FAQ

Who is behind this web site?
Boats2Share.com is a trading name of Boatfinder Brokerage Services Limited. Boatfinder has been selling canal craft on behalf of their owners since 2002 and is very well established in the market. We are now bringing the same friendly and professional boat selling skills that our sole owner boat sellers have enjoyed into the share boat market. Boatfinder is owned and managed by Ruth Chalmers. Ruth has many years experience with Shared Ownership boats, having co-founded the Carefree Cruising share boat scheme in 2002.

Who can use this site to sell their share?
Boats2Share.com is independent of any share boat company and provides an impartial selling service. Any owner of any share boat syndicate can use this site to sell their share, whether you are a member of a private or a managed syndicate.

What Selling Service do you Offer?
We offer two levels of service:

1. Advertising only. With this level of service, your contact details will be published as part of your advert and all enquiries will be directed to you.

2. Full selling service. With this level of service, our contact details will be published as part of your advert and all enquiries will be handled by us. We will also actively canvas our database of potential share buyers to increase the chances of selling your share quickly.

As a special introductory offer, our advertising only service is being offered at £50 including VAT for a six month advert and our full selling service is being offered at £250 including VAT, with no time limits being placed on your advert.

Someone else in my Syndicate already has an advert on your site. Is it still worth me advertising my share?
Yes. Remember that even within the same syndicate there are differences between apparently similar shares that might make your share more attractive to a potential purchaser. For example, you might have school holiday entitlement or the weeks already allocated to your share may be more suitable for the purchaser. You may also choose to advertise your share at a more attractive price!

How do I list my Share for Sale?
Simple. Just go to the “Selling” page, fill out the information required on the form, upload your photographs and submit the form. We will then contact you to arrange payment, following which your advert will then go live.

Can you help me write my advert?
Within reason, yes. As long as you can supply all of the facts required, we can help you with the rest. Whilst we would prefer you to have some nice photos of your own, as we obtain copyright of all photos submitted to us, if we already have photos of your boat, we may use these for your advert if we think that this is appropriate.

Is there a limit on what I can write, and a maximum number of photos that I can have?
If you use a plain font then within reason there is no maximum amount that you can write. That said, if you submit something the size of War and Peace it will not be published without amendment. The maximum number of photos allowed is six. You choose what photos you wish to submit.

I don't have any good photos of my boat, but there are some on my Management Company’s web site. Can I use these?
As these photographs are likely to be protected by copyright, the answer is likely to be “No”. Contact your Management Company and ask their permission to use these photos. Provided that you can provide us with written permission from the Management Company that their images can be used then we will allow you to utilise these in your advert.

My syndicate has its own web site and/or my Management Company is also advertising my share - can I have links to them?
No. We do not allow links to external web sites. In any case, we do not think that this is in your best interests. You are trying to sell YOUR share. Why advertise on behalf of your syndicate or Management Company, who may have many more shares for sale just like yours?

Is there anything that might help my share stand out above all others?
YES! Think about why you bought it in the first place. What was important to you? Think also about why you are selling it and also consider any special restrictions imposed by your syndicate agreement, such as pets not allowed, no smoking, etc. Some examples of things that you should state or discuss are as follows:

• Pet Free. This is obviously important to an allergy sufferer, who would see it as a major plus point. A dog owner, however, might not. However, you must state it as there is no point in selling your share to a dog owner if the other owners don't allow pets. You will be wasting their time and yours.
• No Smoking. If you have a no smoking boat then state it. However, this usually makes no difference as most smokers are considerate and boats tend not to smell of cigarette smoke even if smoking is allowed.
• Special arrangement for school holidays: If such a scheme operates on your boat say so, and say if your share on offer is with, or without, the arrangement. Explain how the arrangement works and if school holiday status can be gained or relinquished if necessary.
• How weeks are selected? State the method used (ballot draw & exchange, fixed weeks or rotating picking list) and explain it as best you can. How many weeks you are guaranteed to get each year? Is there a particular time of year when any of your weeks have to be taken during? If you know your dates already allocated to your share then state them. (These weeks may be changed for the duration of the advert free of charge).
• Management. Is the syndicate privately managed or are the services of a Management Company employed?
• Costs. State the price that you want for the share. If your Management Company is also offering your share for sale, remember it is not a good idea to be quoting a different price from them! State the sum you pay each year towards the running costs. If you are in a managed scheme you must include any management fee payable.
• Mooring. Is the boat only ever going to be moored at it’s current site? Is there an agreement in place that the boat will move every two or three years? Has a new mooring already been agreed and arranged for next year?
• How are Decisions Made? Is there a management committee? Do the owners meet each year in general meeting? If so, how is this organised and run?
• Other Information? Do potential owners have to be vetted? If so, what is the process? Has any major work been done to the boat recently or is any planned for the near future? Does your syndicate put aside amounts for future repairs to even out the cost of ownership? If so, would any purchaser get the benefit of this or would they be required to pay this amount to the seller of the share in addition to the share purchase price? The more information that you can include the better. There is no limit on the amount of text your can put on the page (within realistic boundaries).

  You charge for your selling service, whereas there are others that will accept adverts like this for, it seems, free. Why?
  It is usually true in life that you get what your pay for! Our selling service is targeted precisely on those interested in Shared Ownership. We advertise in places likely to attract the person who wants to buy your share. This costs money and therefore we have to charge for our service.

  Why should I use your site to buy a share?
  Boats2Share.com is independent of any share boat company and provides an impartial buying service. Any owner of any share boat syndicate can use this site to sell their share, whether a member of a private or a managed syndicate. You are therefore able to see a good selection of available shares.

  What can I expect if I join the mailing list?
  We recommend that you register with us. This will mean that every time we take on a share for sale, you will be notified, increasing the chances that you will find exactly the right share for you. You can ask to be de-registered and taken off the mailing list at any time.

  Can you help me with the buying process?
  Yes we can. We can provide impartial advice and undertake specific tasks such as, for example, reviewing the share agreement for you. Please contact us to discuss your specific requirements. There may be a charge made for any service provided to you. If this is the case, we will agree our charges with you before any work is undertaken on your behalf.