Preparing Your Boat For a Trade-In
Your boat has been with you through a lot, but all things must come to an end. Whether you’re downsizing, upgrading, or anything in between, trading your boat in is a great way to get the most out of the change. We here at Nisswa Marine know that can sound like a hassle, so we’ve put together a few tips for preparing your boat for a trade-in, below. To learn more, to see the boats we have for sale, or to talk to our staff about trading yours in, contact our store in Nisswa, Minnesota, today!
Presentation
As a boat owner, you know well that a first impression is vitally important. No one is clamoring to grab a run-down, moldy, scratched-up boat that looks like it won’t even float. Your first step here is to make sure that your boat is as presentable as possible—it needs to look as good as or better than when you bought it. That can be a task on its own, so we’ve put together a checklist of things to spruce up, including but not limited to:
- Removing all personal items
- Checking all nooks and crannies for belongings or dirt
- Washing the exterior (with our handy step-by-step guide here)
- Cleaning the interior, making sure to match the right product to the materials
- Touch up any paint chips or scratches
- Replace stained or worn upholstery
- Sanitize all surfaces, prioritizing any high-touch surfaces like controls
- Wax and polish the hull
Inner Workings
With the outside looking fresh, it’s time to get the innards in good shape as well. If it’s been a while, take your boat on a drive and watch for any performance issues. You may need to invest a bit of money here to get your boat truly trade-in worthy, but it will make a huge difference in selling time and price. That said, don’t spend $600 on repairs that will only increase the boat’s value by $200—the math doesn’t work in your favor.
Paperwork
Finally, it’s vital that you gather up all the necessary information and documents that any future owner of your boat might need. That includes any paperwork relating to the trade-in, registration, title, and especially all maintenance and repair records. New owners will want to know what’s been maintained or replaced and how often they’ll need to see to it in the future. Transparency is the best policy.
If there are any extended warranties that still apply, grab the paperwork on them as well. Any warranty that can pass to the next owner will make your boat that much more attractive.
Ready to get started? Contact us at Nisswa Marine to get your trade-in started, or if you’re just hoping to find the perfect boat to start your journey on. We proudly serve Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota—let us serve you today!