Boat Surveyor Cape Coral – Guide on How to Hire a Boat Surveyor

After finding the perfect used boat, the first thing you should do is find a reliable boat surveyor Cape Coral. This is for the simple fact that there are so many structural and mechanical components that a vessel has. Involving a surveyor will help you be more confident when considering a used boat. A boat surveyor will offer you and your bank an extra layer of protection before purchasing a secondhand boat. Let’s take a look at how a boat surveyor works.

A boat surveyor Cape Coral is a professional trained and experienced in performing certain inspections on a boat. They have a strong boating and/or mechanical background and better understand a boat than an average boater.

Bearing in mind buying a boat is a huge investment, hiring a marine surveyor will give you peace of mind before moving forward. Surveyors use special tools like moisture meters to get a better look at the mechanics of the boat. They will also be able to uncover issues you would otherwise not notice. Moreover, if you plan on financing the purchase, lenders will be more inclined to give you a loan if you have a survey report from a reputable surveyor. Here are some of the most important things you should do when getting ready to hire a surveyor.

Know the type of survey you need

Marine surveys fall into four categories depending on what you need. The most common type of survey is a pre-purchase survey. This survey is meant to help you understand the condition of a boat before purchasing. Other types of surveys include insurance surveys, damage inspection, and appraisal inspection. When hiring a boat surveyor Cape Coral you must ensure the surveyor you consider offers the type of boat survey you need.

How much will the service cost

Another important thing to do is consider the cost of the survey. On average, boat surveyors charge between $18 and $25 per foot. They may also include out-of-water inspections, sea trials, test all the systems, and perform a full survey report. The costs and range of services you get vary from one surveyor to the next. Make sure you find a surveyor whose service fees are within your budget and one that offers all the services you need.

Consider the reputation of the surveyor

Offering the services you need and at a price you are okay with is not enough. You still need to confirm that the marine surveyor can deliver on their promise. That is why you need to research the surveyor to ensure they have a good track record. Too many negative reviews are a red flag.

How thorough a marine survey is will depend on how competent a boat surveyor Cape Coral is. Don’t just hire any surveyor that comes your way. Find a surveyor you feel comfortable working with and one that offers excellent services.

Boat Surveyor Cape Coral

Boat Surveyor Cape Coral – How Do You Price a Boat for Sale?

While the input of a boat surveyor Cape Coralwill help you set an appropriate selling price for your boat, the price you set can make or break the deal. Setting an appropriate price requires more than setting an unbeatable price. There are many considerations you have to make including the current condition of the boat and the prevailing market climate.

A lot of people tend to overprice their secondhand boats. The common mistake made when setting a price for a boat is using the historical trends to determine the current value of a boat. At some time, a boat may maintain its cash value. However, as it ages and the market climate changes, the value will go down. Moreover, unlike real estate, chances of the value of a boat appreciating are close to zero. High inflation can, however, mask the depreciation of a boat price.

In the last 10 years or so, the demand for boats built in the 1970s and 1980s has dropped significantly. This is because these boats offer accommodation that is way too cramped for comfort. If you have an older boat, it is always a great idea to involve an experienced boat surveyor Cape Coral to help with both valuation and pricing.

Determining the asking price

When pricing your boat, taking a look at the prices set on boats that are similar to yours is the best guide you can use. There is, however, a major catch; how the boat has been maintained. A boat that is well prepared and hasn’t been advertised for long will get more attention than one that is poorly maintained. How you advertise your boat for sale will also matter. The more people see your advert the more offers you will get and the higher the chances of selling for a great price.

Working with a broker will also determine how much you manage to sell your used boat for. Brokers enjoy better advantage over private sellers. This is because they have better access to the data relating to boats and will already have potential buyers already in their contacts. Your boat surveyor Cape Coral can give you a few contacts of promising brokers in your area.

You have to consider your location when determining a selling price. If your boat is in an inaccessible harbor, you will have to give potential buyers a good reason for them to invest their time and money to view it. If the harbor is too inaccessible, you may have to lower the asking price in order to win potential buyers over. The case is the same if you are in an area where there are too many boats being sold.

Tips to help boost the value of your boat

  • Save all maintenance records
  • Wash and polish at least once per season
  • When not in use cover the boat up.
  • Adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance schedules and winterization
  • Get a professional surveybefore setting a price.

Setting a selling price is not as straightforward as you may think. Involving the services of a boat surveyor Cape Coral will, however, give you a better chance of setting the best price.

Boat Surveyor Cape Coral

Boat Surveyor Cape Coral – Which Type of Boat Survey Should You Get?

If you are torn between buying a new or used boat, a boat surveyor Cape Coral can help you make the right choice. When purchasing a new boat, you don’t often need to have a survey done. However, if a used boat is under consideration, a survey is generally a must. Each survey is different, and at times the surveyor requires special training and special equipment to perform a thorough survey. In this post, we shall be looking at the various types of boat surveys you may have to get before buying a used boat.

Pre-purchase survey

Most people hire a boat surveyor for a pre-purchase survey. This is the most comprehensive type of inspection. This survey’s primary purpose is to gather as much information about the boat’s condition before purchasing. This information is provided to the potential buyers to help them make an informed purchase decision. The boat surveyor Cape Coral will typically get the boat inspected while it is in and out of water. The condition of the boat and the overall operation should be examined to ensure everything is functioning as required. A pre-purchase survey might also be used to satisfy insurance companies and loan requirements.

Condition and valuation survey

Condition and value surveys are the most common type of boat surveys. They are performed when you are buying a used boat. These are comprehensive inspections of all the systems on board to ensure they are all functioning properly. It is often done majorly for insurance purposes. Each insurance company has its own set of requirements regarding what size/age vessels need a survey. With huge and expensive boats, separate engine surveys are sometimes performed.

An off-the-water survey may be required. This helps with the inspection at the bottom of the boat for any gear issues and structural weakness. The insurance company generally wants to know the boat’s current market value and if it is a good risk.

Appraisal surveys

These are inspections performed to gather information to justify and determine the fair market value of the vessel. Appraisal surveys are used for financing, estate and divorce settlements and donations of vessels to charities. This survey’s focus is limited to setting a fair market value based on the vessel systems and overall condition.

Damage surveys

A boat surveyor Cape Coral may be brought in to perform a damage survey. These surveys may be done for insurance purposes. The boat owner may request this survey to understand the extent of the damages following an accident. Damage surveys are necessary after an accident or after a heavy storm. They determine the extent of the damage and the cost of repairs needed to bring the boat up to snuff aesthetically and make it safe.

To get the best results, you must hire a boat surveyor Cape Coral that is good at his work. Take time to review the surveyor’s track record. You also want to hire a surveyor whose service fees are within your reach.

Boat Surveyor Cape Coral