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Before listing your airplane, you should give it a thorough visual in- spection, inside and out. Better yet, ask a friend or trusted advisor to do a visual inspection with you. We can be "nose blind" to our 14-year-old dog, and similarly, we tend to overlook the imperfections that others see easily. Don't be defensive when your advisor points out defects. Listen and take good notes. How does the paint look? If at all possible, have any cracks, chips or blemishes professionally treated Investing $5,000 now can add $50,000 or more to the purchase price when it sells. and repaired. How does the interior look? Unless you expect, without a doubt, that a new owner is going to re- place the interior, take the right steps to clean up the cabin and cockpit. Fix any tears in the leather; re-dye faded leather; replace cockpit seat sheepskin covers if old and matted; remove stains from carpet, sidewall, or headliner; ensure all seat features like headrests, armrests, and recline are functional; and have any broken or chipped cabi- netry repaired if at all possible. Before showing the plane to a buyer, remember the small details count. Have the plane fully detailed and pol- ished, including any brightwork (like heated leading edges), pneumatic boots and tires. Pay extra attention to entry- ways and baggage areas. A nicely kept, clean baggage area shows that you take pride in the entire aircraft, not just the cabin. Making it shine will ensure a smile on everyone’s face. Inside the cabin AND cockpit, try to organize any materials laying out. Put checklists away; hide the lavatory toilet paper and clean up any snacks, drinks or magazines sitting out. Finally, vacuum the cabin and cockpit. Even consider getting a dusting tool to remove dust and small debris from cabin surfaces and small areas like FMS keypads. Do you have any screens in the cabin or cockpit? Clean those as well with a microfiber cleaning cloth. Those stuffed animals you like to keep on the seats might enthrall the kids, but be sure to remove extra clutter, decora- tive items and excess supplies. Think ONLINE! View the entire magazine on the site! Viewable on House www.twinandturbine.com any device! • Current Issue • Issue Archive (2015) • Purchase Back Issues • Page Turn Version • Comment on Articles • Advertiser Spotlight • Advertiser Links • Feature your plane • Special Jet Journal Section • Contact Us 26 • TWIN & TURBINE / April 2020 Jet Journal