Getting rid of grandma’s old piano is not as easy as you may think. If you were hoping to make thousands of dollars by selling your 100-year-old unwanted inheritance, think again. Unfortunately, very few upright pianos are worth that much.
The best options for getting rid of an old piano are donating, repurposing, or selling it.
Pianos are not one of those things you can simply drive to the dump and forget about. Of course, there are the obvious obstacles; it’s big and heavy. But most importantly, some piano parts are not biodegradable and could actually be harmful to the environment.
That being said, there are dump sites that allow piano disposal, but at a charge. You can also pay to have it taken or removed by private companies.
As a piece of furniture, a piano has no value whatsoever. If it can’t be played, it is simply an elaborate doorstop at best. If the piano has a cracked soundboard, warped wood, or has not been played in decades, chances are it’s useless.
So, what now? Turns out, all is not lost! Here are several ways to get rid of an old piano.
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Donate Your Old Piano
If your piano still sounds great, you can donate or give it away. While “donating” or “giving away” a piano are simple concepts, there are a gazillion ways to do them.
Of course, if you have a friend or family member in need of a new piano, just give it to them. This is the easiest option, but not always possible.
If none of your immediate family or friends need a piano, it’s well worth the effort to have them spread the word. Whatever you do though, be honest and upfront about any damage to the instrument; the last thing you need are family feuds or a full-scale war against a friend!
Lastly, you can consider “piano adoption websites” – yes, it’s a thing! They’re free “marketplaces” specifically for people giving away free pianos. Most of them are focused on local areas. If interested, you can start with pianoadoptions.com, which is nationwide.
If you look hard enough, you’ll almost always be able to find someone looking for a piano. You’d be surprised at how many people want them – especially churches! This way you get to make someone else happy, and your piano goes to a “better place”, without you spending any real money.
Selling Your Piano
If you’re wondering how to get rid of a piano while earning some cash, this might interest you. Certain brands of piano, such as Bechstein and Steinway & Sons, can often be quite valuable, provided they are in good condition. Unfortunately, there are literally thousands of generic instruments out there that may seem an antique to you because of their age, but that is really worth nothing.
Sell It Yourself
Selling your piano yourself gives you the most control over how much you earn, and where it goes. This is exciting when you have an authentic antique piano.
Unfortunately, there are literally thousands of generic instruments out there that seem like genuinely valuable antiques, but are really worth nothing. So how do you know the difference?
At the end of the day, you can’t know the exact worth of your piano without the help of a professional. They can keep you from underselling a treasure or becoming an accidental thief.
The good news is that you can get a rough estimate with a fair amount of sleuthing.
The easiest way to estimate your piano’s value is by consulting its serial number, then referring to a model database. Serial numbers can be tricky to track down, so here’s a webpage to help. After you’ve got that, here’s a link to a database!
Even if you’ve got a value model, other factors can easily affect its value. Here are some features to consider.
First, most pianos aren’t really considered antique until they’re 100+ years old. This means that unless your piano is a rare World War II model, it needs to be older than the Great Depression to have serious value.
Second, check to see if your piano has unique features, such as carvings or materials. This is complex to appraise, but the more unique they are, the higher the chances of you having a valuable piano.
Third, see what its “grade level” is. Back in the day, most pianos were made for either novices or professionals. If your piano is truly antique, you should be able to find if it’s “Good,” “Medium,” or “Best.” Even if your piano is only “Good,” don’t get discouraged – an antique is still an antique!
Lastly, check its brand name. As mentioned earlier, certain brands like Steinway & Sons, will be worth more. But also be realistic about its overall condition. If the wood is peeling or the soundboard is warped, no one will want to play it – Steinway or not!
Sell It on an Online Marketplace
If you want to get your piano in front of a wide audience at a fast speed, then you can easily do this with online marketplaces. These include Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Ebay.
Have a look at the local classifieds pages and get an idea of what pianos go for. Try and do some research on your piano brand and come up with a price. Advertise it and hope for the best. You may have to drop your price a bit in the end though.
Sell It Through a Piano Tuner or Expert
If the above options are too much work, then you still have other options! Instead of doing the work yourself, you can find a local piano expert to buy or sell it for you.
Contact local piano tuners or piano builders to have a look at the instrument and give you an estimated value. You can use this page from the Piano Technicians Guild to find qualified piano technicians near you.
However, be prepared that it could be significantly less than you hoped for. If the dealer or tuner likes the instrument, they will buy it, service and tune it, and resell it for a significantly higher price.
Repurposing
Some people convert their old worthless pianos into fancy fountains, planters, or a very unique bird feeder. A very popular option is of course converting the piano into a bar.
If you are into DIY projects this could very well be the perfect solution for you. Have a look at this site to get some ideas on how to make an old piano a focal point in your garden. There are also several videos on YouTube to guide you on creating a very unique and eye-catching bar for your home.
Removal and Disposal
If none of the above options interest you, and you simply want to get rid of the old wooden elephant in the room, you still have many options. There are many companies in the USA that collect and dispose of pianos.
This option will cost you though. Many factors are taken into account: weight, size and location are the main concerns. Beyond the piano-based factors, there are labor fees influenced by personnel numbers and hours worked.
For example, if you have six guys working at an hourly rate of $10 each, and it takes them 3 hours to complete the process, you will have to spend $180. They will start charging from the minute they head out to your home until the entire process is completed.
Flat rates can range anywhere from $80 to a whopping $2,000. Many companies charge an hourly rate per person involved in the removal. These rates are usually $7 (at the very bottom end) and up.
Your best bet would be to get a couple of quotes from different companies, such as Got Junk and AAA Piano disposal.
Conclusion
Now you know what to do with your old piano only one thing remains: always take your time and rethink the decision. Not only does it take a lot of work to remove a piano, but the piano itself deserves respect.
Even if it is useless, it’s still a work of art! Take the time to deal with it properly. Once it’s overflowing with flowers under the Fir tree, or it’s gone with the wind, there is no turning back.
This is the first time I’ve read a piano article that is straight to the point with valuable information, tips, and links to options available for a seller, buyer, and doner. Great job!