A good second hand piano can be a wonderful buy. A bad one can cost more to move than it is worth. We collect plenty of private sale pianos around Melbourne, and the happiest buyers are the ones who checked a few things before handing over any money.
Before you buy: check the piano
- Play every key slowly from bottom to top. Listen for dead notes and buzzing, and feel for keys that stick or are slow to return.
- Try the pedals. They should feel even and make a difference you can hear.
- With the seller’s permission, look inside. Watch for rust on the strings, cracks in the soundboard, moth damage to the felts or signs of mice.
- Ask when it was last tuned and how long it has lived where it is.
- Note the brand and serial number. A tuner or retailer can help you understand its age and value.
- For a significant purchase, pay a piano technician to inspect it. It is money well spent.
Before you book the move: check the access
This is where we come in. The cost of a move depends far more on access than on distance. Before you commit, look at the seller’s home with the move in mind, and then at your own:
- How many steps there are between the piano and the street, inside and out
- Any tight turns, narrow hallways or small doorways
- Whether a truck can park close by
- The same three things at your end
A free piano with thirty steps at both ends can cost more to move than a cheap one from a ground floor lounge room. Better to know that before you agree to take it. Our piano moving cost page explains what affects the price.
Organising the pick up
When you book, we need both addresses, the seller’s contact details and a time they will be home, plus the access at each end. Our guide on piano pick up and delivery lists everything that helps. On the day we collect the piano, bring it straight to you and place it where you want it.
Private sales go smoothly when the movers deal well with both sides. One seller wrote that Gabriel handled their Kawai upright with great care and gave fantastic client service. A buyer wrote that from organising the job, to being prompt on the day, to the care taken with the piano, it was done properly.
After it arrives
Give the piano two or three weeks to settle, then have it tuned. A neglected second hand piano often needs a pitch raise, and our guide to tuning frequency and costs explains what that involves.
Questions
Second hand pianos: FAQs
Can you collect a piano from a private seller?
Yes. We need the seller’s address, contact details and the access at both ends, then we collect the piano and deliver it into place.
Should I get a second hand piano inspected?
For anything more than a small purchase, yes. A piano technician can spot problems that are expensive to fix.
What affects the cost of moving a second hand piano?
Mostly access: steps, stairs, tight turns and parking at both ends, plus the distance and the type of piano.
Ready when you are