[Stormin Novi]

I am a broker in Nova Scotia, Canada. Although the market in Florida is very different than what we have here, a broker in any state should take the time and effort to find you the right boat. Our business is base on customer satisfaction and loyalty. It's the old saying "Don't sell a person one boat today, sell them five boats over ten years". You, as a (presumably) qualified buyer, deserve high quality service no matter what your budget. If you are not getting it, find another broker. Like any industry, there are less than honest players out there. However, most brokers genuinely have your interests at heart. This attitude is shared among many brokers and I am sure you will find a good one in your area.

Most of my business comes from referrals from previous clients. Word of mouth is everything in our business. Find a friend who has had a positive experience with a broker, get the number, and call them. Knowing that you have been referred by a happy customer, not only makes our day, but might light a fire under the broker's ass to work as hard as possible for you.

A few tips for you from a brokers' point of view. Your relationship with a broker is a partnership. A good broker is genuinely interested in putting you in the best possible boat, at the best possible price, but you are calling the shots. The broker is driving the boat, but you are the captain. These tips will benefit you as well as let your broker know that you are a serious buyer:

1. Have an idea of what you want. EG: A sailboat between 38 and 40 feet, aged between 1990 and 2000, Racer/cruiser/hybrid etc. Keep in mind that these should be presented as guidelines to your broker so that you don't miss out on that incredible deal on a 1989 40'er.

2. Be realistic. No broker will take you too seriously if you tell them that you want to buy a 2004 Swan 45 for $70,000. Those boats don't exist. Like everything else, you get what you pay for. Incredible deals do happen, and it is your broker's job to find you the best deal possible, but we aren't miracle workers.

3. As mentioned above, if you have a broker working for you, do all of your shopping through them. If you are not satisfied with the results or performance of your broker, let them know and find another.

4. PLEASE be ready to purchase before you use the services of a broker. There is nothing wrong with shopping around, and you should get on as many boats as possible. However, when your broker finds you the right boat at the right price, be ready to pounce. This will ensure you get the best deal by taking advantage of market situations. It is very frustrating for a broker to show a buyer 5 boats, taking a whole day, only to find out that you are planning on purchasing in a year or so. This is what boat shows are for. Talk to brokers there about different models you "might be interested in". And hey, you can interview the brokers at the same time.

I hope this helps. Any comments welcome!

P.S. If you would like to speak with me I would be happy to do so. Please provide an email address where I can send you my phone number.