Selling a Private Jet: How to Price It and How Long It Really Takes
Updated: Oct 13
Selling a private jet is slower and more detailed than most owners expect. Buyers are informed, every aircraft has a public history, and a pre-buy inspection will find anything the listing leaves out. The owners who sell well are the ones who prepare for that before the aircraft goes on the market.
What decides the price
Two aircraft of the same type and year can sell millions apart. The main drivers are:
Hours and cycles. Total time and landings, and how they compare with similar aircraft. A high ratio of hours to cycles usually means long flights and less wear on life limited parts.
Engine programme. Whether the engines are enrolled on an hourly maintenance programme, which programme, and on what terms. This can move the value more than anything else, because a buyer pays less for an aircraft whose next engine overhaul is not covered.
Maintenance status. When the last major inspection was done and when the next one is due. A heavy check completed recently is a strong selling point; one due in six months is a discount.
Avionics and connectivity. Upgrades that keep the aircraft compliant and connected.
Interior and paint. Their age and condition, and whether the dates in the listing are accurate.
Records. Complete, traceable logbooks. Missing records cost real money.
Listed prices are not sale prices
Asking prices on listing sites are starting points. Actual transaction prices are usually lower, and buyers know it. Compare your aircraft with recent completed sales of similar aircraft, not with what others are asking. An appraisal from a recognised valuation service helps set a price you can defend.
A realistic price at launch sells faster and often for more than an optimistic one that has to be cut after months on the market.
Get the paperwork right before you list
Every claim in your listing will be checked. Before marketing, make sure you have:
An up to date specification sheet, with interior and paint dates you can prove
The manufacturer's delivery documents
Complete maintenance records and the current status of all inspections
The engine programme contract and a current statement
Registration and ownership documents
Inconsistencies, such as a year of manufacture that differs between documents, make buyers suspicious and slow the deal down.
What the buyer's pre-buy will find
The buyer will commission a pre-buy inspection. It will find overdue items, corrosion, damage history and record gaps. Anything significant becomes a price negotiation. Sellers who fix known issues or disclose them up front usually keep more of their price.
One broker or many
It is tempting to give the aircraft to as many brokers as possible. It usually backfires. When the same aircraft appears on several listings, sometimes at different prices and sometimes with the registration hidden, buyers assume it is not selling and push the price down. Some intermediaries also add their own margin on top, so buyers see a price well above what you asked.
A clear mandate with one broker, or a small number working together, keeps the price consistent and the story straight. Our post on off market private jet sales explains when discretion helps and when it hurts.
How long a sale takes
As a rough guide:
Preparation: two to six weeks to gather records, set the price and prepare marketing
Marketing to letter of intent: anything from a few weeks to many months, depending on price and market
Letter of intent to closing: four to eight weeks, covering deposit, pre-buy inspection, fixing agreed items and the change of registration
Sought after aircraft priced correctly can sell in weeks. Unusual types, high hours or aircraft with open maintenance items can take much longer.
Getting started
Jetvice handles private jet sales and works with buyers looking for specific aircraft. If you are thinking of selling, send us the type, year, hours and location, and we will give you a realistic view of the market. Email info@jetvice.net or see our aircraft for sale page.
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