Appraisal
When buying a piano from a reputable dealer, you can be assured that anything you purchase will be in good working order. Buying privately, on the other hand, can be a minefield. Many private sellers are unaware of the true condition and value of their instruments; alternatively, they may know exactly what state their piano is in and are just hoping for someone to take it off their hands. When it can cost as much as £250 to dispose of a piano properly, you do not want to end up burdened with someone else’s cumbersome cast-off.
To protect you from acquiring something worth much less than its listing price, I offer two levels of appraisal service for any piano.
Please Note: Permission must be granted by the seller prior to booking an appraisal appointment.
Generally appropriate for most lower-value instruments, this option quickly looks for the major faults which commonly put pianos beyond economical repair.
Assuming none of these faults are found, a price estimate for any tuning, servicing, or repairs needed is then provided.
Allow 45 minutes
For higher-value instruments, this more extensive option is generally recommended. In order to search for less common and less obvious faults, a thorough list of checks is worked through while the piano is dismantled and examined to a much greater extent.
After running through this list of checks, a dependable written assessment of the piano’s condition and suitability for your needs will be prepared.
Allow 90 minutes for appraisal + 48 hours for written report
Buying Guidance
Whether you are looking to buy new or second-hand, it can pay dividends to have impartial, professional advice on your side. There is so much variety in the piano market that it can be difficult to know where to start and what represents good value. I am happy to discuss your requirements with you for free, so that you might have a clearer idea of what is available in your price range before contacting a piano dealer.
Bear in mind, it is always worth playing an instrument before purchasing whenever possible, as even two pianos of the same make and model will have different characteristics of touch and tone; this is especially true in the second-hand market. As a basic guide, the least you should expect to pay for a dependable, second-hand starter piano is approximately £800. The least you can pay for a brand-new starter piano is approximately £3,000. Many larger-scale dealers may even include free delivery and a free tuning at these prices.
