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Why Use a Bill of Sale?
Incorporating a bill of sale into the transaction is a standard procedure to log and legitimize the exchange with a physically executed register. This record serves as a popular form to identify the owner of the watercraft after it has changed hands. It can also be used for tax purposes to prove the paid purchase price or provide a paper trail when it comes time to initiate the transfer of title and registration.
How to Sell a Jetski
Step 1 – Clean, Repair, and Tune-up Your Jet Ski
Take time to clean the watercraft, scouring the exterior, even in the vehicle’s cracks, small nooks, and crannies. If you detect any noticeable scratches, try to buff them out with a correcting cream or a general scratch-removing product. You may want to bring it to a technician to get it serviced, and at this time you can also arrange to fix any corrosion issues or needed repairs with a specialist. The extra time, money, and effort will make the difference when discussing with a buyer who expects to pay less than the asking price.
Step 2 – Designate a Workable Sales Price
Research the value of your jet ski to get a general idea of its worth on websites such as Kelley Blue Book or NadaGuides. From there, comparable purchase prices from local listings of similar personal watercraft can be used to further evaluate a realistic asking price. Look in newspapers and regional trade publications, or browse internet classified listings to get a sense of the going rate for your particular jet ski model in your market area. With this information, you should be able to establish a fair market value and then increase it by a few hundred dollars to add room for the buyer to negotiate.
Step 3 – Develop a Detailed Advertisement
Fine-tune a written representation of the vehicle, including the critical attributes associated with it:
- Year
- Make
- Model
- Number of Strokes
- Amount of Persons it Seats
- Purchase Price
- Accumulated Mileage/Hours
- Maintenance History
- Defects
- Contact Information
Take numerous photos to showcase the vehicle from multiple perspectives, highlighting gauges, handlebars, seats, essential component elements, and any imperfections. To attract more potential buyers, shoot in a well-lit environment and ensure the photographs are in sharp focus.
Step 4 – Broadcast your Listing
If you can access a high-visibility location, park the jet ski and place a “for sale” along with an observable spec sheet with contact information. Additionally, you can take out advertisement listings in area newspapers or swap magazines. You may find that your most significant resource is online classifieds like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, PWC Trader, or Boat Trader to promote to a broader audience. There are also options like CashForPowerSports.com, which specializes in procuring jet skis if you want to make a fast sale, although this option is only viable if you are willing to take less for your vehicle.
Step 5 – Close the Deal
Once you have received contact with an interest in the jet ski, organize a meetup to show the vehicle to potential buyers, preferably in a public place. If they request a test ride, keep in mind that there is a high potential risk should they damage the watercraft or injure themselves. If you opt to do so, secure a form of identification, a full cash amount for the vehicle, and a life jacket for the rider as a safety precaution. When you believe an interested party indicates that they wish to purchase, transition to close by asking if they have any questions. Once the price has been settled, you can complete the sale. Fill out the bill of sale by following the instructions in the next section, and sign and date the document. You can then distribute the keys, accessories, manuals, jet ski, and trailer to the buyer in exchange for the cash amount of the purchase price.
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