Is your aircraft ready for sale? How to prepare your plane for the market

Aircraft inventories are gradually increasing. The days when sellers could demand almost anything are quickly disappearing. However, even in a tight market, making sure your aircraft is ready for sale is critical to getting top dollar.

You need to ask yourself a few questions before you place your aircraft on the market. Objectively take a look at your aircraft as it compares to the existing market. Your broker will likely be the most efficient source for this information. It may seem like common sense to make a thorough market comparison. However, it is surprising just how many aircraft owners do not take this into consideration initially and carefully. After considering the market, it is important to consider a significant item that aircraft owners often overlook. This consideration is the condition of the aircraft logs and records along with the currency of maintenance tracking programs.

Records are a very major part of the review of an aircraft in the purchase process and investing some time and effort prior to a buyer coming to look at the aircraft is in an aircraft owners best interest. Even if an aircraft owner has a good management company and/or a reliable and competent mechanic, hiring an independent maintenance consultant to review the records is money well spent and will save significant resources later. Aircraft owners not in the business of buying and selling routinely can easily underestimate this valuable consideration and often do.

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Another consideration is the overall presentation of the aircraft. If it is routinely flying, it may be harder to keep it in a polished presentation condition. However, the value of a strong visual presentation cannot be overstated. A detailed walkaround from a buyer’s viewpoint will help address areas that need to be touched up. Anything that can be polished should be and any apparent stains should be minimized. The interior is one of the hardest things for aircraft owners to perceive a deficiency with as the more you ride in it the less you see. Look at it objectively from a buyer’s perspective and take an honest assessment at the interior. A deep clean of the interior is always recommended even if the interior is not in excellent condition. If the seats are showing wear, a dye job should be considered to make the interior look more presentable.

Finally, airplanes collect a bunch of personal “stuff.” Clean the “stuff” out. Make sure the seat back pockets only have what is necessary and the same goes for any storage space. Anything that makes an aircraft appear more personalized should be removed from the aircraft for presentation.

Taking these mentioned considerations of assessing the market, reviewing the logs and giving an aircraft the attention necessary to visually present well and cleaning out personal items will ensure that your aircraft is not passed over when a buyer is looking to close a purchase quickly. Investing time in details before an aircraft is listed will help tremendously with the speed of the sale as well as the sales price. It pays to pay attention to the details.