There is an argument that your jet could be too uniquely designed to resell into the market.
The question is: do you, or even should you care?
Well, that depends. It depends on what driving factors affect you the most. Is it the cost? Customer, family or friends’ perceptions? Or do you have particular requirements that outweigh any negative market resale reaction.
There is a balance to strike for many between differentiating from the ‘standard’ interior to owning a jet with a custom interior to your requirements and tastes, versus what would the market response would be to that jet on resale.
You may actually have very specific requirements that actually mean your priority is buying for you and you only, forgetting what anyone else may think of the design or resale value.
Generally, it is deemed that a more contemporary or ‘standard’ interior is more suitable to resale. A floorplan or arrangement that is completely unconventional only appeals to a very small segment of the market – one would have to hope that small segment is shopping when you sell your unique aircraft.
In the end, it will come down to airframe and powerplant condition and price for a highly custom aircraft that won’t sell on the market, whereby a prospective buyer will replace the interior in whole or large part to their specification; whether that is another highly customized interior, or something more conventional in design that appeals to a wider market segment.
The average ownership period of a jet is 10 years, and the average lifespan of a jet is circa 20 years. Something 10 years old will likely be wanting to be refreshed, and so the prospective owner will likely want to put their own requirements in the refurbishment – the consideration is how hard do you make the completion or refurbishment center job of removing the existing interior? – given a unique custom jet interior may have monuments, seating and other equipment in ‘non conventional’ places.
In addition to these considerations, another price factor driving the market is high demand for pre-owned aircraft around five years or younger. That demand keeps sale prices healthy for those aircraft, since the demand is there, and the majority of those business jets need very little in the way of refurbishment should they be cared for properly and completed in a contemporary and more traditional way.
Aircraft approaching 10 years or older, and those with highly customized interiors will require to be refurbished by a new owner, and the extent of that refurbishment depends on how customized the interior and configuration is, how tired the interior is, the technologies incorporated within the original completion or any retro fits, and the requirements of the new owner.
If you want truly unique, then full ownership is the only way to go to truly customize a jet and be in control of the decision making throughout the full process
Just be aware however, ultimately there are considerations in buying or completing a highly customized jet in terms of resale – something to be aware about and consider
