Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes GASP! Selling your plane

I've never sold a plane before; and have been following the Nigerian scenario here on the forum. SO what should be looked for? Who traditionally pays for the pre-buy, who is responsible for getting the plane from point A to B?

Potential buyers pay for pre-buy inspections, title searches, because they're for their benefits. Most sellers sell their planes "as is", "where is", unless you want to help the buyer with the delivery.

Gene, Hung is correct, as usual. However, those items can have certain negotiated conditions attached.

I've seen it where it is truly as is, where is, no exceptions.

I've also seen it where the Buyer pays for a pre-buy in the form of an annual inspection. Any airworthy items are paid for by the seller and the balance is paid for by the buyer.

If I was to sell my plane, I'm not letting it go anywhere for an inspection that I'm not with it. Every story of someone getting taken during an airplane sale starts with, "well, I trusted him."

I'll trust them if they give me cold cash in the hand. Then they can have the keys and the books and see ya later! Otherwise, you can structure your selling experience to only include those things that you're comfortable with and make it as fair as possible.

I don't envy you for the task you're about to undertake.

Good luck.

Thanks for the information guys! I've got my bayonet ready for the mine field.

Gene,
I may not be typical but I usually have my checkbook at the ready whenever I am close to deciding on a buy. In addition, my bank is expecting a call from the seller. I encourage the seller,through his bank,to call mine and get confirmation that the check is good. The stress level for the seller is considerably reduced! Any decent banker knows the procedure for assuring their customer the check is good.
For me,a deal killer,is to check the FAA Database and find the "owners" name is not on the registration, only sale reported. When an aircraft has been in a persons possession a sufficient time for the paperwork to clear and it hasn't,I assume I am dealing with a snake oil salesman. The day I write the check is the day the registration and bill of sale are sent to the FAA. That of course means I will get the pay up letter from the state in short order, but that is the cost of doing business. Dealing with sidewinders is a tedious task I strive to avoid.

Personally, I recommend using an aviation title / escrow company. They will ensure the paperwork is complete, money is properly handled, no liens against the title, etc.. It may cost a little extra (350 - 500) but well worth it in my opinion. How this fee is paid is up to you and the buyer, however, it benefits both.

Larry is right. Get an escrow service to handle it- a disinterested party.

Can anyone recommend an A&P in the Grand Forks ND area that I might get to do a pre-buy inspection for me?

Gary Larsen
nesralyrag@hotmail.com

Gary--I might be able to help you. Contact me directly at:
jon.lindgren@ndsu.edu

Thanks, Jon, for the offer. I didn't catch this reply until after ferrying my new aircraft from North Dakota to the San Francisco area. An excellent adventure.
Aircraft now up to speed and in the air here in Honolulu.