We’ve all heard it said: “One foot out of the recession and one foot still in…”. What is the view from the sales trenches, where the buyer’s aim – as it should be – is to get the most boat for the least money, and the seller gets a fair shake?
The fact remains that boating gets and stays in your blood. We love to get out on the water every chance we get. Another fact is that knowledgeable buyers have money to spend. Why are vacation homes, retail, and recreational boating solid investments for the near future? Here’s one reason: Baby Boomers. They’re retiring and still enjoy an active lifestyle.
Recent market boosts include Jersey boaters flush with insurance settlement checks, the end of election and financial cliff anxieties, and the simple fact that those with cash to spend on your boat are more and more fed up with that “economy” thing and ready to take a risk. It is time to: “make an investment in your quality of life”.
From our perspective, the days of showing up on a sunny Saturday, waiting for the phone to ring, and easily selling your boat are OVER. The internet has changed and continues to evolve the boat buying and selling processes. Those of us that love the business easily adapt to change and are able to keep customer service at superior levels.
So what about price? What is your boat worth? If we list your boat for sale at too high a price, you’ll have a pretty brochure and not much else, with no lookers and continuing carrying costs. Too low a price gives away your money, and to do this is not in our DNA.
One easily overlooked fact: a boat’s sale price is based upon her actual condition, how well it is marketed, and what someone is willing to pay to take her away. We have direct control of some of these; through the aggressive and creative way we get buyers to your boat, and what we do to make your boat ready for sale.
Are you ready?
We are too.
Let’s get to work.
Jerry Clark
We just finished the Atlantic City boat show, where we were able to showcase our many powerboat listings. The Spring Sailboat Show is coming up (4/26-4/28) and we’ll be showing off our excellent sailboat listings. Please stop by and see us!
The fall boat shows generated a lot of leads and we’ve been busy following up on each and every one of them. We’ve gotten new listings as well as several accepted offers on boats. While it is true that several large brokerage houses have recently changed hands, and a couple more have closed altogether, Martin Bird & Associates remains under the same ownership, same management, and dedicated to the same principle of providing our clients with top-notch service and a pleasurable buying and selling experience.