Online Yacht Shopping Tips
It is hard to think about life before online shopping was a thing. I mean, in this day and age, most of us can all say we have sat in our PJs at 1 AM, scouring the internet to buy clothes, groceries, books, whatever it may be, at the touch of a button. Virtual shopping has made life more convenient, giving us back time to enjoy the things we love most, like boating. As the marine industry quickly adapts to the new age of online yacht shopping, we have some tips to share that will help you find your ideal boat in no time. Aside from using traditional MLS sites, check out our top six online yacht shopping tips that will help you get out on the water faster.
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Yacht Shopper
Realizing the need for an online yacht-shopping platform that essentially saves customers time and effort, Galati Yacht Sales created an exclusive and innovative tool that enables shopping for a yacht online to be more manageable than ever. Yacht Shopper is a handy tool that allows you to set up detailed searches of boats you are looking to purchase and subsequently sends you automatic notifications with yacht listings that match your search criteria when they hit the market. Not only are you the first to know about new listings, but you will also be the first to know when a boat that matches your criteria has a price change or update. The best part: you don’t have to waste time searching online weekly (or for some, on the daily.) Yacht Shopper does it for you.
One of the benefits of using Yacht Shopper while virtually shopping online is the simplified dashboard, which allows you to keep track of all your searches in one place. The Yacht Shopper tool also uses advanced filtering, so you find yachts most related to what you want, down to the model, size, year, and price. You can add as many saved searches as you like, enable and disable notification settings, favorite boats to keep a close eye on them, and get personalized support from a team of certified yacht brokers. Yacht Shopper takes virtual yacht shopping to a new level. Learn more about the Yacht Shopper dashboard.
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FaceTime (Real-Time Video) Consultations
Modern technology is a glorious thing, especially the use of real-time video. Even while miles apart, people from all over the world can make video calls in an instant, connecting them with loved ones, business partners, teachers, and more. Now online shoppers searching for a boat can do the same. Regardless of where a yacht resides, most yacht brokers will allow you to schedule a consultation over video chat to get the answers you need or to schedule a virtual tour.
Within the last year or so, yacht brokers are more frequently using tools such as — FaceTime, Zoom, and WhatsApp — to consult with clients all over the globe. A video call is much like actually being there in person. The yacht broker will take you on an exclusive tour of the boat, explaining all of the intricacies and answering any questions you may have. You can even opt to take care of the whole buying process virtually. Throughout the pandemic, we have seen many happy customers purchase a boat sight unseen with the use of modern technology, and of course, the expertise of a yacht broker, who has your best interest in mind.
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360 Virtual Tours
Just as real estate agents offer 360-degree home tours, the same is happening for luxury yachts of all kinds. Whether you are searching for a motor yacht or sportfish yacht, virtual shoppers can view boats in full view from bow to stern, while in the comfort of your home. Virtually walking through a boat will give you an idea of the layout and overall feel without spending any of your time and effort to view the boat in person. If the layout doesn’t fit your needs, you can merely move on to the next option without wasted driving time or phone calls.
If you are interested in a particular vessel, ask your yacht broker if a virtual tour is available to view. Often, these tours will already be added to a listing if available. As an example, this 2010 Donzi 80 Convertible conveniently has a virtual tour already available to view. Virtual tours are not only neat but also a significant time-saver when virtually shopping for a yacht.
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YouTube/ Virtual Docks
Accessing YouTube or utilizing a company’s virtual dock is another tool to help you shop online for a yacht. Any modern-day yacht broker uses YouTube to showcase boats to reach a more general audience and greater online exposure. This platform is booming with available listings daily; some companies even upload videos before a yacht gets added to the MLS system, giving online shoppers an advantage.
Just search for your ideal boat with the wording “for sale” after, and a variety of videos will display on your feed that you can explore. Be observant of details to access more information or learn if the boat has sold. In addition to Youtube, some companies also have a virtual dock or specific landing page of videos that you can scroll through. Explore our Virtual Dock or YouTube videos and tour yachts right at your fingertips.
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Social Media
As social media evolves, online shopping is becoming a fundamental aspect of major platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Businesses want to be where consumers are and what better way to display available yachts for sale than by posting on social media. Today, there are nearly 4.5 billion people actively using social media platforms wordlwide, an increase of 13.13% from 2020. Boating influencers, yacht brokers, dealerships, and manufacturers all utilize social media to display the latest and greatest boats available for sale and information that may be useful in your shopping process. Some advertise with photos, highlight reels, and detailed videos, while others may turn to live chats, stories, or simple URL links. All you have to do is follow your favorite people/companies to gain access to a plethora of information, new listings, deals, and pricing updates on yachts of interest. Often, brokers will also share clips or promo videos before a listing is up online.
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Traditional Email Newsletters
Signing up for newsletters or email notifications may seem like a dated tool, but it is a steadfast tactic you can use to help shop online for a yacht. Dealerships, manufacturers, and brokers regularly send emails to help shoppers like you find the best deals or best available model of interest. Annoying unrelated emails are a thing of the past. Businesses now have the tools to understand what buyers are interested in, resulting in emails that you actually care to see.
Email newsletters keep consumers up-to-date on the latest deals, new models, and other news information, often prior to releasing it to the public. Getting the inside scoop before anyone else will allow you to move on deals or schedule showings on new-to-the-market inventory before being added to the MLS. Stay in the know and sign up for the Galati Yacht Sales newsletter.
Shop Our New & Used Yachts for Sale Worldwide
At Galati Yacht Sales, our team of certified yacht brokers strives to assist our clients in understanding the new and used boat market when shopping our wide range of yachts for sale. With over 50 years of experience in the boating industry, we have the knowledge and inventory to help you find the best luxury yachts for sale worldwide.
Whether you are looking for new yachts for sale or used yachts for sale we have got you covered! Contact Galati today to speak to a sales professional. We proudly represent new Viking Yachts, Valhalla Boatworks center consoles, Cruisers Yachts, Princess Yachts, Maritimo Yachts, and Prestige Yachts.
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