20 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Yacht Broker

Before signing with a yacht broker, ask these 20 questions. The answers separate professionals from amateurs.

Experience and credentials

1. How many years have you been selling yachts? 2. Are you CPYB certified or YBAA member? 3. How many yachts did you sell last year? 4. What's the average days-on-market for your listings? 5. What percentage of asking price do your listings typically achieve?

Specialisation

6. Do you specialise in my yacht's type and price range? 7. Can you show me 3 recent sales of similar yachts? 8. What's the most expensive yacht you've sold? 9. How many yachts in my size range are you currently representing?

Marketing approach

10. What marketing channels will you use for my yacht? 11. Do you produce professional photos and video? 12. What is your listing description writing process? 13. Will my yacht be listed on Elyxe, YachtWorld, BoatTrader, and other major sites? 14. Do you do open houses, boat shows, or buyer events?

Co-brokerage

15. Do you co-broker with other brokers? 16. What's your standard co-brokerage split? 17. Are there any brokers you refuse to work with?

Terms

18. What's your commission rate? 19. What's your typical listing agreement term? 20. What happens if my yacht doesn't sell?

Red flag answers

Watch for these warning signs: - Vague answers about past performance - Reluctance to share references - Refusal to co-broker (massive red flag) - Pressure to sign quickly - Unrealistic price promises ("I'll get you 20% more")

Good signs

• Specific numbers and examples
• Willing to share references
• Honest assessment of your yacht's market value (even if you don't like the answer)
• Clear marketing plan with specific channels
• Industry certifications

What to verify independently

Don't just take the broker's word. Verify: - Check CPYB and YBAA membership directly with those organisations - Look up past sales on YachtWorld and other sites - Read reviews on Elyxe and Google - Ask for client references and actually call them