Hmmm. Beware DAR's???
Anyone doing a pre-purchase examination should feel obligated to inform the purchaser of
all findings. Then the next phase is usually a discussion with the purchaser to help them make a decision.
Usually, it is not just one item that is a sale-breaker, but sometimes pointing to one item is way out for the purchaser. Sometimes those can be difficult conversations with the seller, who may not like to hear anything negative about his/her airplane. We can all understand that.
If the seller pays for the prebuy, then they are entitled to the report. IF the purchaser paid for the prebuy, they aren't always willing to give the entire report to the seller if they are walking away, as now the seller has a report to help them fix everything, at no cost to them. I've been taken to task for that, and rightly so. In one case, the seller walked away, and the plane was then advertised as "prebuy already done by Vic Syracuse, and all items fixed." Quite candidly, that is a little misleading, as we really don't know the quality fo the repairs.
Most sales actually go through, with the purchaser usually negotiating for compensation in price, or asking the seller to fix things. At least that is what I am seeing in the prebuys that I am involved with.
This is supposed to be a good thing for both parties, albeit some sellers are forced to sell for reasons beyond their control, so it is not always an all-around happy time.
I like being involved in these as more often than not (about 70%) of the deals go through, and everyone is happy. That's the way it is supposed to be. But not every airplane for sale out there is not always right for every buyer. Some take time. Some find out the airplane needs works, and that's not what they want. More and more buyers are coming from the certified world to our community, and they want an airplane they can just go fly and not have to tinker with. Others are OK with a project or one that needs tinkering. Those conversations should be had in the initial phone calls between the 2 parties.
Just my thoughts.
Vic