Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

[mhorowit]

Anyone have a feeling for what a reasonable cost would be for a pre-purchase inspection? Of course it depends on what one will receive, but a range would be good to know - Mike

[crispy critter]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

$200-400 and if it goes above $300 you'd better make sure the guy doing the pre-buy for you is willing to sign it off with a fresh annual for that price,providing he finds nothing wrong....If you're going to have to pay that much for a pre buy then you might as well get your moneys worth.

[flylo]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

I agree with Kevin,you may as well get an annual.I normally pay $150-$250 for annuals,but I do most of the work & have every open when he arrives.

[N96337]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

When someone comes to me for a pre-buy, I usually tell them that we'll just do an annual and not waste the 200+ for the prebuy... if the guy selling isn't up for that, it's usually a sign that there's something hiding there. The reason I do it that way, is that there aren't any "suprises" down the road a few months when it's annual time... I've found things wrong deeper than the usual pre-buy and had uneasy feelings before, and like to avoid that whenever possible.
John H.

[mhorowit]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

When someone comes to me for a pre-buy, I usually tell them that we'll just do an annual and not waste the 200+ for the prebuy... if the guy selling isn't up for that, it's usually a sign that there's something hiding there.
John H.

So how much do you charge for an annual out your way? - Mike

[N96337]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

My shop rate's $50 and I love to have the owner help, to cut down on his/her bill. I don't quote a "cast in stone" rate, but it's usually under 8 hours, depending alot on the condition of the sign-off's in the logs... I don't believe for a split second "all AD's complied with"... doesn't cut it here.. plus it's not a legal sign-off. I've had small planes like my Tcraft come in that I'm familliar with and they're gone by lunchtime, if all they need is the inspection. I try to be as fair as I can, but in the same time, I wont cut any corners for anyone. Truth to be known... I'm not especially fond of doing annuals, and am pretty picky about my clients... but ya gotta do what ya gotta do sometimes.
John H.

[Two Ten Aero]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

I too do an annual when asked for a prebuy. Depending of course on the type of airplane the price can vary somewhat. I recently did a 59 Cessna 172 for $250, and the next day did a Mooney for $530. I can't imagine a Tcraft going over three hundred under any circumstances. I did one that went about five grand when the maintenance was done, but we replaced both main spars, rear spars and of course recovered the wings.
Unlike the gentleman above, however, I do all the annuals I can. That and fabric work is about all I do for others. I do my own rebuilds, but would do them for others also. And I have two families that I take care of their airplanes for them. Taught both families to fly etc.

[d.grimm]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

My experience this year from a Pacer to a Hawker is that you need to have a clear and concise agreement about who pays for airworthy vs squawks.
The problem with light aircraft is there are no published tolerances, etc. so it is all up to the inspecting mechanics discretion. That's were a type club is invaluable. Find an expert on the type that knows airworthy from building a new airplane. This is HARD learned experience. I can tell you a couple places not to go, ouch.

[alwaysoar]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

D.Grimm implied what I think, and that is with an unique antique, the pre-buy should be done by someone familiar with the type. An annual is nice, but I know two IA's around here who have come up with outrageous demands (i.e. balance the ailerons before he'd do the sign-off), and they can also make an airplane look bad in a pre-buy if they don't know about the idiosyncracies. It's one thing to do a Cessna 150, another to do a Taylorcraft. IMHO

[Guest]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

D.Grimm implied what I think, and that is with an unique antique, the pre-buy should be done by someone familiar with the type. An annual is nice, but I know two IA's around here who have come up with outrageous demands (i.e. balance the ailerons before he'd do the sign-off), and they can also make an airplane look bad in a pre-buy if they don't know about the idiosyncracies. It's one thing to do a Cessna 150, another to do a Taylorcraft. IMHO

Hi, if you don't mind a question I was wondering what made this outrageous? On the surface it seems like there may be situations where that was warranted. Would you be willing to elaborate?

I live in Dutchess County, NY that's in commuting distance to NYC so it's part of the high rent district.

In the late '80s and early '90s I paid about $200 to $300 for an owner assisted annual. In 1998 I paid $400. Pretty much the going rate I think.

Since then I got my IA so I do my own. I am very picky so mine may cost me more now! I usually find something to "fix" beyond the inspection.

Dave.

[Len Petterson]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

In Owen Sound Ontario is Guy;s air servise charges 400 Cdn for annual 200Cdn for prebuy inspection on a aircraft without electrics + 100 for C150 or alike. i payed 450 for the annual this year. Next door I know it would a lot more, and less work dune. 620 is what a friend payed to get a vent repaired on his Cardinal.

Len

[alwaysoar]

Re: Cost for a pre-purchase inspection?

The ailerons can't be balanced.