Agree completely. As a buyer, I absolutely INSIST on accompanying the surveyor. I will try hard not to ask too many questions, and work hard not to interfere, but I want to see what he does and what he sees. If he is not okay with that, I will find another surveyor who is.I have never had the seller aboard when doing a survey as the buyer. I do want to be aboard as the buyer when the surveyor does the survey. If a surveyor doesn't want me there when I am the buyer, I will find another surveyor. As the seller, I would leave them alone to do the survey.
Being close by and available but not underfoot is the best for the selling broker and seller. The surveyor is employed by the buyer and they can sort out their relationship. Seller is good to have around to answer questions and operate machinery and the vessel during sea-trial.
Prospective buyer bringing surveyor to see my boat that is for sell. As a seller, do I just leave or stay on the boat?
As a buyer, it bothers me if the seller gets to involved in the survey. A couple of years back, we had put money down on a nice looking boat, waiting for the mechanical survey, the seller came to the boat and changed all the fluids and filters before the surveyor got there to do his inspection. As a result the surveyor said that he could not get an accurate oil reading of contamination. This was the start of distrust of the seller, as though he was trying to cover-up and hide things. Which we later found to be the case.
That is very common whether the seller is present or not.
My oil would probably be freshly changed too, after all long trips I usually do and that unless an estate sale would be my story.
The difference is any kind of maintenance log that would show it as normal versus cover up or last irregular. Like my oil analysis log of so many years ...it would answer that too.
There are honest and dishonest sellers, a good surveyor should pick up on that pretty quick.
Another reason to ask the surveyor what if anything he would want ahead of time.
If it was season end or in storage the fluids would be changed on my boats.
During the season it would be an unlikely situation the fluids were just changed - but why leave it to luck?
Once you are aware of a surveyor coming its just easier to ask a few questions to see what (if anything) he/she may want ahead of time and/or for the survey. If they do not tell you I doubt you will be able to know what it might be.
Agree completely. As a buyer, I absolutely INSIST on accompanying the surveyor. I will try hard not to ask too many questions, and work hard not to interfere, but I want to see what he does and what he sees. If he is not okay with that, I will find another surveyor who is.
For the seller, it is a kind of a tightrope. From the buyer's perspective, it is nice if the seller is available in case questions come up. On the other hand, you don't want the seller with the surveyor. So the seller needs to be available, but out of the way. "Pull up a chair on the dock" sounds like good advice.
Prospective buyer bringing surveyor to see my boat that is for sell. As a seller, do I just leave or stay on the boat?
It may be common practice in Philippines, but not in Australia. It`s common here for the buyer to be present, with the surveyor, as survey proceeds. The buyer who is present will be better informed than by reading a written report, and can ask questions. Saves the need for the second visit too.A few points to note when asking for a Survey,....it is not common practice to have the buyer on board at this time, after the Survey report is received by the buyer and with agreement of the seller a second visit to the vessel by both the Surveyor and buyer may be under taken....
It may be common practice in Philippines, but not in Australia. It`s common here for the buyer to be present, with the surveyor, as survey proceeds. The buyer who is present will be better informed than by reading a written report, and can ask questions. Saves the need for the second visit too.
Same here. But I think the big take-away is that what is "normal" practice in one place may be absolutely unheard of elsewhere. You need to do your research and understand the standard practices wherever it is that you are buying your boat. In particular, if you are buying a boat in a different country from where you live, be aware that "normal" may seem quite abnormal to you!It may be common practice in Philippines, but not in Australia.
seevee, brucek, denverdon....EXACTLY.....
though important not to bother surveyor;....observation, staying out of surveyors way/access, with minor / short interruptions is needed from me, an experienced buyer/captain, sailor....
"Commonly done, standard practice, not usual"..is not going to apply to my purchase on any 30 yr old vessel...I don't have time to waste on a second visit needing the surveyor again,.. to attend....no...
I would not be paying you Captsteve...my decision to buy a boat, as a liveaboard cruiser is a paramount decision in my life....momentous!!!!
Nothing in my life is more important than the vessel I am about to buy and live on....nothing...a sense of humor is wholly absent at this time....I can't afford to have a $5000 plus cash Surprise , after purchase...I need to know up front an exacting assessment of future repairs....that is why you are being paid as a surveyor, to apprise me of the vessels needs....before I purchase..