Sell Your Jetski Yourself

2024. There is now a surplus of jetski's for sale. It's a Buyers Market.

This brings us to point out a few tips if you have come upon unlucky times and need to sell your jetski. We often review ads for customers on Trade Me assisting with their purchase or sale. Here are a few tips we think can definitely help get you top dollar and sell as quick as possible.

1. Lets talk 'photos'

• Concentrate on getting that one "Hero Shot" or cover photo which will make your jetski stand out from the other listings. Go for a tidy, uncluttered background. Lighting is key; the best lighting is on a lightly overcast day. Full sun causes too many shadows.

• Leave out the boy racer images and family photos. You want to portray that 'always garaged, one lady owner' mentality, not how fast it goes.

• Take photos in Landscape (horizontal) not portrait for Trade Me, and make sure your lens is clean for nice clear shots.

• Take 20 good shots. Take the time. More photos builds a feeling of honesty, trust and value. Include full width shots from each side, front and back. With storage cover on (if you have a factory fitted cover). Then do your close ups; dash, model labels, under the hull, under the seat looking at the engine bay, the trailer coupling, any accessories such as fish finders, life jackets, locks, battery chargers.

  
  

• Include close up shots of any damage - even minor and explain the photo in your wording. Honesty up front is the best way.

• Avoid using any internet photos our of catalogues - they may look nice, but people want to see the real item. They can google reviews and images of it if they want.

2. Wording rights & wrongs

• Title should include: Year*, Make, Model, Horsepower or engine size, and a selling point if possible. For example: 2022 Seadoo Fish Pro Sport 170 - Low hours. *Make sure you get the year correct (last 2 digits of the serial tag in most cases). This information will be on your service history - if unsure ask your service agent.

  • Other selling points might be; fresh water only, mint condition, priced to sell, delivery included, wife says must sell... be creative!

    
    

• Body of text should include:

  • Current hours "at time of listing".

  • Any residual warranty.

  • Date and hours of last service. Have the full service history on hand to show any serious prospective buyers.

  • If you took any photos of any damage or scratches; give written detail and refer to photo

  • List all accessories with as many details as possible; storage cover, tow toys, fishing gear, life jackets, battery charger, emergency gear.. etc

  • Trailer make (if possible), and a list of accessories; coupling lock, spare wheel, wheel lock. WOF and Rego status with dates.

    
    

• Additional care wording can be incentive - some good ones are;

  • "always treated with Salt Away"

  • "mainly fresh water use"

  • "always garaged"

    
    

• Delivery option incentive - think about where you would be willing to drive to for delivery (at an additional cost if required). It makes it more appealing to a wider audience.

  
  

• Answer that question up front - "why are you selling it" - if it is a legitimate reason it doesn't hurt to put it up front, ie; upgraded to a boat and jetski is surplus..

  
  

3. General selling tips;

• Do some homework and be realistic about pricing;

  • Do a search on your Make, Model and Price Range allowing a window of a couple thousand each side of your list price - count how many are competing for that same sale.

  • Look how long the higher priced ones have been on Trade Me for (list date).

  • Contact your service agent to ask for a current market value.

  
  

• Ideally you want to have had your last service done very recently (within 3 months) and so your service report can negate the need for a pre-purchase inspection in most cases, adding a significant amount of appeal to the buyer. The hours on your service record should match current hours.

  
  

• Answer any questions on Trade Me as soon as you can. Be polite.

• Copy the Trade Me URL when you have done your listing and put it onto your Facebook page and share to any jetski groups you are part of.

  
  

• A water test is not a great idea unless you have a deposit (enough to cover any accidental damages), especially if the rider is inexperienced.

  
  

• Make sure you get any special conditions of a sale (lower price, something they are going to repair) in writing. Get them to sign it and give them a copy. Be aware of the NZ consumer laws which can cover the buyer for 3 months.

  
  

• Remember to update your council registration and trailer rego to the new owner.