T&T: Buyer's Broker

[Scott E. Bulger]

Well, having just paid $36,000 in brokers fees to sell my boat, I have to
ask myself, what did he do to earn that money?  I spent thousands to put the
boat in shape.  I compared every other boat and made a spreadsheet available
to him to show buyers.  My wife and I cleaned the boat stem to stern and
emptied every single locker.  

Now in fairness to him.  He maintains a phone number, office and slip
availability in Anacortes, so he clearly has overhead.  Also the boat add
ran in a few trade rags.  But honestly, $36,000?  Oh and that is discounted.


So in reality what is a buyer's broker going to bring to the table?  Do you
really think your going to find one that knows more about boats than you do?
>From a contract perspective he isn't likely to do jack to help you.  All the
forms are standardized.  If it were me I'd go into the purchase solo and say
to the listing broker, you get the deal, but you need to cut your commission
from 10% to 6.  You save the 4 and he still makes 1% more than if you
brought a broker to the table.  In this market if you can't find a boat,
well, you probably shouldn't be out on the water!

Scott E. Bulger, Boatless in Seattle