a boat now?"

Most if not all serious potential buyers for +$500K vessels establish their credentials early so both sides know it is not a waste of eithers' time. Creds count more than baubles.

[Moonstruck]

I got a call early one Sunday morning. It was from a very young sounding young lady. She said that they were sitting in front of one of my homes that was a 40 minute drive for me. They wanted to see it now as they had a flight to catch. It was in an upscale neighborhood with pricey homes. I drug out of bed, and drove over. They appeared to be just a couple of kids driving a Pontiac Transam from N. Dakota. I thought Oh boy I got out of bed for this. They looked at the house, said that it was what they wanted, but they had to call the young lady's father. They took the house and paid cash. So, you have to show if you are going to sell.

On the other hand, I had a call one Easter morning for a doctor moving from New York. He said he was leaving town and wanted to see the house now as he had an early flight. I went over. He liked it and said write it up. We went back to the office. He signed and gave me an ernest money deposit. He stopped payment on the check next business day. You win some----you lose some. A brokers life is not all it's cracked up to be.

[RickB]

Originally Posted by Chrisjs

What does it have to do with it??
Kind of like showing up at the Maserati dealership in a Lada!!
I suspect that very few people with no boating experience just show up and buy a 80ft boat , no matter what you think.

Those folks usually buy much larger stuff. They are not interested in boating experience, they are interested in having a boating experience.

As one who has an office in one of those brokerage houses at a much more upscale location than 17th St. I can promise that you won't be laughed out until you prove yourself laughable. You will be treated with courtesy and respect. If you can't afford the boat then you won't be shown any but no one in the business will laugh at someone they know nothing about. I can assure you that you can't tell who the players are by just looking at them as they walk in the door.

[GalaxyGirl]

Originally Posted by TedB_BC

You signed on to Trawler Forum and Cruisers Forum in September, 2012. That's getting close to a year. You have made close to 500 posts and still don't appear to be any closer to your goal. Step back and take a look. As many have said you will not find your boat on the forums. From memory, your actually haven't actually looked at many boats if any.

Lot's of good advise here, get on the docks and find boats to look at. While I know it can take some time to find the "right" boat, you should have by now narrowed the choices down considerably to the point brokers can help you. If you haven't, that is not the brokers fault.

Given what appears to be your reluctance to actually get on board boats of the type you may be interested in, I am:

<----- that far -----> from calling this whole thing nonsense.

Take that any way you want, but it is meant in the best spirit.

I'm glad that some of you doubt me. All the more fun when you're proven wrong

[Blue Heron]

Galaxy, stick to your wheel. You can do this.

[Art]

Originally Posted by GalaxyGirl

I'm glad that some of you doubt me. All the more fun when you're proven wrong

Good God - One can only hope!
As Always... Best Luck!

[Budds Outlet]

Originally Posted by RickB

I can assure you that you can't tell who the players are by just looking at them as they walk in the door.

I did some business with the son of the CEO of one of the largest corporations in their industry in the world. Looked like a strung out hippie when I first met him. He turned out to be a sharp businessman like his dad. Did some business with a plain looking lady that was well mannered but not impressive. She turned out to be the wife of a famous movie star. I never did meet him in person.

You can't always judge a book by its cover.

Speaking of Rolex watches, back in the late 70's I bought a boat on a trailer at a marina in San Pedro. After we hooked up the boat to my truck we washed up and left. I'd managed to maneuver the truck and trailer onto a north-bound freeway when my buddy says "hey I left my watch back at the washroom." I say don't worry about it I'll buy you another one as I don't want to turn around. Its a Rolex he says. It won't be there I say. We go back and it wasn't in the washroom, no, someone had turned it in to the office. You also can't judge the patrons by the neighborhood.

[FF]

I can assure you that you can't tell who the players are by just looking at them as they walk in the door.

Just so!

[GalaxyGirl]

Judging a book by it's cover is one of the stupidest mistakes that a broker could make.

This is my update.

[JohnP]

GG, You know a lot about Real Estate not so much about boats. Why not concentrate on getting a nice big house in the best neighborhood with great schools? Continue to expand and build your business. Purchase a quality trawler like an early 49' Grandbanks and do the weekend, vacation thing to get you and the kids into it.
Summer cruises would be a great experience. If you can manage a life like that I think you will be a great success and example to your kids. Later after you pour a few million dollars into their college educations, you can move aboard a boat and chill out!

How does that plan grab You? JohnP

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by GalaxyGirl

Judging a book by it's cover is one of the stupidest mistakes that a broker could make.

This is my update.

I think you are missing something ....

Just read your update.....

The first guy wasn't too far off base. A few moments talking boats and I would have a zillion suggestions for you too....so trying to steer you into a bigger boat to make you happy isn't wrong for a broker standing to sell a big boat and make someone happy. If the boats discussed weren't in your budget...you have more difficulty "being direct" than you say you are in your update.

The second guy...yeah..I'm outta there too.

The third guy wasn't necessarily wrong either...based on what you know and how long it's taking you to even get on a boat (the story about marinas being gated is crapola as I've been walking marinas for over 50 years all over the world). Finding marinas with larger vessels where you can walk the docks during the day and speak to owners or crews isn't hard...they may not be in your backyard but they are all over the map.

Giving up on a buyers broker is the opposite of what I would suggest based on the difficulty you have in getting through to "boating brokers".

Most would be eager for a client looking in the size range you are thinking of. You need to walk in and have a face to face at a reputable brokerage, bring some proof of means to be able to buy, and give the guy a couple links to your now sizeable internet presence showing just how interested you seem to be.

Finally...if you aren't being taken seriously...you need someone who will get your foot in the door for you. Someone who knows boats better than brokers (easy enough to find at many marinas) and have them on your conference call or go with you to a brokerage. I have done that through the years with dozens of people. Plus walking them through the process and have "shared enough" to help them narrow their search so they are mostly prepped to really do the rest on their own.

[AusCan]

GG- I can sympathize with your frustrations. Not being the most clean-cut and well-dressed guys around, I am often misjudged by my cover. Sometimes to my benefit, sometimes not.

If I was in your position, I would make a good attempt to go through the broker. If ignored or brushed off, I would track down the boat owner with a bit of detective work, and explain why you are calling them direct. This shouldn't be to hard if you find out where the boat is and speak to the dockside neighbours. Be honest. Tell them that the broker isn't returning your calls.

I expect they will either deal directly with you, or they will put a rocket up the broker and you'll get their immediate attention.

I know some would think it would be morally wrong to bypass the broker; but this sounds like a better approach than using a "front man" or coming up with a set of lies to get you foot in the door.
No need to walk the walk & talk the talk. Just skip the bull and tell it like it is.

[Tom.B]

I think you're over-thinking all of this, but there is something to be said for your patience.

[beachbum29]

So 3 phone calls and you give up?

You need to be looking at everything and any thing. Each viewing will increase your knowledge of your wants and needs.

At the rate you're going, this boat thing will never happen.

You say that you're a real estate junkie? How much work is it to find the right property at the right deal?

Boats are no different.

[Capthead]

I was in the car business for 22 years before I retired. I saw everything imaginable at least three times. It wasn't uncommon to have a customer come in carrying last years brocure to look at this years model and leave not buying and the next guy take that car in 15 minutes. Yacht brokers should also know you spend quality time with a customer and they will always remember you. Most return and buy unless a better deal was found elsewhere.

I can't sum this up in an easy sentence for you GG, but I think eye to eye is, and always was, the best method. You have the benefit of seeing the salesman/saleswoman in person and you can be the judge of his character as well. When you find a trustworthy broker, stick with him/her and they will go to work for you.

I bought a house recently before moving off the boat. I went through three realtors before I could be comfortable enough to finalize an offer. Two offers were a total waste with two bad realtors. There are salesmen in all walks that only look for the easy mark. You don't want them on your side, they only look out for themselves.

Good luck and find a local broker if you can't long distant. Commissions on boats are large and most can live on a few sales a year so be choosy and find the right one.

[GalaxyGirl]

I can appreciate all of your responses.

I guess what it boils down to for me is that I have a particular style of boat that I will buy. That being said, I also have an open mind at this point to the possibility that I could change my mind right up the point of purchase.

I decided to look at some other boats that weren't necessarily the boat that I loved, but boats that I know could work, just to be sure.

I have been trying to set up appointments to see these other boats by calling the listing broker direct. I haven't had a lot of luck yet. However, when I do find the boat that I love, which I feel I may have yesterday, I will get a hold of the broker come hell or high water because I will be motivated.

Now, the boat that I do love, the listing broker said is sale pending, so I have to wait until survey to see if it is sold or not.

Also, my house is on the market, once it is sold I will be on a warpath. I would like to find the boat before the house is sold, so that I can transition from one to the other, but some things are out of our control and work out how they work out.

It wouldn't make much sense for me to fly around looking at boats now. I am better off waiting for the house to be sold, then I can make an offer on the spot when I find the boat. But, I will keep looking. And if the boat that I found yesterday doesn't sell, I'm sure that I will make an offer contingent upon satisfactory viewing and survey. If the house isn't sold yet, I might try and negotiate my way into them holding it for me, fat chance, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

[beachbum29]

Just keep looking at boats. You won't know what you want until you're actually on the boat.

Tell the brokers you are coming to look at their boat on such n such day. If they're not available ask them to send their assistant.

[Moonstruck]

GG, I believe that we are getting down to some honest talk. You are not ready to buy a boat, and if you did it would be contingent on the sale of your home. Do you take contingency contracts on the sale of your houses? Will you hold your houses until a prospect sells theirs?

I think we have been getting some mixed signals. At least we have some misunderstandings. Get a buyer's broker, and give him or her a clear understanding on where you stand and how you want him to work. They can keep you in mind by following the market. They can also give you a realistic idea of the price to expect on what you want. Don't expect a broker to go around dropping low ball offers on every boat on the market. That is not the way to buy a boat. Get realistic and stay with a good broker.