Considering Selling Your Piano? Understanding Your Options

Considering Selling Your Piano?

Every piano has a story — and sometimes the time comes for it to begin a new chapter.

Perhaps you are downsizing or moving. Maybe the piano belonged to a family member and is no longer being played. You may be helping settle an estate, making room in your home, or simply wondering whether an instrument you have owned for years might be better suited to another musician.

Whatever the circumstances, deciding what to do with a piano can raise a surprising number of questions.

What is my piano worth?
Is there a market for it?
Should I sell it or consign it?
Does its condition affect its value?
How will it be moved?

At Washington Pianos, we help piano owners understand their options and determine a practical path forward.

Every Piano Is Different

Unlike many household items, a piano cannot be evaluated accurately by appearance alone.

Manufacturer, model, age, condition, maintenance history, finish, musical quality and current market demand can all affect an instrument's desirability and value.

Two pianos that look similar may have very different histories and very different markets.

That is why the process begins with understanding the individual instrument.

Selling Your Piano Directly

For some qualifying instruments, Washington Pianos may consider purchasing the piano directly.

A direct sale can be particularly helpful when an owner wants a simpler process and would prefer not to advertise the piano privately, communicate with numerous prospective buyers, arrange showings or coordinate piano moving independently.

Not every piano will be appropriate for direct purchase, but we can review the instrument and help determine whether this may be an option.

Piano Consignment

For certain instruments, consignment may provide another path.

Washington Pianos can evaluate whether a piano may be appropriate for our consignment program and discuss how the process works, including presentation of the instrument, market considerations and the responsibilities associated with the sale.

The appropriate choice depends upon the piano and the owner's circumstances.

When a Piano Is Part of an Estate

A piano can present a unique challenge when a family is managing an estate.

The person responsible for the estate may know very little about the instrument, yet still needs to determine what it is, whether it has value and what should happen to it.

Washington Pianos works with families, personal representatives, attorneys and other representatives who need knowledgeable assistance with a piano as part of an estate.

Our goal is simple: help clarify the options and make this one part of the process easier to manage.

Professional Piano Moving Matters

Moving a piano is very different from moving ordinary furniture.

If a piano is purchased, consigned or otherwise relocated, professional handling can help protect both the instrument and the property surrounding it.

Washington Pianos provides professional piano moving and delivery and can help evaluate access considerations such as stairs, entrances and placement.

How to Begin

If you are considering selling or consigning your piano, begin by gathering a few basic details:

• Piano manufacturer
• Model, if known
• Serial number, if available
• Several clear photographs
• Your location
• Any information you know about the piano's age, condition or service history

From there, we can help you understand the next appropriate step.

A Thoughtful Next Chapter

A piano may have been part of a home for decades. It may have accompanied childhood lessons, holidays, family gatherings, performances and countless ordinary evenings of music.

Selling it doesn't erase that history.

Sometimes it simply gives the instrument an opportunity to become part of someone else's musical story.

Considering selling or consigning your piano?

Visit our Sell or Consign Your Piano page to learn more and contact Washington Pianos.

Washington Pianos
230 Auburn Way South, Suite 1A
Auburn, WA 98002
(253) 334-5295

Music Lives Here.