help selling boat: never done it privately.

[gride]

Any tips on deposits, payment, should I charge for delivery, etc. will help. I know which sites to post the ad on. Appreciate the help.

[east tx skier]

First, pictures, pictures, pictures sell a boat.

I took a $1,000 nonrefundable deposit. Payment was by wire for both the deposit and the balance. I delivered it to St. Louis for a Canadian buyer who met me half way. I did not charge for this delivery from northeast Texas, but I was asking and received a high price for the boat and had payment in full before I left the driveway (I had no desire to negotiate after driving over 1,000 miles). If you are going to deliver, I would suggest insisting on full payment before you leave to assure you return with an empty hitch.

I also had a purchase agreement that I would be happy to email you. With the title, I provided a separate bill of sale for boat and trailer. Can email you that as well if you are interested.

I had a few options that we (the buyer and I) decided he didn't want to pay for without seeing the condition of the original, i.e. extra skins. I made an extra $500 in cash at the point of sale. My originals were in great shape. But he was wise to buy the skins for less than I paid for them since they were NLA.

The only thing I would suggest is that you tell your buyer that if you have a blowout, the replacement tire is on him. I had a blowout and we decided that we would split the cost of two new tires.

/I would have bought two new tires anyway, but the buyer brought it up.

[TxJole]

If buyer doesn't like handing money over before he has the boat. Set up an escrow account at a popular bank like Chase or BofA. They hold the title and money and say all is good. I've done this a few times. I hate both banks but they r everywhere and u can find one half way if need. Pics pics pics is truly the key.

[GCSuper]

I agree about goin thru a bank. Don't accept a cashiers check. They can look real good, but by the time you find out it was a fake, they, and your money are long gone.