Pianos do not typically increase in value with age unless they have undergone significant maintenance and restoration. With replacements such as new strings, hammers, damper felts, regulation, key tops, soundboard repair, and sometimes a new pin block, new pins, and refinishing, they can be restored almost to their original condition. In my experience, most pianos do not have antique value. They are heavy, require regular tuning, and moving them costs money. Before the Great Depression in 1929, millions of pianos were built in the United States. These included high-quality, lesser-quality, and cheap pianos, as well as player pianos and grand pianos of various sizes. Sometimes these pianos are worth rebuilding, sometimes not. If cost is not an issue, you can end up with a fantastic piano sometimes. However, sometimes parts have to be manufactured because they are no longer available. When purchasing a piano, if given the choice between a new piano and an older, more elegant-looking piano, the older piano should play like a new piano. Pianos are made out of wood, cast iron, steel, felt, and glue. Eventually, the glue, the felt, and the wood will age. Even the strings age. Pianos were not built to last 100 years, although many pianos are still in service that are that old or older. I recommend posting your piano on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Furthermore, I recommend insisting that the new owner pays for the move using professional piano movers for insurance purposes. Remember that every piano needs to be tuned, so there are costs involved in rehoming your piano.

Here's a checklist for getting a free piano: 1. Have you tried playing the piano yet? 2. Have you asked a piano technician to check out the piano, just like you would if you were buying a used car? 3. If you are checking out the piano yourself, make sure every key works and that it's reasonably in tune. If some notes are vastly out of tune, that's a red flag. If there are more than a few sticky keys or keys that don't work, that's a red flag. Sometimes you find a piano that works very well with a terrible outward appearance. Sometimes the opposite is also true. Take note of the logistics involved in moving the piano. Consider the following: - Is it in a basement? - Is it at the top of 20 stairs? - What is it like getting into your house? - Do you want it in your split-level house? Do you want it upstairs or downstairs? - Is the distance from the center of Duluth significant enough for us to need to charge extra for travel time? All of these things enter into the equation of how much this piano move will cost. The worst thing that can happen is that we move the piano for you; a piano technician comes to your house and determines that the piano will never hold a tune. Now you are calling us to move it out again, and you have no piano! The starting price for moving an upright piano in the Twin Ports area is $300, while moving a grand piano starts at $400. We'll need addresses for both locations, details about stairs and logistics, and pictures of the pianos and inside staircases if possible. During the summer, scheduling may take a week or two, but we can sometimes act more quickly.

I will recommend a professional tuner to you. There are several in our area, and I try to find a tuner that will best suit your needs. If possible, I recommend a member of the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG.ORG), who is a Registered Piano Technician, (RPT). The specific recommendation will depend on factors such as the type of piano you have and your location. Generally, it's best to seek out registered piano technicians from the Piano Technicians Guild. These technicians operate as independent contractors and set their own rates. If you require piano tuning towards the end of the year and during the holiday season, it's advisable to schedule it as early as possible to increase the likelihood of securing an appointment, as these professionals tend to be very busy at that time of year.

Duluth Fine Pianos does not purchase pre-owned pianos. However, we can help you sell your piano. There are three options available: 1. Private sale: This will give you the best return on your investment, but you will need to find customers yourself and invite them into your home. 2. Trade-in: You can trade your piano in for a new one, which can simplify the process. 3. Consignment: I am selective about the pianos I take for consignment sales. There will be upfront costs, and we can discuss the terms if you choose this option. To find the market value of your piano, you can look for comparable pianos for sale on the Internet to give you an idea.