What to look for when you buy a houseboat

Buying a houseboat

So you need advice on what to look for when buying a houseboat, well you’ve come to the right place. Buying a houseboat can be a tricky experience. It takes a lot more time then buying a car and if you make the wrong decision, the costs are going to be higher then most average American’s can afford – however – with our guide, you’ll be set for a smooth and easy sailing (literally!).

Where do you want to buy your houseboat?

Depending on the area in which you would like to sail your treasure eventually, can mean a big difference in the price of the houseboat you’re buying. Make sure that you look around and find the best possible destination to keep your little ray of sunshine (hey, my houseboat is like a child to me!). Once you’ve decided where you’ll most likely be sailing the houseboat, you can look and see if there are sellers in that area (remember, it’ll cut your moving expenses for the houseboat which are quite large).

Buying a Used vs. New Houseboat

Most people believe that newer is better but it doesn’t necessarily mean that a used houseboat is bad. Very often a new houseboat will be overly priced because of the hype created around the houseboat, you also need to consider the marketing they’ve done for the houseboat, all of that adds up. You shouldn’t be afraid of buying a used houseboat as long as you do your homework correctly (see one of our other articles on houseboats to get more information on buying Used houseboats).  With the right attitude you could find a used houseboat for a significantly less price for the same type of new houseboat. Don’t be afraid to look around.

Being prepared for houseboat transporting

Most new houseboat owners don’t think about the biggest expense you can have while owning a houseboat: transport. Whether it’s shipping your new houseboat across the country, or enjoy it sailing down a lake or river, houseboat transporting can get very expensive. Depending on the size and the weight of the boat, the transporting costs will be more expensive. Over a certain size, a houseboat will need its own escort vehicle, which will add additional costs to you. On average, a houseboat uses about $60 worth of petrol (when on the water). Make sure you ask how much your houseboat does on average. Be careful that you work out exactly HOW much it will all set you back.

After all, what’s the point in getting a good price on a houseboat but then paying for it over and over with ridiculous amounts after the initial purchase?

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