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October 2006
"After arriving in NZ in the fall of 2005, we made the difficult decision to sell our beloved Passport 42, ACE, and to return to the US. We listed the boat with a broker in Auckland. Two months later, we returned to the US, leaving ACE for sale. During that time, our broker had not shown the boat to a single potential buyer! Nor did he tell us that the Auckland boat show was imminent, and that we could put ACE on display in the show!
A friend of ours had a great experience selling his boat with Mike Ward's help, and recommended him to us. We contacted him by phone from the US on a Saturday, two days before the Auckland Boat Show started, and decided to make him our agent. Mike scrambled, moved our boat from Gulf Harbour to the display area at Viaduct Basin, and had a written purchase offer before the boat show even started! The survey identified some problems, which scared away the buyer, and required Ace to be hauled for some bottom repairs. Mike took care of all of of the issues, getting the boat hauled, dealing with the boatyard, monitoring progress, and frequently sending us photos of the work in progress. While the boat was hauled, he identified another buyer, and got us a very attractive offer. After the work was completed, Mike took the buyers out for two sea trials during winter weather and closed the deal! And he also worked with NZ Customs and arranged GST and duty fees that were much lower than we had expected.
I can't imagine how any agent could work more diligently and professionally on behalf of an owner. I never would have guessed that we could find an agent we would trust to resolve such complicated issues while we were 8000 miles away from the boat. But Mike's professionalism came through in the first phone call, and he made us comfortable from the start. He went far above and beyond the call of duty, and made a difficult process as painless as possible! We will highly recommend him to any cruisers who are arriving in NZ and decide that it is time to sell their yacht. Thanks, Mike!"
Lou & Mary, CA, United States
 "ACE" Passport 42 - sold in Auckland, 2006
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