Hi Mark, Stephen,

I just wanted to express my sincerest thanks to both of you for the professional manner in which you have facilitated, handled and managed my first-time boat purchase.

As a first time boat buyer based in South Africa, dealing with an international yacht broker located in Englans and a boat lying in Lefkas, Greece, I was somewhat apprehensive when I started with my initial enquiries.  Now, having completed the purchase, I can only describe the process with Williams & Smithells, from start to end, as the most professional business engagement I have ever had the pleasure of being involved in.

It has been an enormous pleasure dealing with both of you and I wish you all the best with your business in the months and years ahead.

Kind regards

Mariette du Plessis

Durban, South Africa

New owner of a Jeanneau 42cc purchased through Williams and Smithells

Dear Mark,

Hazel and I want to thank you for the excellent service received from your firm.

When we were buyers, you weren’t listing what we wanted; in fact nobody was but you kept notes and we were delighted and excited to receive your call when you told us that you might have found what we were looking for and it could soon become available.  To this day, no other brokers have made contact with us and your firm was the only one that seemed to remember why you open up in the morning!  Your seller must have been delighted too.

When we were sellers, WS was efficient and proactive and quite frankly given the depressed state of the market at the time, (it hasn’t ever been much worse) you did extremely well not only to find a buyer but also to have achieved a sale for us in remarkably quick time.  I have just checked and it was only three months from instructing you to “money in the bank”; an amazing performance in any state of market!

I don’t know how you do it but well done to you all.

Best wishes,  Lawrence & Hazel

Sold – Moody 40 – Jan 2012

our syndicate is very grateful for and satisfied about the services provided by  Stephen and you both. I am convinced that without the help of W&S the Moody Blues still would have been unsold.  That’s the message I intended to give you both in my testimonial.

Kind regards, Rob Lohman

Rob Loman – Moody Blues – Namens WSV Moody Blues Greece wil ik bij deze een groot compliment maken aan het adres van Williams & Smithells voor hun vakmanschap, betrokkenheid en persoonlijke service bij de verkoop van onze geliefde Moody 40 uit 1979. De samenwerking met zowel Stephen als Mark was buitengewoon plezierig en bovendien succesvol.Uiteindelijk hebben we de geadviseerde verkoopprijs daadwerkelijk ontvangen. Ik kan Williams & Smithells van harte aanbevelen bij iedereen die een schip wil verkopen of kopen.

“On behalf of WSV Moody Blues Greece I want to make this a great compliment to the address of Williams & Smithells for their professionalism, commitment and personal service in selling our beloved Moody 40 from 1979. Cooperation with both Stephen and Mark was very enjoyable and also successful we actually received their recommended retail price. Williams & Smithells I can heartily recommend to anyone who wants to sell or buy a vessel.”

I am writing to express our gratitude for the professional assistance received from Williams and Smithells with the purchase of our recently acquired yacht.

There is a bewildering array of vessels on the market and the business of short listing, viewing and negotiating is potentially very time consuming.

For us getting the right boat was more important than where she was lying so the potential for wasting time and money in idle pursuit was huge.

Having made a shortlist I had extensive conversations with Mark Ellyatt regarding individual boats. On each occasion I found his candidness refreshing and his knowledge inspired confidence.

A broker is ostensibly acting for the vendor but needs to tread a fine line with potential buyers. Mark certainly managed to achieve this balance and so with his help we only viewed one boat, which as it happens was at the top of our list. The sale went through smoothly and quickly.

When the time comes and we are no longer sprightly enough to hop around the decks of our boat we know where we will be selling her. We are very happy to recommend Williams and Smithells to prospective buyers or vendors.

For the attention of Mark, Stephen and Jonty

Now that the sale of our yacht is finally completed we wish to thank all the staff at Williams and Smithells.

Especially the following

Jonty Stubbs Who guided us through the procedures as to what was required when selling our yacht, and keeping us informed about interested buyers.

Stephen McIntosh and Mark Ellyatt who were outstanding with their knowledge and patients when the time came to transfer contracts.

The sale was far from easy as our yacht was registered in Gibraltar, and the new owner wanted to change it to be under his own flag, which was challenging. If Mark hadn’t helped with his unique knowledge and many years dealing with international Registries, we could still be trying to sort out the problem next year.

Once again Margaret and I thank you for your professional approach, and going that extra mile not only for us but also the new owner.

Yours Truly Margaret and Bill Smith.

Thanks to you all for helping me with the purchase of ‘Private Affair’. It could have been a traumatic experience buying a boat over a 1000 miles away. At no time did I feel that I was being sold too, more guided with the purchase – no easy feet as you were obviously working for the seller whose interests didn’t appear to be compromised. As telling was the interest that I received after the ‘sale was done’. The service in confirming the ownership and VAT status, reregistering, renaming and finally being handed the keys was efficient and friendly.  I hope to have a long and happy time on our ‘new’ boat but when the time comes to sell you’ll be the people I call.

Alex Day – Chief Instructor/Principal – Solent Sailing Ltd

Williams and Smithells have sold our boat promptly and efficiently. We gained confidence from dealing with staff that used English as their primary language, from the contracts drawn up under English law and the use of a separate clients account for handling cash. We would recommend Williams and Smithells.

I have been delighted with the level of service given by Williams & Smithells – right through from superb support with viewings and on to a speedy conclusion with our purchase.   I’m happy to recommend your company to any prospective purchasers.

Your service has been great. Your broker in Greece, Stephen McIntosh, came to visit us the day after we contacted him and immediately took photos and details of the boat.  The listing was up on the internet within a few days, and the boat was sold in a week!  Throughout the sale process Stephen kept us updated on a regular, almost daily, basis, and his approach was always friendly and straightforward.  Overall we’re very happy with the service that W&S has provided; we would certainly come back if we need a broker in the future, and we’ve already started recommending you to our friends.  Thanks!

Dear Mark,

A note to express my very grateful appreciation to You and your staff at Williams & Smithells, particularly Stephen McIntosh, for all the practical help recently received.

You run a good team whose knowledge,  persistence and unstinting cheerfulness have been a great relief.

I am glad I came to Williams & Smithells.

Tom Alsop Yacht Owner in Greece