Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes To sell or not to sell

Not necissarily so!! When researching the purchase of a 150 (I was going to but the flight school 150 until it was destroyed) I had access to the maintenance records for 97J AND All 3 of the rental 172s. Sure cost a lot more to maintain than the 150 - around 50% higher cost! Might have been a fluke, but I really doubt a 172 would be as cheap as a 150 to maintain.

Perhaps I should have qualified: the 0-320 172's will cost about the same to maintain (according to Poplar Grove Airmotive), the 0-300 models will cost more.

I was talking about the O-320 172s. All 3 of the ones I researched were '79 N models.

Hi Steve:

I was wondering if you or the other club members would see this post about me receiving an offer on 16G. I was reluctant to mention names (of club members who have shown interest), but I'm sure you can confirm that there has been no behind the scenes negotiating or "playing" two potential buyers against one another for the sake of making an extra buck. I have too much respect for this membership to conduct myself in that manner. Frankly, this club has bent over backward to guide me through my "rookie" period of being a 150 owner. Chuck, Carl and others have given me much good advice-either directly or indirectly. And for that, I am VERY appreciative!

The thing about N5816G is that she is such a nice plane that it was difficult for me to convey just how nice she is without comming across like I was "overselling". My mechanic has repeatedly told me that 16Golf is the nicest 150 he has ever seen and that I would have no problem selling her. BUT, having never sold a plane before, I was just very skeptical of his assertion. But in my heart, I felt like as soon as someone saw 16G, they would react to her the same way I did- love at first sight!

As of last night, I have decided not to sell 16G until I find a replacement. After considerring the advice of this membership and other trusted friends it occurred to me that I'd rather gamble on finding another plane and then having to sell 16G in a hurry, than selling 16G beforehand and ending up planeless for any significant period of time.

For the record though, I ended up turning down a full price offer. Originally I had told the purchaser that I would sell 16G one of two ways: At full asking price- I would have an annual performed before the sale OR I would discount my asking price by $600 to allow for an annual after the sale. Long story short, without even asking him to do so, the buyer offered me my full asking price without requiring me to have an annual performed. I've received many compliments on 16G, but hands down this was by far the nicest.

I don't think it is quite that Charles. My Cardinal (insured value $56,000) was $1100 per year on a 400 hour pilot. My 150/150 was $700 per year on insured value of $27500. The primary difference seemed to be in the value and even then it wasn't twice as much.

Mont,
Your airplane sounds like a gem. I'm sure it's a difficult decision to make whether or not to sell it. Personnally I would be rather ticked off if I saw an airplane I liked advertised for sale, offered full asking price plus forgiving the promise of an annual thrown in, only to have the airplane taken off the market. Don't waste a good buyer's time. Maybe I'm in the minority, but when I give my word on something, I keep it even though it turns out I might lose a few bucks. The solution is not to give one's word before understanding the consequences. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Tim,

I understand what you're saying, and I agree to a point. Always keep your word! Never intentionally waste anyones time! This wasn't intentional, I'm sure. A deal is not a deal until money and merchandise change hands. No contract was signed, and to my knowledge, not even a verbal commitment or handshake! Perhaps tens of thousands of dollars is just "a few bucks" to you, but it's life changing to me. Advertising a price is not the same as giving your word (ever buy a new car?), and finalizing a deal is something entirely different. Finalizing a deal is not to be taken lightly when this much cash (and quite a bit of emotion) is involved.

As a buyer, I would be disappointed, but not upset with the seller! I might not give him a second chance to sell to me, but it's still his airplane to do with as he wishes, until I at least have something in writing, and he has some of my money!

Perhaps I'm the one in the minority?

I think it also depends upon how much time and money the buyer has put into looking at the airplane. It costs money to buy an airplane just as it does sell one. To drive over to the next county to look at an airplane is usually not a big expenditure, but to travel several hours or a few hundred miles (which I have done) to look at what appear to be exceptional airplanes or exceptional prices for airplanes and then have the buyer say, "well, I can't bear parting with this airplane," is frustrating and annoying. Sellers complain about tire kickers, but buyers have a legitimate gripe with sellers who are fishing for top price.

Don

Guys,

I've been perfectly honest about my indecision with regard to sell or not. Like I mentioned in the post that began this thread, I flat out told the prospective buyer from the get go, that, "I would not accept a deposit" because I still wasn't even sure that I wanted to sell my plane. Two months ago I was mentally prepared to let 16G go. Since then, my circumstances have changed a bit and it has occurred to me that I should probably find a replacement plane first.

I don't think you can be more honest than to say,- "I'm not even sure that I want to sell" to a prospective buyer. How is that misleading? How can this be construed as not keeping my word?

Ease up a bit! To imply that I'm not a man of my word... those are pretty strong words! Might I respectfully suggest that you go back and re-read my original post before casting the aspersion that I am not a man of my word!

During each and every interaction that I have had with the prospective buyer, I have made it completely clear that I was wresting with the decision of wether to sell or not.

Gentlemen,

I respectfully submit that you have to look at it from both viewpoints. I think both Monty and his prospective buyer behaved as admirably as anyone could under the circumstances. I hope that none of you who alluded to a less than honorable performance by either party ever find yourselves in that same unenviable position. It's easy to find fault with your neighbors yard, when you have your back turned to your own!