Tnell.... thanks
If I May and this is an “Op Ed Piece” so please don't take offense and please flame on if you wish...
Recently I have been helping my cousin with the purchase of his first catamaran and needless to say it was a project we have meet with frustration… to the point where he has abandoned the quest for this year.. I know I am getting old and cranky, but please indulge me here for a moment as I share some pointers.
Photos – though we all like looking at action shots IMPO 10 action shots from 20 or so yards away taken six years ago are not going to get me on the phone to you. Recent close up photos of the hulls, rudders, mast, tramp, trailer, sails, etc... of YOUR boat are! Most cell phones today have a pretty decent camera compared to the top of the line digital cameras from yesteryear… I believe the classified ads here allow for 9 photos and Craig’s list about the same if not more… If you have more; and in this case more is good, open up a photo bucket account and post there… its free…. If I like what I see we’ll be talking… if not, we’re not wasting each others time.
Communication… guess this goes back to a discussion here a while back… and again I get it text messaging and email is an efficient way to communicate. My wife and I do it all the time for simple stuff, as I do with work… but I am going to spend some money with you, would be nice to have a five minute conversation…. Or at least a call, email, or text message back.
Be forthcoming in representing your boat… nothing more infuriating then driving an hour or two only to see a big chunks or holes in the hulls, bent or dented mast, trashed dagger boards/rudders, incorrect paperwork, overdue registration fees, no title and registrations, unsafe trailer, and the like… Look I get it…, some sellers have lost interest and are looking to wash these things out of their hair… We had one day where we looked at two boats… one had a good sized hole in the hull that was covered with white tape where the owner tried to play stupid, and the other where the title and boat serial numbers didn’t match… the later was legit as it was a new hull, but this would have incurred some additional paper work, and back registration fees…. And if you have dealt with the California DMV… with out of sate registrations.... well…. let’s say a root canal with no anesthetic would be a more pleasant experience.
Be ready to show the boat…. I may have driven for an hour or two to look at your boat and may have to meet you some where like a storage yard… Being 45 minutes late after saying you're five minutes away and not having the key to the storage box or locker in my mind is sort of disrespectful.
Paperwork… if this is a state requirement, have it on hand and in order… if we have gotten this far I may have cash in pocket ready to buy… And, no I am not going to contact your soon to be ex-wife’s lawyer for the title and registration.. yes, this was an experience…..
Cash talks on a fair price… I don’t want to touch the third rail here…. But please be realistic in the price you’re asking for your boat…. And if someone makes a reasonable offer don’t say no… start negotiating… of course the buyer is going to come in at a lower price.. don’t walk … talk!!!!
Sold… if you have sold your boat, as a courtesy please take the ad down and if you leave it up please don’t be annoyed when someone contacts you.
Again, these are my opinions and advice.... and as we know advice is only worth what you pay for it...
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John Schwartz
Ventura, CA
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