The title is your first impression
Most buyers search by type, year, and sometimes registration. Your title should contain all three: "Cessna 172S — 2003 — G-ABCD — Fresh Annual" is searchable, specific, and informative in two seconds.
Avoid vague openers like "Lovely aircraft" or "Price reduced." Those belong in the description. The title is for search and scanning — make every word count.
Photos sell aircraft. Bad photos kill interest.
Upload at least 8 photos. The minimum set: three-quarter front, three-quarter rear, both wingtips, cockpit panel, rear seats, engine bay with cowling removed, and at least one logbook page showing the last annual.
Shoot in good light — overcast days are ideal (no harsh shadows). Clean the aircraft first. A dirty aircraft with bird droppings in the photos immediately signals poor maintenance culture to experienced buyers.
If you have a 360° walk-around video, link it in the description. Video builds trust significantly faster than photos.
Write the description for a buyer who has never seen your type
Cover: total airframe hours, engine hours SMOH (and TBO status), avionics suite, recent major work, known squawks, and what's included in the price (logbooks, spare parts, headsets, ground power unit).
Be honest about squawks. Experienced buyers will find them during inspection anyway. Sellers who disclose minor issues upfront build more trust than those who reveal them reluctantly during the viewing.
Include the ICAO code of the aircraft's base. Buyers want to know how far they're travelling for a viewing and what the access arrangements are.
Price it right from day one
Overpriced listings drive away serious buyers and attract time-wasters. Research recent sales — not asking prices — for comparable aircraft. VoloMarket's price history feature shows trend data. Vref, Trade-A-Plane, and type club newsletters are useful references.
Pricing 5–10% above your realistic floor gives room to negotiate without starting at an absurd number. Pricing 20% above market means your listing will gather dust while buyers look at more reasonably priced alternatives.
Include VAT status clearly. Business sellers must state whether the price is VAT-inclusive or exclusive. Private sellers should note it's a private sale with no VAT. Ambiguity around VAT is one of the most common sources of deals falling through.
Respond quickly and be ready for viewings
Listings where the seller responds within a few hours get dramatically more traction than those where messages sit for days. Enable notifications and treat enquiries like job applications — prompt, professional, specific.
Have the aircraft clean and accessible for viewings. If the hangar requires advance notice, say so clearly in the listing. Lost viewings due to access issues are a common seller complaint.