"My tuner says my Steinway is worth $32,000. He's right, isn't he?"

A good tuner is a good guy to know. (Why are there no lady tuners, anyway?) But just because he has a good ear for music, doesn't necessarily mean he has a good grasp of the market for used Steinways.

Although, if you're pleased with his estimate, get it in writing and save it in case your house goes up in flames. (On the other hand, if he tells you it's worth less than ten grand...and then offers to take it off your hands...get a second opinion.)

Just like your Ferrari, your lithographs, and your grandmother's Oriental carpet, a Steinway is only worth what someone will pay for it.

The price you'll fetch depends on the piano's condition (both inside and out), the kind and quality of any reconditioning it may have received, and, how hard you work to market it.

Where you live impacts the price too.

Steinways command higher prices in New York and San Francisco, for example, than in Boise. The closer you are to cultural centers, the better you'll do on re-sale.

So, don't take your tuner's estimate without a grain of salt. Do your homework. Try a market-based approach to learning it's value.

Getting busy checking used Steinway prices on the internet. It's easy with search engines like Google. Here are some good websites to get a feel for the market:

www.pianomart.com
www.craigslist.com (visit "New York" and "San Francisco")
www.countrypiano.com

Are you interested in buying my Steinway grand?

"( ) We're moving in four weeks and can't take it with. ( ) We don't have the desire or the time to sell it ourselves. ( ) Grandma passed on and we're handling her estate."

I am  always on the lookout to buy good used and vintage Steinway grands. (Sorry, I don't deal in uprights.) Give me a call or send me an email and tell me the model, finish and serial number of your piano. Be sure to mention your town. I can be there within the week with a cashier's check.