This might sound like a crazy proposition to a lot of you but we get calls everyday from people looking to get rid of pianos they simply can’t keep anymore or don’t want. You might think that there would be people out there who would want any piano but it’s not that simple. Getting rid of a piano you don’t want can actually be a real challenge.
Now if you have a piano in good condition – one that plays well enough and has a decent finish – you can probably find someone who is willing to pay at least a small amount for it or at least take it as a donation. But even then it might be a challenge to find it a new home.
If you have an older upright piano that is in pretty bad condition you might think that somebody out there might want it to fix up and you can avoid taking it to the dump. Sadly, in some cases this is the only thing you can do. Finding a home for a sub-standard piano is going to be a real challenge and unfortunately many pianos are taken to the dump every year. In some cases this might be your only option. Rebuilding a piano costs thousands of dollars and if you have a piano that has the potential to be worth only a small amount, it’s going to be very hard to find a home for it.
Now let’s say you have a piano that has potential and can play OK – what are your options? If you don’t want to go through the process of selling the piano yourself and nobody is willing to take it in on consignment then you can try an auction house. Many times they will haul your piano away for you and put it on auction. If it sells you may get some money for it and not have to worry about that piano taking up room in your home anymore.
One great resource for people looking to get rid of their pianos is PianoAdoption.com. This is a website designed for people who want to find pianos but can’t afford one. All the pianos on the site are from private parties who have instruments to give away. If you are looking to get rid of a piano that nobody else is interested in you can try this website and see if you can connect with someone.
If you have a piano that’s in decent condition you can always ask us for help by filling out the small form on our website: Selling Your Piano.
If you’re stuck with a piano you don’t want, start by asking people around you: friends, family, schools, churches, anyone who might need or want a piano. You can probably find a home for it.
I welcome your comments and suggestions on this topic and as always, thanks again for joining me: Robert Estrin Robert@LivingPianos.com (949) 244-3729.