Buyers broker / consultant.

kmclarke · #1 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006

Hello all.

Does anyone know of a person or company that provides a buyers consultant service? I know Bob Perry provides this service are there any others ,has anyone used it . I would like to know if it was a worthwhile thing to do , I know what size and beam I want I also know what kind of hull rudder and rig I want , so I am wondering if I should just stick to the seemingly endless yachtworld search or enlist the services of an expert.

Cheers, Kevin.

labatt · #2 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006

I've heard good things about Bob Perry from a couple of people who have used him, but mostly to educate themselves on what to look at in specific boats. I'm sure he can probably direct you to the appropriate boats to look at based upon your interests. I contacted him a few weeks ago and he's now charging $500 for consultation vs. the $350 he lists on his site. I'm also fairly confident that if you post your preferences here that various people would be more than happy to direct you towards some boats and designs to look at.

sailingfool · #3 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006

Just find a local broker who has a reputation for expertise and being easy to work with, tell him what you want in a boat and what you can pay, and see how you like his advice. Let him line some boats up - if he's good, you're on your way, if you don't like the results, just say thanks anyway and move onto someone else...I think working wioth a good broker can save the buyer a lot of time and travel, unless you know exactly what you want and are going to buy locally...

good luck.

JakeLevi · #4 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

Do you have a clear idea of what you want in a boat or just sampling now ?

Paying a finders fee isnot a bad idea if its to someone who finds the boat that you want.

A $ 3-500 finders fee gets smaller and smaller as the price of the boat goes up. But its an unnecessary fee if you dont know yet what you want.

catamount · #5 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

Some experienced cruisers offering boat selection consulting services:

John Harries and Phyllis Nickel - http://www.morganscloud.com/services.htm

John Neal and Amanda Swan - http://www.mahina.com/consult.html

ebs001 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

When I boat my boat in Detriot I used a broker in Palmetto, Fl. He gets paid as part of the brokerage fee the seller pays. Contact a local broker or if you want I'll let you know my broker's name.

Zanshin · #7 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

I communicated quite a bit with Gary Fretz prior to buying my boat; I ended up not using his services for other reasons, but am sure that had I used him for the whole purchase process to communicate with the "other" broker it would have saved quite a bit of money. He was quite friendly, and that attitude didn't change when I informed him that he wouldn't be getting part of a commission.

See his article at Why a Yacht Buyer Should be Represented
by a Professional Broker

catamount · #8 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

Quote:

Being represented by a professional brokerage house does not add a penny to a yacht purchase price, since the brokers’ commission is entirely paid by the seller. Therefore, it is completely cost-free to the yacht Buyer.

Well, if the broker is being paid by the seller, then that broker is not really representing the interests of the buyer, is he (or she)?

A true buyer's broker would be one that the buyer pays.

Gene T · #9 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by catamount

Well, if the broker is being paid by the seller, then that broker is not really representing the interests of the buyer, is he (or she)?

A true buyer's broker would be one that the buyer pays.

Perhaps a good ethics discussion. While the buyer broker is paid by the seller he has signed no listing agreement with them. Essentially the buyer broker decides to sell the boat or not, based on the competing boats. This does give him leverage in negotiating for the buyer and against the seller. The seller could always choose to instruct the listing broker to not accept a co-broker. I don't see a problem with it and may use their services myself.

Quetzalcoatl · #10 (**permalink**) 11-20-2006

In selling/buying real estate, the commission paid by the seller is shared (not necessarily equally) by buyer's and seller's brokers.
Although the same should work for boats, one should also be able to negotiate a fixed fee for the services of a buyer's broker. At least, this makes sense to me. In any case, they don't work for free!
Q