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Sell my piano - Looking to sell your piano? Selling your piano couldn't be easier with advice and guidance from Besbrode Pianos.

All piano enquiries call Steven on 0113 244 8344 or email: info@besbrodepianos.com

Piano Valuations Service
 

How to Sell my Piano

With over forty five years experience in the piano trade, we have become a well-known and trusted music store, with an exceptional record in assisting pianists and collectors looking to sell a piano.

As an affordable alternative to a brand new instrument, many people search for grand, baby grand and upright pianos in the secondhand market.

Choosing the best way to sell your piano can be overwhelming. You may have a lot of questions like how do I sell my piano? Where is the best place to sell it? How much is my piano worth?

The three most popular options to sell a piano are:

  • A. Sell your piano to a dealer - who will transport the piano to their retail premises and service, regulate, repair the piano prior to placing it for sale
  • B. Sell your piano privately - piano usually sold as is via word of mouth
  • C. Sell your piano on Online Markets - eg Facebook Marketplace, Preloved, Ebay or Gumtree. Interactions required with potential buyers. Transport logistics need to be considered.

Each of the methods above require different amount of effort and expertise on your behalf.

Click an option for more information:

A. Sell your piano to a dealer  

Without any retail experience or technical piano knowledge, this is perhaps the easiest option. With many years experience buying and selling pianos, we have developed a simple service that means you can sell your piano without all the hassle and additional expense of advertising, transport charges or repairs, and still get a fair price for your instrument. We will transport the piano to the store where it will be tuned, serviced, regulated and repaired prior to placing it on sale.

Here at Besbrode Pianos, alongside our range of new pianos for sale in store, we also buy and sell secondhand, part-ex and pre-owned pianos. With over 250 pianos for sale in store at our Leeds showroom, we continuously seek to offer an unrivalled choice of grand and upright pianos from leading brands to suit all budgets. Depending on our current inventory, we may offer to:

  • buy the piano outright from you
  • offer to sell the piano on a commission basis
  • offer a part-exchange if you wish to upgrade your instrument
There may be also circumstances where we do not offer to sell your piano.

Pianos are built to have a long lifespan. Owing to the number of moving parts in a piano action and through heavy use, work is required throughout a piano's lifetime to keep the instrument in tip-top condition. Cabinet scratches, chips and fading can also negatively impact a piano's value. At Besbrode Pianos we have a specialist workshop run by experienced technicians who can attend to a piano's needs no matter its age.

Get in Touch

We would love to talk to you about your piano. If you are interested in selling your piano, the first step is to contact us to obtain an assessment and valuation of the instrument. The valuation is is based on a number of factors including brand, condition, market trends, past results and provenance. To help us provide an accurate valuation we will need the following information. Please complete steps 1,2 and 3

Valuation Process

In order for us to provide a valuation please complete steps 1,2 and 3

1.

Piano Photos

Please take photos of the piano you wish to be valued. In order to offer an accurate valuation of your piano, we will require the following photos:

  • A photo of the entire piano so we can assess the exterior piano cabinet
  • A photo of the interior instrument showing the soundboard, action, hammers and strings
  • Please include photos of any known damage to the piano as this will impact the piano's value
The more images you send us, the better understanding we can get of the value and condition of the piano.

2.

Piano Information

We will require information about your piano to provide a valuation. Please include as much of the below information as possible in your email.

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • Your telephone number
  • Piano location (Town)
  • Piano maker name and model
  • Serial number - This helps us age the instrument. It can consist of numbers and letters or just numbers. On a grand piano, this number is usually printed on the frame and sometimes on the soundboard. On an upright piano, this number is usually printed on the frame, soundboard or cabinet rim.
  • Piano size State the length of a grand piano ( including keyboard overhang ) or height of an upright piano ( from the floor to the top of the piano )
  • Cabinet material Mahogany, black, walnut, painted etc
  • Keyboard is this ivory?
  • When was the piano last tuned? [ If known ]
  • Any comments from your tuner about your piano? [ If known ]
  • Any work done to the piano in your knowledge? [ If known ]
  • Two or three pedals?
  • Number of black and white keys? [ Usually 85 or 88 notes ]
  • Please add any details of known damage to the piano cabinet or instrument

3.

Send Email

Forward these photos and information to Steven Leeming at info@besbrodepianos.com . Steven will get back to you with his valuation and options for sale. He will be at hand to talk you through the sales process and answer all of your questions. Steven can also be contacted at any time by phone on +44 (o) 113 2448344

B. Sell your piano privately  

Selling your piano privately. To make a private sale, there are many factors to consider:

  • Assessing the value of your piano
  • The time and cost of advertising your instrument
  • Knowing where to advertise to reach the right audience
  • Arranging home visits by potential buyers to view the instrument
  • Negotiating delivery costs and logistics of the piano
  • Accepting a private sale may take time before the right buyer comes along
Depending on the condition of your piano, you may find difficulties selling it to a private buyer.

C. Sell your piano at online markets  

Selling your piano at online markets. To place a piano for sale on popular platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, Preloved, Ebay or Gumtree, there are many factors to consider:

  • Some platforms take a commission on the sale
  • Assessing the value of your piano prior to advertising
  • The time and cost of advertising your instrument
  • Answering questions from potentialbuyers regarding the instrument
  • Negotiating delivery costs and logistics of the piano transport
Although some online platforms provide safeguards for sellers, some platforms are less regulated and the potential for scammers exist. It is wise for any seller to be wary and take precautions when negotiatinglarge sums of money when selling a piano.

Selling FAQ 

Common questions when selling a piano

What brands do people want?

Well-known brands with a good reputation generally prompt more interest and are valued higher than lesser-known brands. The most popular piano brands that people look for on the second hand market include Steinway, Yamaha, C.Bechstein, Bosendorfer, Bluthner, Kawai, and Schimmel.

What factors affect a piano's value?

  • Brand - high quality and popular models demand a higher price
  • Condition - quality of any maintenance and restoration work undertaken
  • Age - antique pianos can have different actions to modern pianos owing to innovations in instrument design
  • Appearance - trends in cabinet styles have changed over time from antique styled cabinets to the modern sleek designs we see today

My piano is old and needs repairing can I still sell it?

Older pianos can still have a great sound and potentially a long lifespan. Due to the number of moving parts in a piano action, work is required throughout a piano's lifetime to keep the instrument in tip-top condition. Cabinet scratches, chips and fading can also negatively impact a piano's value. At Besbrode Pianos we have a specialist workshop run by experienced technicians who can attend to a piano's needs no matter its age. Contact Steven Leeming on +44 (o) 113 2448344 to discuss your requirements.

Can I get a better price if I sell privately?

To make a private sale, it is worth considering the following factors: the time and cost of advertising your instrument to reach the right audience, negotiating delivery costs and logistics of the piano, arranging home visits by potential buyers to view the instrument, accepting a private sale may take some time to find the right buyer.

How do I find the serial number on my piano?

Depending on brand, serial numbers can be composed of just numbers, letters, or a combination of the two.
Grand Pianos - The serial number is usually printed on the frame, the soundboard, the underside of the music desk (if original)
Upright Pianos - The serial number is usually printed on the frame, the soundboard, the cabinet rim

How do I find the age of my piano?

Pierce Piano Atlas is a good accurate tool for identifying piano makers and lists serial numbers with corresponding yearsof manufacture.