Seller resource / September 2026
Ask who can release the asset
The person who operates an instrument may not be the person authorised to sell it. Identify the institutional asset contact and any internal approval process. Make clear whether the enquiry is exploratory or the equipment is approved for disposal.
Document the experiment-facing setup
Record what belongs to the installation: detectors, optics, pumps, sample handling and the computer. Research groups often adapt a platform over time. Describe additions and removed components so the system is not assessed from an outdated asset record.
Protect research information
Keep raw data, sample identities and confidential methods out of an initial enquiry. Before a computer is transferred, involve your institution’s IT team and confirm what software and licence rights can accompany it. A computer being physically present does not establish transfer rights.
Plan around the final use
Give an expected release window and say whether it depends on the arrival of a replacement or completion of a study. Avoid disconnecting a working system simply to start a discussion. Final preparation and collection arrangements belong in the agreed handover plan.
A reusable equipment record
The CSV template opens in common spreadsheet applications. Keep one row per item and link related modules with a system reference. Leave genuinely unknown details marked as unknown.
Download the list template ↓This guide covers enquiry preparation. It is not a service, shutdown, decontamination or transport procedure. Follow your institution’s requirements and the relevant manufacturer instructions.