Buying a used piano

The good news is that there are more quality used pianos for sale now than at anytime in my 34 years of experience. The bad news is that many used pianos belong in the dump.  See Pianos in the dump New York Times

Craigslist is a great source for local used pianos. Craigslist NJ  Click on either central or northern NJ> Merchandise for sale>musical instruments. I prefer Yamaha and Kawai pianos “By Owner” from 1990 or newer.  Their quality and durability are the best in the industry and the prices are reasonable. An appropriate price range is $1500 to $2500 for an upright, $4000 to $8000 for a grand pianos. Older models need to be looked at more cautiously. If you see a listing that looks promising, please click the “email this listing” button and send it to me. I will gladly review the ad and offer my opinion. If the piano looks like a good deal, contact the seller and make an appointment to see it. Look for worn finish on the right pedal. Try to look inside at the hammer tips. Deep grooves indicate heavy playing. These pianos should be avoided regardless of maintainence.

Download two copies of a sales contract and bring it to the seller. Here is one source Sales Contract If you are submitting an offer, fill in all the information you can, leave a small refundable deposit, pending technician’s inspection. I will inspect the piano for a fee starting at $85.00. If I find any problems, you should be able to alter the selling price or cancel the sale. I can recommend a professional piano mover. Don’t attemp to move it yourself!  Most used pianos need some freshening up. This includes tuning, tightening screws, adjusting pedal and key lift. You need to budget at least $300 for moving and $300 for freshening up.