Make no mistake: using a broker when buying your yacht is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity! It takes time and many skills to find a boat in good condition, ensure that all the technical elements are functional, assess its market value and carry out a secure transfer of funds in due form. All this is precisely the role of the broker, who will provide you with an objective assessment of the yacht, take your budget into account, and organize all the administrative and financial aspects of the sale. So don’t hesitate to invest in the expertise and services of a yacht broker, so you can be sure you’re getting a good deal!
Would you buy a building or a house without going through a competent real estate agency and securing your transaction via a notary? No, you wouldn’t! Well, the broker plays both roles, but in the boat business.
The need for a broker’s expertise
Firstly, the broker knows where to find the right yacht for sale, thanks to his experience and network. He takes a look at the yacht’s history and administrative status, and draws up an initial balance sheet by making a fairly technical diagnosis and inventory. During the inventory, he lists any repairs and purchases to be made, as well as the essential safety equipment on board.
Once this initial approach has been made, the broker can organize a real pre-purchase appraisal.
The broker then puts the experts in touch with the various parties involved. He supervises the launch, organizes the survey and ensures that the sea trial runs smoothly. He also calls on competent project managers to carry out any work required. All these steps are essential for a smooth purchase.
It requires skill and experience, and to be effective, you need to be part of a network of professionals. It’s a real profession; you can’t just improvise yourself as a used boat broker!
The need for a broker to secure the transaction
The broker’s primary role is to ensure the security of the transaction. Scammers and other digital fraudsters are not lacking in ingenuity.
If two parties agree to a sale, then the broker’s real work begins. He draws up and has signed the legal deeds of sale, then takes care of the administrative formalities for the transfer of ownership. Above all, he or she guarantees the funds paid over and the smooth running of the transaction.
Imagine you’ve decided not to use the services of a yacht broker and you’ve paid a deposit. And then the survey reveals a defect! Who can guarantee that you’ll get your money back, without going through interminable procedures that are as costly as they are painful, and with no guarantee of success?
Who can guarantee that the seller will agree to transfer ownership before receiving the full amount? And are you willing to pay this sum without any guarantee that you will actually become the owner of the yacht?
With a broker, there’s a double guarantee: for the seller and for the buyer. The latter is guaranteed to become the owner of a yacht in good working order, and the seller is guaranteed to receive the full asking price.
Speaking of asking price, here’s another aspect that can be problematic when buying your yacht: sellers aren’t objective! They are attached to their possessions in general, and to their yacht in particular, and so overestimate the value of the property they wish to sell. A broker, on the other hand, is neutral, emotionally detached and has the eye of an expert.
The broker, the trump card when buying your yacht
So we can safely say that it’s well worth the effort. The agent’s commission is amply justified. Not only for the services he provides, but above all for the guarantee he gives you regarding the condition of your future yacht and the security of the transaction.
His expertise and network of professionals are invaluable! Few of us could buy a yacht if we knew every detail about it: its qualities, its defects, its equipment, its history, the reasons why it was put up for sale, and so on. And none of us can claim to be able to make a purchase with a 5-figure sum or more, in complete security.
With a shipbroker, all that’s left is to sail in peace.
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