Checklist if you are selling a boat

If the decision has been made to sell the boat, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, the potential buyer should be informed about everything that is known about the boat. The clearer the information regarding its condition and features, the better the deal will turn out.

Many buyers want to test drive the boat they are interested in, and in such cases the seller should make sure to come along on the test run. Before allowing a potential buyer to test drive the boat, it is also advisable to ask to see some form of identification. If someone were to drive off with the boat, theft insurance may not always apply, since the keys were handed over voluntarily.

Also be cautious with boat brokers who may be dishonest. If you want help from a broker to sell your boat, make sure to check the company thoroughly in advance. You can look it up on the website allabolag.se, but Google is also very useful for finding information about a company. What you want to avoid with a dishonest broker is that they give you a small deposit and then disappear with the boat. If you are a private individual using a broker to help sell your boat, you should also be aware that the Consumer Sales Act may become applicable to the purchase. Among other things, this means that the complaint period will then be three years instead of two years under the Sale of Goods Act. Defects and deficiencies discovered within six months may also be considered to have existed at the time of purchase if you as the seller cannot prove otherwise.

Once a buyer has been found, it is time to draw up a purchase agreement for the boat. It can be useful to know that oral agreements are just as valid as written ones when it comes to buying and selling boats. However, written agreements are beneficial, as they often provide an opportunity for the buyer and seller to sit down and discuss the details of the purchase and the object of purchase, in this case the boat. It is important to be as honest as possible about what is known regarding the boat and its condition. Many times, dissatisfaction and complaints arise when a buyer’s expectations are not met, leading them to want to cancel the boat purchase or demand a price reduction. If care has been taken to inform the buyer about the boat’s condition, functions, and any damage before the purchase, this helps ensure that the buyer is aware of any defects and deficiencies and that the buyer cannot later complain about defects and deficiencies that they were informed about. 

Feel free to download a purchase agreement for boats free of charge at www.båtjuristen.se