I may have come off sounding like a nit pick but I am trying to counter the all more prevalent and nieve attitude of first time buyers that if an airplane is signed off as Airworthy there is nothing wrong with it. As we all know that is definitely not the case.
First time buyers need to understand that little items do add up. By ignoring, or failing to recognize all the squawks how do you know if the plane is ?fairly priced or worth the asking price??
I agree don?t sit there and nit pick but also don?t take a plane that is professed as A1 condition and pay an A1 price only to find out there are a lot of minor repairs that will add up on your next annual.
Avionics, I?m not saying that you should demand a rebate on plane that has avionics in it. I?m saying if two identical c150s are sitting side by side and one is $5000.00 more simply because it has a VOR, ADF and Loran then take the cheaper plane without the avionics (all else being equal.)
And finally as a buyer if a seller weren?t the least concerned about the small easy to fix issues then it speaks volumes about the pride the seller has in his aircraft. I can?t stress that enough.
I agree with you as do onto others. As an owner I?m meticulous with my aircraft, my logs and everything else related to the plane. If I should ever sell I would welcome a close and demanding inspection. I would do my best to resolve all issues, minor or large and yes of course I would expect premium dollar for my well maintained aircraft.
I am a strong believer in you should get what you pay for and pay for what you get. I have no qualms about paying more for a well maintained aircraft. This article wasn't meant as "How to guide" to chisle down a seller. It is meant to previde guidence on what to look for and how to look for it so that a buyer can make an informed decision.
