How do I prepare my fabrication shop’s equipment list for a buyer?

Start on the shop floor with a clipboard, not the books. Record each machine, welder, press, saw, crane and hand tool of any real use, plus the trailers and trucks if they come with the sale. Note the identifying details and where each item sits, then photograph it.

Next, add what a buyer cares about. For each item, record how often it is used, what maintenance was done and any known fault. Mark what you own outright, what is financed or leased and what belongs to a customer or an employee. Sorting that out early prevents an awkward discovery later, and your lawyer can confirm title.

Finally, split the list into what is included, what is excluded and what is for sale separately. Make the list consistent with your financial statements, because mismatches raise questions. Your accountant can help you align them. A buyer may bring an appraiser, so keep the machines accessible, tidy and ready to run. A clear list can also support the buyer’s lender when they review the purchase. Leave out nothing that you intend to remove. If a machine is staying on a customer’s site, or is being sold to someone else before closing, say so on the list. Update it close to the closing date, and expect the buyer to walk the floor with it in hand.

Key takeaways

• Walk the floor and record every item, its condition and who owns it.
• Mark what is leased, financed, customer-owned or excluded from the sale.
• Make the list match your financial statements.