Advice

Selling your Aircraft

You always want to squeeze that extra meeting in, get there that bit faster and avoid that nasty weather leading to a bigger and better aircraft, but first you need to sell your current Aircraft using the best means possible. .

Selling your aircraft can be a complicated process, but following the instructions below should help you on your way.

Spec Sheet

Begin by assembling a complete spec sheet. You're going to get lots of questions by phone and/or email, and it's best to have all the answers in one handy place. A single page spec sheet containing all the information on your plane is a great sales tool to fax or email to your prospective buyers.

Price

With all the specs in hand, it's time to set an asking price. Many aircraft for sale do not accurately reflect the value of the aircraft. People just pick an arbitrary value that they would like to sell their aircraft for. It is important to have you aircraft appraised for its current value. While you have the appraiser there, you also want to find out how much the aircraft would appraise for if certain improvements were made. With this information, you can then weigh the costs and possible gains of a new job, tires, or engine re-haul.

By combining the appraised value with your need to sell aircraft, you can establish a price point that will enable you to get the most from your aircraft in the shortest amount of time. Many people price their aircraft too high and are then forced to wait months or even years to sell their aircraft. Aircraft for sale that are priced fairly are going to sell quickly.

Documentation

It is your responsibility to have all the aircrafts documentation ready and up to date. Some of the important documents that you should have up to date and ready to show to potential buyers are: airworthiness certificates, registration, operating limitations, weight and balance, insurance documents and any known AD's or Non-compliance with AD's.

Appearance

You want to buy a clean aircraft and so will your potential buyers. Even if the aircraft is just sitting in a hanger, it is important to wash and wax it weekly so any potential buyers see your aircraft looking its best. Before showing your aircraft, make sure you also polish any chrome, clean the tires and interior surfaces with Armor All, clean the engine, and clean the interior.

Ready to Fly

Even if you are not currently flying your aircraft, it is important to start the engine weekly and keep the batteries fully charged. There is nothing worse than trying to impress a potential buyer and having difficulty starting your aircraft.

Test Fly Opportunities

Serious buyers should always be offered a free flight. It will give you the opportunity to show all of your aircrafts best features. Make sure to point out your navigation system, instruments, radios, and any other unique features of your aircraft. This should be a laid back and enjoyable experience for the buyer and it will help ease any worries they may have.

Aircraft Delivery

Some buyers may want to set up specific delivery methods like having you fly the aircraft to their airport or they may want to fly it themselves. talk about the costs and details of this before the contract is signed. You can also offer to pay part or all of the expenses for the flight back to the buyers' home airport.

Selling your aircraft does not have to be an overwhelming experience, but by taking your time and following this step by step process you will be on your way to getting the most out of your aircraft in the least amount of time.