A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

"Can you send me more pictures?"

"Got any better photos?"

"Do you have any pictures of the...?"

If you've ever tried to sell something online, I'm sure you've heard some variation of the above questions.  In the global boat market, these are common questions as buyers in other states, and sometimes other countries, try to make major purchase decisions based largely on photographs.  The ability to reach buyers across the world is one of the biggest advantages to using a yacht broker, and it's the broker's job to make sure your boat is as attractive as possible.

When looking at dozens of possibilities, buyers are much more apt to be drawn toward a nicely photographed listing as opposed to one that's carelessly snapped with a point-and-shoot.  When poor photos are taken, it can make even the nicest boats look dingy or dirty.  A good quality photograph will show more detail, better color, and give the buyer something to get excited about!

I've taken a few photos showing the difference between a Nikon DSLR and a Nikon point-and-shoot.  The DSLR is even one of Nikon's more basic models, but the jump in quality is amazing.  The boat is one of my newest listings, a 2004 Meridian 381 Sedan.

DSLR  /  P+S

DSLR  /  P+S

DSLR  /  P+S

The photos on the left were taken with the DSLR, and the photos on the right were taken with a point-and-shoot.  The first thing you should notice is how much better the color quality is.  In the photos on the left, the wood looks brighter, the lighting is good, and the upholstery looks much nicer.  You'll also notice how much wider the field of view is in the DSLR photos.  This gives the buyer a much better idea of the space inside the boat, as opposed to narrowly-focused pictures of key areas.  It's nearly impossible to photograph some of the tight spaces on boats, like head compartments or engine rooms, with a point-and-shoot camera.


They say there's no second chance at a first impression, and it's important to have your boat represented by a broker who understands that.  Take a look at my listings to see other examples of how a nicely built ad can help make that first impression a good one!

Testimonials and New Listings!

To begin my post, I'd like to announce the newest section of Walking the Docks, the client testimonials page. It speaks volumes when someone is pleased enough with our brokerage services to go out of their way to write a nice "Thank You", so rather than let them go un-noticed I've decided to start posting them on my blog. Take a look at what some of my past clients have to say about their experiences and see why repeat business is higher than ever!

In brokerage news, we've had a big increase in boats being listed in the past month, which is great for Landmark Yacht Sales and our clients as we approach the summer months and the accompanying rise in sales. I'll be representing ten new listings since my last post, and you can see some select vessels below:

Cheryll Ann, 2006 Sea Ray 520 Sedan Bridge
Tampa, FL

Forty Licks, 2005 Luhrs 41 Convertible
Key West, FL

Bella Vista, 2005 Pursuit 3100 Offshore

Tampa, FL

New Listing: 2006 Chaparral 330 Signature

2006 Chaparral 330 Signature
Tampa, FL

Chaparral's 330 Signature is one of the most thoughtfully designed mid-sized express cruisers available.  The separation of the aft berth from the other interior spaces is a nice feature that is rarely executed as well as it is on the 330.  The result is a much larger entertaining space than the conventional forward-berth layouts on other boats, that still has the option of being converted into sleeping space for five.

This vessel features upgraded options such as: MerCruiser power package with transferable extended warranty, bow thruster, flat screens in cabin (2), synthetic teak swim platform, Raymarine electronics with radar, and much more.