With all the
broker bashing that goes on, I thought I'd post a positive note on my buyer's
broker for a just completed
purchase. I "met" John via
phone 3 or 4 years ago when I called to inquire about a
boat. He inquired about what I was looking for, and even though I told him I was just kicking tires and was years away, it did not dissuade him from sending me info and checking in with me every 6 months or so. I never felt pressured or pursued, and his timing was always about right. Sometimes he checked in via
email, sometimes by
phone, always helpful in answering my questions, be they about specific boats, or the process of
buying in the
Caribbean when I'm in CA. Sometimes I'd call and pick his brains about a particular
boat, or brand or stuff. The calls were always cordial, professional, and low key and I never felt like I was talking to someone who was trying to sell me something, but who's interest was really to help me. I'm a salesman, and I know it's not easy to be that way when you earn based on commissions, but John was a natural at it. I was in contact with a few brokers, but knew if I found something, I'd call him, and boy, am I glad I did.
Around early July, I noticed a cat I had been watching had dropped in
price so I gave him a call. I was really almost a year away from being "ready" but did not hesitate to call John because of his demeanor. He pulled up the listing and told me that he was going to be in the VI in a few days and that the listing broker was a friend of his. He'd take a look and report back to me, which he did and said the boat was in better condition than anticipated and that the
charter company that ran it was continuing to upgrade and replace critical and expensive items.
We discussed it and agreed on an offer
price that was substantially below their reduced asking price. They countered midway and I accepted, pending the usual inspections and
survey, etc John recommended having a third party inspector go over the boat before I fly all the way from Cali to inspect. That came back clean and end of July I flew in to inspect and sea trial. Turns out, one of the engines had a cracked the block! Both Yanmars had about 10k hrs and were tired. John was instrumental in getting an agreement that the seller pay for a whole new
Yanmar package and I pay for the other by putting that amount in escrow until the second package was delivered and installed. There was never any doubt that his goal was to protect my interest, at times taking an even harder position than me in negotiations. Just Friday, as I was transferring
purchase funds, he called me and told me not to release the
engine funds as
installation was not quite complete, protecting me from making that mistake. I'll now have 2 new engines under warrantee along with all the other items the owner had replaced.
I cannot imagine going thru this without Johns guidance. Splitting the commission, he certainly did not get rich off my purchase, yet treated me like he would.
His name is John Anderson and he works for the
Catamaran Company in their St Augustine FL office. Even though they represent
Lagoon, he never tried to steer me away from the brands that I was looking for (not a Lagoon).
Johns cell number is 954-821-6450. He will
always answer or call you back in short order. I would not hesitate to recommend him, and I just did!
Jeff