An Insider’s Tip to Increasing Your Aircraft’s Resale Value.
There’s Profit in Your Logbooks.
As much as you love your current aircraft, sooner or later, you’re going to want to sell it. And being that very few aircraft owner/operators are also experienced in the fine art of preparing an airplane or helicopter for sale and then weeding out the tire-kickers until you find a qualified buyer, you’re probably going to work through an aircraft broker.
And that’s the right move. But, as you can well guess, not every “broker” is truly qualified to handle a seven- or eight-figure transaction. You’ll have to do your homework when selecting the right broker.
The best place to start is to look for an accredited member of the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA). IADA members are vetted and work to a strict code of ethics – wow, ethics in reselling of anything, imagine that.
Anyway, there are accredited IADA members and aircraft dealers located all over the world. There are re-sale specialists in the type of aircraft you are looking to sell, so they’re already experienced in how to best bring your airplane or helicopter to market.
Let’s be honest: most owners think their aircraft is a solid “10.” Okay, maybe “9.5.” Oh, if only.
When it comes time to determine the current market value of your aircraft back on earth, the broker is going to look at all the obvious stuff; paint, interior, engine time, avionics, etc. But, here’s what a lot of owners overlook. They’re also going to pay close attention to one area that can make or break a good deal: The condition of the aircraft’s logbooks.
Yes, the logbooks.
Ask any broker. They will tell you that having all of your engine, airframe, and avionics logbooks available in a neat, orderly, up-to-date, and searchable format can go a long way to enhancing your aircraft’s overall market position and, more importantly, maximizing its resale value.
In many buyers’ minds, sloppy, incomplete, and disorganized logbooks are unmistakable signs that the airplane wasn’t maintained to the highest standards – and that will cost you. At best, you won’t get top dollar, and at worst, you will lose the deal.
The good news is, it’s a lot easier and less costly than you think to have all of your records scanned, sorted, and presented in a digital format that makes secure sharing, searching, and printing easy. That source is Bluetail.
To learn about how easy it is to maximize the resale value and get more buyers of your aircraft today, click here to see how Bluetail can help.
