by Eugene Hix.
So you have this beautiful piano you purchased ages ago. After mulling over, you have finally decided to sell it for a good price. But before receiving the amount of money you desired from your musical instrument, it is best to take note of several factors that can affect its value.
Many factors can affect a piano’s worth; the most vital is its condition on the whole. The very first thing you need to do is to seek assistance from a piano technician – he is the person capable of inspecting your instrument as well as providing you a rough estimate of your furniture’s value.
How to Scrutinise the Piano’s Overall Condition
The very first thing a buyer will notice is the exterior part of the piano. Just by looking at it, a buyer would have a hint on its overall quality. Hence, it’s crucial to check this part first and foremost. Any dents or damage palpable enough would likely lessen the instrument’s desirability and most importantly, its value. To make sure everything is in fine fettle, check the following:
Keyboard
Inspect each key on both soft and loud volumes. Everything should be in tune. Check the keyboard’s alignment and take note of any crookedness present along the in between keys and its edges. Do this by looking horizontally at keyboard level and by looking it from above.
Pedals
Check if they are rusted. Try stepping on them to check if they stick or go limp. With proper upkeep, these issues should not be present at all.
Wood Finish
Your piano should not be exposed to direct sunlight otherwise its fine finish and colour will likely fade away faster. Inspect it if it is sun-damaged. Also, check if there are any visible scratches or cracks.
The Piano’s Leg Sturdiness
Make sure the piano’s legs are not wobbly. This is apparently a safety hazard for both the piano and the people who are going to play it. Look for any loose screws and tighten them at once. If you notice the instrument is still unsteady after you have already tightened the screws, then you might need to replace the wood.
Once you are done inspecting the outer part, check the interiors. See to it that these problems are not present:
- Rusted strings
- Loose felt on the hammers
- A disfigured soundboard
- Strings that caused deep splintering grooved in the surrounding wood
Think positive. Be happy. x