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Boat valuation farce

DickBrowne

By DickBrowne
in General Boating

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DickBrowne Collaborator

DickBrowne

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Posted

So the wife and I have decided that it may be time to sell Pinmill on, and I've rung a few local brokers to ask about valuations. Actually, I rang two - one I thought would probably do a hatchet job, and one who I have always respected and thought would be far more professional...

 

The first one, the one I thought would mess us around was, actually, very professional - we spoke about the boat, they said that we could book an appointment for them to come and look the boat over and give us a figure, I had a number of questions and every one was answered fully and satisfactorily. The broker in question also buys boats and sells them on themselves, I asked about this option and they were refreshingly honest about the percentage of the brokerage price they would offer and even advised against it unless we really needed to sell quickly.

 

Just as surprising was the second one, who was offhand and dismissive and offered a valuation over the phone without knowing anything about the boat except who built it and when. No information about what it would cost to sell or the services they offer. I asked about boat transport and we got into a discussion about how long it takes to get from our marina to the broker - I've done the journey five or six times over the past two years and it's never taken me more than a day and a half, but apparently that's impossible, it takes at least three days - it's 24 miles, 20 locks and two tunnels. Not exactly challenging and I'd expect a proper working boater to be able to do it in one day. It's not the extra cash for transport which miffed me so much as the insistence that I didn't know what I was talking about. I may not be the most experienced boater out there, but having undertaken the journey myself a number of times, I'm pretty sure I know how long it takes...

 

I'm still having a bit of a seethe, if I'm being honest...

 

I now have to persuade the wife to use the marina neither of us wanted to

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adam1uk Experienced

adam1uk

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I now have to persuade the wife to use the marina neither of us wanted to

 

Not necessarily -- other brokers are available. One is well known on here, and is a mere 8 miles and 7 locks from you. Another, whom we thought were very efficient when we bought though them, is roughly the same distance as your option 2, it just means a right turn before the second tunnel.

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Actually I hadn't taken the trouble to read it well enough - I withdraw my comment!

 

Well 1 is a given -

 

I wouldn't sell my boat there either.

 

2 - as I say not convinced.

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alan_fincher Veteran II

alan_fincher

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I asked about boat transport and we got into a discussion about how long it takes to get from our marina to the broker - I've done the journey five or six times over the past two years and it's never taken me more than a day and a half, but apparently that's impossible, it takes at least three days - it's 24 miles, 20 locks and two tunnels. Not exactly challenging and I'd expect a proper working boater to be able to do it in one day. It's not the extra cash for transport which miffed me so much as the insistence that I didn't know what I was talking about. I may not be the most experienced boater out there, but having undertaken the journey myself a number of times, I'm pretty sure I know how long it takes...

CanalPlanAC says it about 11.5 hours, so no more than a day and a half of normal boating, I'd say, even if not thrashing it.

 

2 - as I say not convinced.

But the miles locks and tunnels are spot on for 2 beginning with B!

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DickBrowne Collaborator

DickBrowne

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Sadly the guesses were correct, and I'm going to think carefully before deciding what to do - my wish is to go with Braunston, but I just didn't feel comfortable with how I was treated today. It could have been that the individual concerned was simply having a bad day, we all do that after all, but to give a valuation without even having seen the boat? Really?

 

Has anybody here got experience of selling through either Whilton or Braunston? I felt vaguely uncomfortable about how I was treated when we bought the boat through Braunston a few years back, but just assumed that it was down to being new to boat ownership, if not to boating.

 

On reflection, there were a couple of incidents when we bought which may have been indicative of either our lack of knowledge or their willingness to take us for a ride. For instance, we have a Webasto water heater and there were issues getting it started, the individual I dealt with today had me 90% of the way to signing up for a new (non-Webasto) heater and water cylinder at a four figure sum, luckily I stood back to think about it and a few weeks later I replaced the glow plug which improved things massively, and a total cure was effected when I replaced the leisure batteries this summer... Replacing the heater would have been a massive waste of money.

 

By reputation I would have only considered selling through Braunston, but given todays episode, and how it's made me think about our buying experience, I'm canvassing opinion, and I'm not 100% committed to either of these, any other brokers in the area are also up for selection if anyone recommends them highly enough :)

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Nightwatch Veteran II

NightwatchDonate to Canal World

Posted
Posted (edited)

I would 'have a go' on Apolloduck. As suggested. Pay for the ad (not much) and you can have many photos and they bump it to the top now and again.

 

Failing that, never used them but reputation is good, Rugby Boats. Nearer as well.

 

Last time I was in Braunston to look around a boat I may well have been more than interested in, I stood in the shop/office for a good fifteen minutes and was completely ignored. Really? Yes, completely. Not even acknowledged as me being there. And, I was going to buy two Mars Bars as well. Walked out.

 

Martyn

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DickBrowne Collaborator

DickBrowne

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As you bought through Braunston, could their valuation have been based on their previous knowledge of the boat? It may have a little more credibility if so.

 

Sadly not Allan, he didn't even ask the name of the boat - I did mention it after he gave me the valuation, but before that nothing. He even said that he didn't remember selling the boat, or the boat itself (not surprising given the number of boats he must have seen in the past few years)

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ditch paddler Collaborator

ditch paddler

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Sadly the guesses were correct, and I'm going to think carefully before deciding what to do - my wish is to go with Braunston, but I just didn't feel comfortable with how I was treated today. It could have been that the individual concerned was simply having a bad day, we all do that after all, but to give a valuation without even having seen the boat? Really?

 

Has anybody here got experience of selling through either Whilton or Braunston? I felt vaguely uncomfortable about how I was treated when we bought the boat through Braunston a few years back, but just assumed that it was down to being new to boat ownership, if not to boating.

 

On reflection, there were a couple of incidents when we bought which may have been indicative of either our lack of knowledge or their willingness to take us for a ride. For instance, we have a Webasto water heater and there were issues getting it started, the individual I dealt with today had me 90% of the way to signing up for a new (non-Webasto) heater and water cylinder at a four figure sum, luckily I stood back to think about it and a few weeks later I replaced the glow plug which improved things massively, and a total cure was effected when I replaced the leisure batteries this summer... Replacing the heater would have been a massive waste of money.

 

By reputation I would have only considered selling through Braunston, but given todays episode, and how it's made me think about our buying experience, I'm canvassing opinion, and I'm not 100% committed to either of these, any other brokers in the area are also up for selection if anyone recommends them highly enough :)

I have just sold my boat through ABNB and can only speak very highly of them, it was on brokerage for 3 weeks several viewings which i was emailed notification everytime somebody viewed the boat, and we recieved an offer. The offer was negotiated and we agreed on a price very close to the asking price, survey carried out 2 weeks later, we all got together and went through all questions etc as required and money in the bank the following week job done and very straight forward. I did get a valuation from Braunston which was some 10k less than we eventually sold for. As i bought my boat through ABNB i also recieved 15% reduction in fees as a returning customer.

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waggers Contributor

waggers

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have you thought about the "new and used boat" people,

when i was at mercia marina they were always cleaning the boats for sale and generally keeping them in a presentable condition. they are also at blisworth marina. i have not bought from them but was impressed by the way they looked after the for sale boats.

braunston when i went to the boat show i walked past the for sale boats and not impressed at all as they mostly looked grubby and seemed to have the same price tag of £39,995

as mentioned try selling private but do include lots of photos and all details of your boat

best of luck

clive

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DustyDave Collaborator

DustyDave

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As a buyer I didn't think much of braunston last year. It was no better (if not worse) than whilton. I actually never had any problems with whilton but I wouldn't have liked to buy through them (felt like a load of used car salesmen). To be serious about a boat I wanted to be shown round it, not to have the keys chucked at me.

 

Not sure what your boat is worth but I'd go for a brokerage where your boat fits in.

 

Dave

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