Some quick tips for selling your piano:
We have many people contacting us asking if we are interested in purchasing their piano from them. In many cases, we are! If it is a Steinway, Mason & Hamlin, Baldwin, Yamaha or other brand of comparable quality, we would be very interested in taking a look. We regularly purchase pianos from across the country in varying states of condition. However with the hundreds of piano manufacturers that have existed throughout history, there are some cases where you are best attempting to sell the piano directly yourself. Here are some quick tips that might help you in that process!
1: Prep the Piano and take good photos!
Have your piano tuned! Dust the piano and make sure it is looking its best. Remove anything you have sitting on your piano that will distract from the instrument. Having several family pictures sitting on the instrument might not be best for sales! Make sure there is enough light to show the piano off in an attractive way. Blurry and dark photographs don’t give the best impression, so make sure to take a bit of extra care before posting/sending photos of your for sale piano.
2: Take DETAILED photographs and list information.
Selling pianos requires details. Make sure to show the piano’s serial number, keytops, soundboard and action if you can. The more detail the better! Showing off the condition of the piano as best you can will help buyers make a quicker decision. List a good bit of information. Did you buy it new? Has a reputable piano technician maintained it? Are you including a bench? Surprisingly, there are many instances where people will list a piano for sale on a site like Craigslist and never give the brand name, serial number or even a basic photo. Sometimes people will even forget to list if the piano is an upright or a grand.
3: Be realistic with your pricing.
With the large number of piano manufacturers that operated in the United States alone, there are many times where brands of pianos simply have not held their value, especially if the piano needs cosmetic or extensive mechanical repair. For example, many vintage upright pianos even in decent condition may only fetch a few hundred dollars. Unfortunately, sentimental value probably will mean little to a potential buyer. Be realistic with your expectations when selling your used piano.
4: Where to list?
Try Craigslist. Craigslist and other comparable sites can be very useful when selling your piano directly. You can reach a lot of people in your area very quickly. Also you can try to utilize local Buy, Sell, Trade groups on facebook and you can also give eBay a try as well. (Obviously, this is just a partial list.) Local newspaper classifieds are also always an option. There are some cases that listing the piano yourself may be your best option. However with that comes the hassle of showing the piano to potential clients, responding to questions via phone or email and handling any unforeseen difficulties.
5: Be prepared to answer some questions!
Hopefully after you have begun the selling process, you will begin receiving inquiries about the piano. Be prepared to answer questions about the condition, its age, the service history and the work it might need. Help put a potential buyer’s mind at ease by giving them the information they request.
Try giving Chupp’s Piano Service a call!
Although we do not have the resources or space to purchase every single piano that is offered to us, we are always on the lookout for quality instruments! If you think we might be interested in purchasing your piano get in contact with us. Send us an email through our contact form or call us at 1-574-831-5820.
Chupp’s Piano Service, Inc. | Over Four Decades of Piano Experience | 67267 State Road 15, New Paris, IN.
Comments are closed