Back to skiermanmike's question, I think a lot of them turn down planes because they see what they want to see when they read the ad and look at the photos. If paint is important,, why would someone think that an airplane that has 30 year old pant would make them happy. Nice shiny paint will reflect the hangar lights in close up photos. If a certain STOL kit or a certain radio package is important why spend time and money and the sellers time to look at one that is not equipped the way they want or priced where you can afford to do the modifications. It's easy to ask lots of questions in 10 minutes on the phone if you have them written down and you can make notes of the answers. Often times sellers have the same problem, they remember how great that radio package was 20 years ago when they spent big bucks and it still works now, right. That faded paint will buff right out and shine up like new. Locally there is a 180 that the owner bought new in 1978, original paint, interior and radios. 1800 TT and 200 SMOH because it had a prop strike and gearbox replaced. He wants $50000 more than the market value, his heirs will sell it someday. They see what was not what it is now. Sometimes people are looking for a deal, they think there must be something that everyone else is overlooking. If it is a good deal, priced at market value more than likely it will be sold to one of the owners buddies before it ever shows up in an ad, if not there is a reason everyone else has walked away. They are looking for the airplane that has complete logs with no damage, low time, new engine overhaul, and newest radios that at best are 1% or less of what is available. And they do not want to pay the premium that those airplanes demand. They go away disappointed. Sometimes people think that what is for sale will do but when they look it doesn't. I had two interested parties come and look at my 170A I just sold that I told it was not the right airplane for them. One wanted a 180 but thought he could by mine for cash, I told him he would not be happy. And the other one wanted an airplane in nicer shape than what I was selling. And sometimes they are just not ready to buy. Early in the hunt airplanes are turned down for things that are OK after looking for a year or more. Some of that is actually the education process of what the fleet average condition really is, remember most of these airplanes are at least 40 years old and have had many owners and adventures. With rare exceptions they all will have a few little things wrong with the airplane or the paper work.

There are somethings that you may not find till you go to take a look, like cracks in Cessna control surfaces that do not fit the criteria for approval in the maintenance manual or exceed the number. Replacement with paint could easily exceed $1500 to $2000 per control surface.

Tim

When I was looking for my first airplane, 16 years ago, there was a large gap between what I could afford vs. what I needed to fulfill my (percieved) mission. With a young family of four, and being a strong broad shouldered guy, I needed space and load carrying capacity. Guess what I needed? I could afford a Pacer, an Aero Commander Lark, etc. It took a year for me to zero in on a 182, and to come up with the money. In that time, I looked at a lot of run down or unsuitable aircraft wishing I could close the gap. I tried to be respectful of the sellers time, and had a very patient friend who had a maintenance license and a desire to help me.

Buying your first airplane comes with a long steep learning curve. As a seller, pick your buyer. If the airplane isn't right for the buyer, educate them, and move on to another buyer. You'd be helping someone entering aviation, and we need those people. They're tire kickers, sure, but they are also prospects. The few that may never reach ownership, appreciate that they have enough of a dream to pursue it even if they're short of the necessary funds or not sure what they want or need. Eventually, one comes along that has gained the knowledge and compiled the funds to buy yours.

If this takes more than a year, and you've put a reasonable effort into advertising it, then it's overpriced. Any real estate agent will tell you this about selling your house, and it holds true for most items for sale.