One of the largest international yacht brokerages in the world is hoping that it may be able to float UK estate agents’ boat.
Boatshed has a sales platform for used boats of all kinds, from yachts to houseboats, and is offering UK estate agents franchises as it grows its business.
Business sales manager Adrian Geary, a former estate agent for 30 years with the likes of Strutt & Parker, Hamptons and Chewton Rose, said it offered a bolt-on opportunity for agents in certain areas.
He said: “It is obviously a niche opportunity and will probably be of interest to independent agents where there is someone interested in – and probably passionate about – boats.
“In times of pressure on instructions and fees, any estate agents whose area includes coast, river/estuary or indeed inland waterways and canals, may be interested to hear that there is a way of broadening their market.
“We all know that property prices will be enhanced by water.
“However, the yachts and houseboats that are found on them have been alien to most agents as they have no way of marketing, other than hoping that the portals may pick up an inquiry or two.
“Some have tried in London as they see this as a quirky way of getting a London address. As with everything, exposure to the correct market is key.
“It is an intriguing prospect for agents to deepen their working relationships with their target markets, earn fees of up to 8% and all from a ‘business in a box’.”
A full franchise costs £30,000, he said, to include training, head office support, and access to the Rightmoves of the boat world.
How would estate agents know how to value a boat?
“As with everything else, it’s all about comparables,” he said. “With our system, agents would get access to 15 years of data.”
The website is here
Might be worth a punt…… sorry couldn’t resist that!
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Think this idea will’sink’ without a trace!
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Are they looking for an anchor man…
…or just someone who sounds like one?
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Oh Buoy this is getting out of hand….
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So would a ship’s captain be a sails manager?
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Can’t believe no ones mentioned Roger the cabin boy or in fact Seaman Stains yet!
I’m clearly far too Benny Hill for this site.
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Maybe you need to be a little less Benny Hill and a little more Kenny Everett, RA?
It’s all in the best possible taste…! ;o)
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