Choosing a Yacht Broker: The Twelve Questions That Matter
Not all brokers are created equal. The right questions separate the transactional from the truly fiduciary.
A yacht broker is not simply a matchmaker between buyer and seller — they are counsel, market analyst, negotiator, and closing coordinator. The right one can save you seven figures on a superyacht; the wrong one can cost you the transaction entirely.
Ask about MYBA or IYBA membership, professional indemnity coverage, and — crucially — how client funds are held. Escrow through a regulated third party is the only acceptable answer. Ask for three closed transactions in the past 18 months in your size and segment, and speak to those principals directly.
Understand the listing exclusivity model. A central-agency mandate concentrates effort and reporting; open listings dilute both. For sellers above €2M, a properly incentivised central agent almost always outperforms a scattergun approach.
Finally, judge them on the questions they ask you. A broker who probes your intended cruising ground, guest profile, and refit appetite before showing a single vessel is the broker worth retaining.