Pre-Purchase Survey Checklist
Sales agreement signed and deposit paid?
I am unable to carry out any pre-purchase survey work until a sales agreement has been signed with the vendor / broker and a deposit paid. The normal deposit prior to survey is 10% of the agreed purchase price.
Ships Papers?
The following papers should be requested from the broker / vendor:-
The yacht Builder's certificate of construction
- VAT Invoice for sale or VAT certificate
- The sale's contract to the current owner and all previous sales' contracts
All ship's manuals
What preparation is required prior to survey?
Make sure that you have provided full boat details and location.
Ensure that the boat is fully accessible.
Confirm lift out arrangements.
Confirm pressure washing arrangements.
Ensure that the yard/broker/owner knows a survey is planned and advise of arrangements.
Are all keys available including batteries, lockers and engine keys?
Are the batteries on board, connected and charged?
Instruments and systems to be connected.
Engines should be in commission and ready to be started.
Have loose gear and sails available for inspection.
Unnecessary gear and equipment should be removed from the boat as I need to get into every space, under the floorboards, to the bottom of every locker and under every berth.
All yard, repair service, engineering and re-rigging invoices to be available for inspection.
Manuals to be available for inspection. Brokers/manufacturer's specifications if available.
Make sure you have returned your survey acknowledgement and survey fee.