Forget the Philosophy Lessons
Item No. 1). The broker is required BY LAW to deliver whatever offer you make, no matter how rediculous it may sound.2). The broker wants to make a sale, so in order to do this they will try to talk you up as high as they can and talk the owner down as much as they can.3). The brokers are trained in the art of sales, dont tell them what to tell the owner, just tell the broker why you are making the offering price.NOW FOR THE BIGGIE....Brokers like for you to use BUCNET because it shows the higher value and therefore you would accept the fact this is what it is worth.....HOWEVER, after 5 months of battling with my insurance company, you will find that if you have a claim, that the Ins. Co. will use NADA which is usually lower than BUCNET. BUCNET and NADA both claim that their prices are based on nation wide averages of the SALE price of the boat. Obviously, they should match but they dont. So, even though you dont want insurance, the next owner might if you try to sell your boat. And lastly, read the notes at the bottom of NADA and BUCNET as to what constitutes " average condition" i. e. the typical eqpt that would be found on a boat that size.Remember, make your offer on what NADA says and dont concern yourself about the asking price. The book value , which is the average sale price that these boats have sold for recently takes into consideration any uniqueness that this particular model may have. The Marine surveyor, which most insurance companies require, will assess the value of your boat based on the book value, but this too can be disputed by your insurance company. Sit with the broker in his/her office and they will gladly pull up BUCNET, NADA and i believe, but not confirmed, that Yachtworld.com will give info to brokers as the the actual sale price of similar models