All valid points! Lipstick does sell, but might hide a cankor sore! When
buying, I prefer the original paint, regardless of condition, so I know nothing is hidden (I won't buy "new paint" less than 2 years old, and that's no guarantee either). Old paint also lowers the price to a more affordable range and gives me more options. But, like Jeff, I have a little experience, so I would plan on painting the plane myself later for additional savings and value.
As a
seller, lipstick sells! If I can paint it myself, do a good job (important), and save money in the process, I could wind up with more money in my pocket. But will it be enough to make repainting worth my while? If I pay a shop $5,000 to paint the bird, it's unlikely to raise the value of the bird any more than that, so the only real advantage might be a quicker sale (if they don't take too long to paint it, or find additional problems). Either way, plenty of before and after pictures and documentation might help quiet any prospective buyers fears about what's under the lipsti ...... er ..... new paint.
To me (as a mechanic), good mechanical condition and the ability to pass
anybody's pre-buy or annual inspection is much more important than paint, whether buying or selling. If I weren't mechanically inclined, I'd have to depend on someone else for a mechanical evaluation, and good paint and interior would likely be the first thing I'd be attracted to!
It's all really the same as buying or selling a used car!
It all depends on the experience level of the buyer, and how fast the seller can talk!
