As you can imagine during this downturn in the economy, boat sales are not as brisk as they once were. As in real estate, the number of units sold and the average selling price are both down. However, the good news is sales are still being made. In fact, many buyers are excited by the obvious "buyer's market" and are actively searching for the boat of their dreams.

Whether sail or power, people are still very enthusiastic about the idea of getting out on the water and enjoying a boat. For many of us, owning a boat may be the reward we have been dreaming about and counting on for years.

Many of our customers at Whiteaker Yacht Sales are purchasing a boat to go cruising as the first stage of their retirement years. These people have been working most of their lives to get to this point. Just because the economy is down doesn't mean they don’t still have that nest egg. And yes, they're willing to spend it in order to live their dream. These people feel they have worked hard to get to this point and they are determined to reap the rewards.

In spite of the fact that a typical boat will not appreciate in value, many potential buyers will consider a boat purchase as an investment. They feel that it is wiser to spend their money on a boat which will give them many years of fun and enjoyment rather than on expensive vacations or other luxuries. Properly maintained, their boat will return much of their initial investment when it's time to sell. They may also consider their boat as a valuable asset that can be enjoyed now and passed along to their children and grandchildren in the future. And we can't think of any stock or bond that would be nearly as much fun as a boat!

So how do you sell your boat in today's market? It's really not that difficult.

First and foremost, make sure it is clean and well maintained. You can see specific tips and suggestions in the "Boat Selling Tips" section of Whiteaker Yacht Sale's website.

Secondly, choose a reputable broker who knows how to market your boat in a tough economy and who will be candid about your boat's market potential.

Third, price your boat competitively. The internet makes it extremely easy for potential buyers to compare price and features. You may be emotionally connected to your boat and may think "my boat's special" and thus be tempted to ask more than it's really worth. If you fall into this trap, your boat will likely stay on the market for months, even years, until you lower your price.

And that's it! If you do these three things, you will greatly enhance your odds of selling your boat sooner rather than later.

So, how do you find a reputable broker who will successfully market your boat? There are many fine brokers to choose from, but quite naturally, we hope you choose Whiteaker Yacht Sales! We pride ourselves in forming a personal relationship with all our customers, both buyers and sellers. We try to set ourselves apart from the many brokerage companies who simply have a sales quota to make. We take the time to ask questions, listen, and follow up. We strive to provide excellent service during the search, purchase, closing process, and after the sale. We get a great deal of satisfaction from helping people to live their dreams.

At Whiteaker Yacht Sales, we have a background in advertising and marketing. We know that slow times mean that we should increase our advertising budget, not cut back. Following that philosophy, we have indeed increased our advertising budget over the past few months and it is paying off. We have expanded our print advertising and, more importantly, we have greatly increased our advertising on the internet which is definitely where most people shop for boats these days. Now more than ever, we recognize that it is a global market. That is why we now advertise all our listings on several European websites. As a result, we are now receiving inquiries from savvy buyers in Europe and around the world.

Of course, our best form of advertising is what our customers are saying about us. We are very thankful for the many wonderful testimonials and referrals we have received from satisfied buyers and sellers.

So, can you sell your boat in a slow economy? Absolutely! Will you need to work a little harder to do so? Of course! Does choosing the right broker make a difference? You bet!

We hope you will choose Whiteaker Yacht Sales to help you sell your boat. No one will work harder and invest more to market your boat and earn your trust.

If you have any questions about selling your boat, please contact us. We will be delighted to assist you in any way possible.