BCPs, I need some opinions. I have a 206 that I'm thinking seriously about out selling. The aircraft is pretty much a ten except the exterior. It's got lots of great mods, new motor, interior etc. My question is this: Is it worth doing a paint and strip? I did a complete strip and paint before, so am aware of the work, just can't decide on the value increase. I know the evaluator programs say it's worth about $7K more painted (and that's not too far off from what it's worth for me to DO that work). My question is then, is it really worth that much to potential buyers? Would you rather pay $7,000 less for an otherwise perfect plane that's a 5 outside or would you rather pay for the new paint at purchase?
Thanks for loaning me your brains!

10-15k less for paint that's how much it'll cost to paint (now a days) is what I'd probably try to chop you down, then you'd probably tell me things I should do good luck.

As someone who has been actively shopping for an airplane for about a year, I am suspicious of planes that have been very recently painted. I would get a quote on a good paint job and offer the plane unpainted or painted with the paint price added on....that way you aren't putting a paint job on that the prospective buyer doesn't want due to price or color or style.

For me I would take the time to paint your plane. For the most part it is what the new buyers see first. Some call it eye candy, for me its the potential of a fast sale. Paint all so adds in the show of care for the plane. As well as increase the price. Shows its well maintained as well as clean inside and out. Paint can make or brake a sale. Find some one who is good in painting planes. Make sure you use the right kind of pain.

Good luck.

+1 with littlewheel - do not strip - leave it to the new owner - it makes it look like you are hiding something - new owner can pick their color and it saves you the hassle

'Greg

+2. New owner will have the option to paint or not, and choice of color scheme.

Tough call. While it's reasonable to be leery of a fresh paint job, people tend to be emotional and nothing grabs the eye and makes people THINK it's been well taken care of if it looks shiny and new.

Maybe try selling it with paint as an option and if people don't bite, paint it?

Paint it up and have Joe Stancil sell it for you.

Seriously though, I wouldn't paint it if you are selling it. You'll never get your money back in today's market, unless you did everything yourself and paid yourself nothing for your time. Let the new owner do it if it's important to him.

When I was looking for a plane I wanted one that was in good mechanical shape, had a good interior, and a good paint job. I didn't want to buy one, and then do a lot of work on it. It needed to be flyable, servicable, and look good at the time of purchase. I didn't have the time or money to put into additional improvements.

Another thing I wanted to see while looking was a log book that showed an appropriate amount of money had been spent on maintenance. This was based on the theory that a plane takes money to keep running, and if the previous owner was postponing or scrimping on maintenance then I would have to make up for the deffered maintenance after I bought it.

So, from my perspective a bad paint job is a deal breaker. That means either a paint job that has been neglected, or a new paint job with colors or paint scheme I don't like.

DEGJR

+3 let the new owner paint it.

Good day

I'd much rather inspect it and buy it 'as is' than with a fresh paint job for a sale.....
I'd also much rather buy an airplane with a run out/near run out engine, then do the fresh engine related 'choosing' (lots of choices involved) and do the break in myself, too.

lc

A lot depends on your market. Curb appeal is important in house sales, and for many buyers, in airplane sales. Sure, the sophisticated buyer of either houses or airplanes knows that it's the solidarity of the structure, whether everything works correctly, etc., which really count. So are you likely to be dealing with a sophisticated buyer? Is the cosmetic condition of your airplane likely to be a turn-off, even to a sophisticated buyer? It's not easy to put yourself into the shoes of any buyer, but over the years with houses and cars and airplanes, I've certainly found it harder to sell things that need work, even if it's not very expensive work, to make them look good.

Cary

Cary wrote:A lot depends on your market. Curb appeal is important in house sales, and for many buyers, in airplane sales. Sure, the sophisticated buyer of either houses or airplanes knows that it's the solidarity of the structure, whether everything works correctly, etc., which really count. So are you likely to be dealing with a sophisticated buyer? Is the cosmetic condition of your airplane likely to be a turn-off, even to a sophisticated buyer? It's not easy to put yourself into the shoes of any buyer, but over the years with houses and cars and airplanes, I've certainly found it harder to sell things that need work, even if it's not very expensive work, to make them look good.

Cary

In this market it is very hard to get a return on investment no matter what you do. So you put ten thousand in to get $5000 out but maybe it wouldn't sell at all...... As my boat inches closer to sale, I can't tell you how much I regret putting the $15K that went into the damn thing over the last 12 months. I'll get NONE of that back, and it would have sold anyway. Just a thought.

EB

List it for sale with new paint of the buyers choosing included in the price. Take 10k off if they accept it as-is. That way you can market it to both groups. List it today.