how to sell or donate a piano

by Carroll Bechtelar 8 min read

  • Researching the piano brand
  • Determining a fair asking price
  • Taking great photos of the instrument
  • Listing the piano on eBay, Craigslist, and other marketplaces
  • Running online or print ads to your listing
  • Reaching out to piano technicians and tuners
  • Selling your piano to a local shop

Full Answer

How do I donate or recycle a piano?

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How to sell or donate your piano?

View Our Inventory Online · * Watch Piano Videos * · TriState's Largest Dealer

How to get rid of an old piano?

To keep things simple and safe, on any piano that we purchase or accept as a donation, we do pay for professional movers to pick up the piano! Kevin’s Piano Moving is out of Antioch IL. …

Where can I Donate my Piano?

Donate Piano. We accept piano donations from all 50 States. Select the Brand and Size below to see if your donation could help us fulfill our purpose. If the Brand is not listed below, we are …

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Who will take a piano as a donation?

Other not-for-profit organizations such as Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, veteran groups, universities, and schools rely on our ability to provide the specialized moving, technical, tuning, and other services required for pianos. Where do we accept piano donations from? All 50 U.S. states.

How do I sell my used piano?

Research Your Piano Brand. ... Determine A Fair Price. ... List Your Piano On eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. ... Run Ads To Sell Your Piano. ... Reach Out To Technicians And Piano Tuners. ... Find Local Places That Buy Used Pianos. ... Consider Donating Your Piano.

What can I do with an old piano?

Here's how you can properly get rid of your old piano:Determine is your broken piano is beyond repair - if it can be fixed, it may have more value being donated.Check to see if your local trash or junk removal service, charities, and recycling facility accepts pianos or offers piano disposal service.More items...

Is there a market for old pianos?

Unlike real estate or cars, piano sales are not regulated, and there is no major service that tracks the actual sale prices of used pianos. Even if there were, pianos can vary so much in age and condition that finding one or more instruments that are exact matches to yours would be unlikely.

What is the best way to sell an old piano?

List it on Craigslist, on eBay, in local classifieds, etc. If someone expresses an interest, let them come over to your property to try the piano. This is a must, and most people won't buy a piano before they try it. You should accommodate this; if you don't you'll find it much more difficult to sell.Nov 12, 2021

How much is an old piano worth?

SO – What's my piano worth?Piano TypeAgeApproximate Value RangeSteinway & Sons5-10 yearsAround 80% of new $60,000 to $90,000Steinway & Sons10-20 years60-70 % of new $45,000 to $70,000Steinway & Sons20-30 years50% of new $40,000 – $60,000Yamaha/Kawai/Samick10 more rows

Why are old pianos worthless?

A piano's value comes almost solely from its function as a musical instrument. (The exception usually being very ornate art case pianos.) A one-hundred-year-old upright's musical and mechanical value is quite low, especially when compared to the fine golden age grand pianos produced around the same period.Jan 25, 2017

Is it illegal to sell a piano with ivory keys?

Buying and selling ivory is illegal. This applies to all ivory items — sculptures, embellishments, keytops, and even entire pianos with ivory keys.May 30, 2021

Are ivory piano keys worth anything?

Before the laws tightened, a set of ivory keys could have been worth thousands of dollars. There is some today who still sell them. You should use caution when dealing with ivory since the laws can be complex.

How do I know if my old piano is worth anything?

Appraisers of used pianos and other consumer goods typically use three different methods to determine fair market value: comparable sales, depreciation, and idealized value minus the cost of restoration.May 13, 2021

What is the value of a player piano?

The Average Value of a regular, unrestored Upright Player Piano varies from about $200-$2000, depending on the type/quality of the cabinet and the reputation of the manufacture. Non-name brand units with all straight lines are the most common and the least valuable.

How do I know what kind of piano I have?

On an acoustic piano, the model number and serial number are stamped on the frame of the piano. On an upright piano, you will find the model number on the right hand side of the frame, and the serial number is stamped on the frame around the middle of the piano, normally in line with the middle octave of the piano.

How do I get rid of my free piano?

Here are a few options that may be available for your piano donation:The Beethoven Foundation accepts piano donations depending on condition of the piano. If your donation is accepted, they pick up your piano for free. ... Pianos for Education will pick up a piano in all 50 states for free. ... Check your local options.Feb 3, 2020

Is it worth selling a piano?

A digital piano that's in good shape may well sell for up to 50 - 75% of its original sale value if you find the right buyer. ... However, if your piano was built within the last forty years, or if it's a well known brand such as Yamaha, Kawai or Bechstein, it will almost certainly be worth something.Nov 12, 2021

How much should I sell my old piano for?

Most pianos falling into this category have a market value between $0 and $1000.

What can I do with an old upright piano?

Here's how you can properly get rid of your old piano:Determine is your broken piano is beyond repair - if it can be fixed, it may have more value being donated.Check to see if your local trash or junk removal service, charities, and recycling facility accepts pianos or offers piano disposal service.More items...

Is there a market for old pianos?

Unlike real estate or cars, piano sales are not regulated, and there is no major service that tracks the actual sale prices of used pianos. Even if there were, pianos can vary so much in age and condition that finding one or more instruments that are exact matches to yours would be unlikely.

Which pianos hold their value?

Which Pianos Hold Value The Most Or Appreciate? Grand pianos typically hold value the most. This is mainly because they are so expensive that they are considered a valuable asset. Steinway pianos are generally the most expensive and they tend to hold their value the most.Dec 5, 2020

How do I value my piano?

Appraisers of used pianos and other consumer goods typically use three different methods to determine fair market value: comparable sales, depreciation, and idealized value minus the cost of restoration.May 13, 2021

How can I sell my piano fast?

Research Your Piano Brand. ... Determine A Fair Price. ... List Your Piano On eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. ... Run Ads To Sell Your Piano. ... Reach Out To Technicians And Piano Tuners. ... Find Local Places That Buy Used Pianos. ... Consider Donating Your Piano.

Can you sell a piano with ivory keys?

Buying and selling ivory is illegal. This applies to all ivory items — sculptures, embellishments, keytops, and even entire pianos with ivory keys.May 30, 2021

Do pianos depreciate in value?

From a financial perspective (excluding instruments with special historical or artistic value), pianos are a depreciating asset. They depreciate quickly for the first few years and then slowly thereafter. They may eventually appear to appreciate in value, but the appreciation is entirely due to inflation.Apr 23, 2019

How do I sell a vintage piano?

If your desire is to become an educated seller and get the most value you can from your instrument, then you might consider alternative methods such as consignment placement in upscale antique stores or boutiques, consignment with a piano dealer, or advertising your instrument on more specialized antiques-related ...

Where is the brand on a piano?

SIZE To the closest inch. The only important variable is the height in upright pianos (from the top of the lid to the floor ), and length of grands (from rounded end, up to and including keys.) See more with PianoMart’s helpful graphic here.

Where is Kevin's piano moving?

Kevin’s Piano Moving is out of Antioch IL. They have two trucks and a well-trained team that travels all over the Kenosha County, Lake County, and Cook County area, sometimes beyond. Ultimately, because they’re a separate company, they will be the ones to schedule the move directly with you; we have no control over their calendar. They can usually schedule pick-up within 7 moving days, often less, depending on how many other moves they need to accomodate. They usually do Monday through Friday and usually offer a 2 hour moving window – for example, Tuesday morning, from 9 am to 11 am. The piano is then promptly delivered to our showroom, so we can start working on it.

How to adjust a piano?

Adjusting the mechanical action for all 88 keys improves the feel of the piano. Students have more control for playing softly and loudly, so they can develop proper technique. We have a roughly 30-point checklist for each piano. A few highlights: 1 Tighten up screws throughout the action 2 Level the key height & dip (how far down it goes) 3 Lubricate pivot points for reduced friction 4 Shape the hammers by gentling sanding away worn-in grooves 5 Fine-tuning the timing of dampers 6 Standardize distance of hammers from strings 7 Adjust back-checking, lost motion, let-off & other subtle mechanisms

How many strings are there in a piano?

There are over 200 strings on each piano for us to tune. Our expert tuners use the best of their ears and tuning software to efficiently give our customers a quality tuning that will last.

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