Houseboat survey
Both for the financing and often also for the insurance of a houseboat a valuation is required. The houseboat can only be surveyed by an approved houseboat surveyor.
A houseboat is comparatively worth little without berth. This is because in The Netherlands the number of berths remains the same, so a houseboat without berth can actually only be purchased to replace an old houseboat (with an existing berth). Therefore there is very little demand for houseboats without berth.
On the other hand the demand for houseboats with berth is very large and that is why the price difference between a houseboat with berth and one without berth is so large.
In practice, when a houseboat with berth is surveyed, it turns out that the berth usually determines more than 75% of the total value. The technical condition of the houseboat and the condition of the hull determine the rest of the value. So have a professional examination done.
Each houseboat is unique, because not one houseboat or birth is the same. That is why a surveyor has no comparison to determine the value of a houseboat, which makes the survey difficult.
A houseboat surveyor has to have considerable experience on the houseboat market, to be able to make a responsible survey. It is a very small market and therefore there are very few surveyors who are able to meet this condition.
The houseboat market is in no way comparable to the housing market. Real estate brokers are generally not sworn to sell houseboats.
To find an approved surveyor you should ask your financier, because he usually has a list with selected surveyors for houseboats.
Most surveyors not only survey houseboats with berth, but also houseboats without berth, houseboats that are still to be build (with or without berth) or houseboats that you want to renovate.
A good survey is a solid base in making important decisions for the future.