SELL YOUR PIANO

Bonners Make Selling Your Piano Easy

Selling small items on online auction sites is easy, but when it comes to larger pieces, a simple sale can turn into a logistical nightmare. If you're selling your piano and want to get the best deal, plan your sale carefully.

Before you sell your instrument, there are a few things you can do to increase the desirability of your piano, whether it's an upright or a grand. So here are our top tips for selling your piano, things to consider, and how selling to a reputable dealer like Bonners rather than a private sale may be better for you.

Complete the simple form below and we'll let you know if your piano would be of interest to us. Be sure to scroll down the page to find out how to identify your piano and some tips on achieving the best price.

How To Identify Your Piano

Any buyer will want to know all about your piano before they offer you any money, so you'll need to provide them with the make, model, and serial number of your instrument.

Second-hand instruments generally have quite standardised price bands, so providing this information tells the buyer not only what model and make your piano is, but that it's also being sold at a fair and reasonable price.

Upright Piano Serial Number

On an upright piano, the serial number will be on the frame just inside the top lid.

Grand Piano Serial Number

On a grand, you'll find the serial number on the metal frame inside the piano, or, if it's an older model, on the underneath. So be prepared to get a little dusty!

Overstrung vs Straight Strung

Technical details matter, and it's useful to know whether your piano is overstrung or straight strung. An overstrung instrument has longer bass strings, giving it a deep, rich sound that's particularly sought after by some buyers. Straight strung pianos from reputable makers such as Broadwood are still desirable, but you will get a better price for an overstrung instrument.

Overdamped or under-damped mechanisms

When you're selling a piano the look and sound are top priorities. But it's the technical specifications that can make a big difference to the price you achieve. So another thing you'll need to know before you sell is whether your instrument is overdamped or under-damped.

Modern instruments are more likely to be under-damped, which means that the dampers are directly under the hammer, while older instruments (pre-1930) will use the more antiquated and less effective overdamping system. You'll be able to tell if your piano is overdamped by looking at the hammers from above. If it's an overdamped piano then there will be a wooden rail obscuring the hammers. Sadly, overdamped pianos are not particularly desirable, and at Bonners we only buy under-damped instruments because of their superior sound quality and reliability.

What model do people want?

Buying a piano isn't just an impulsive decision, it's a considered choice that depends on the skill of the player, their aspirations, their personal preferences and, of course, their budget. It can also come down to how much space a buyer has – after all, there's not point trying to cram a baby grand into a one-bedroom flat! The desirability of your piano will depend on it reaching the right buyer. Most people will go for the well-known brands, primarily because of their reputation for excellent quality instruments.

These brands are the most desirable
for second-hand pianos:

BLUTHNER
C.BECHSTEIN
YAMAHA
BOSENDORFER
KEMBLE
KAWAI
STRINWAY
FEURICH
SCHIMMEL

'Second tier' instruments that are saleable
but not quite as desirable include:

CHALLEN
BENTLEY
WELMAR
RITMULLER
CHAPPELL SCHREIBER
BROADWOOD
CHAPPELL
KNIGHT
WEBER
SCHREIBER

These are often more affordable options for those just starting their musical journey, and are popular with novice players as they're more budget friendly but are still good quality 'beginner' instruments.

Uprights are more popular than grands for two simple reasons – they're more compact and fit into most people's homes, and they're more affordable. Surprisingly, colour matters too, and black pianos with a high shine finish are more popular than wood effect finishes, as they're more contemporary and fit in with most modern décor.

My piano's old and in poor condition – can I still sell it?

Old pianos can still sound great, especially with a little bit of TLC. At Bonners, we have a specialist workshop run by experienced craftspeople who can bring even the oldest, saddest looking piano back to life. While you may find it difficult to sell an old or damaged instrument to a private buyer, talk to Bonners, as we may be interested in your piano, regardless of condition, especially if it's a desirable make such as a Steinway or a Bosendorfer.

Will a private sale generate a better price?

Not necessarily. Not only do you have to take into consideration the cost of advertising your instrument in a way that it reaches the right audience, but you may have to pay for delivery costs too. You'll also have to arrange home visits by potential buyers, which can be inconvenient especially if you work full time. Even selling your piano on an internet auction site will incur additional costs. You also need to remember that it could be a long time before the perfect buyer comes along, which could be an inconvenience if you want a quick sale.

Selling to Bonners – the right choice for a great deal

If you want to sell your piano but don't want the hassle of arranging a private sale, then your easiest option is to sell to a dealer like Bonners. With decades of experience in buying and selling pianos, we've developed an easy and simple service that means you can sell your piano without all the hassle and additional expense of advertising, delivery charges or repairs, and still get a fair price for your instrument.

Simply send us photographs of your instrument (both inside and out) so that we can see the general condition of the piano. We'll then agree a price with you in advance, which won't change unless the piano is substantially different 'in the flesh' than it appears in the photos. You won't be charged for collection either, saving you money and time. Just let us know whether the piano is upstairs or if there are any awkward obstacles to consider when moving your piano.

SELL YOUR PIANO TO BONNERS PIANO CENTRES
If you have a piano that you wish to sell or dispose of, contact Bonners Piano Centres. We don’t just buy any piano, but we do buy rather a lot of pianos! All you need to do is complete the “sell my piano “ form below and if we're interested, we’ll get right back to you with an offer. Once a price is agreed, Bonners will arrange collection of the piano and the money is paid direct to your nominated bank account. We can usually arrange collection within 14 days, but in many cases pianos are taken away in just a few days.

Before you sell your piano to Bonners, you can get a written offer before you commit. Just complete the 'Sell my Piano' form and we'll tell you exactly what your instrument is worth to us. We'll transfer the funds direct to your bank account. Collection is usually within 14 days, but often happens much faster, so you can have the funds in your bank account in days, rather than weeks. If you have a piano for sale and want a hassle-free sale and a great return on your instrument but don't want the bother of selling privately, contact Bonners, the UK's biggest and best piano store.

Simply complete the form below and also email us some photographs of the instrument. We need to see a few photographs, including some with the top front panel removed so we can see the hammers and strings. (See photos above for examples).

We find people use us for selling a piano as it is an easy, guaranteed money option. Bear in mind that we are a piano dealer and we have have additional costs when selling instruments. We have to offer the next owner a warranty, pay VAT, pay for tuning, delivery, and also take care of future potential service issues etc. This is all taken into account when making an offer to buy your piano.

Will I Get More Money If I Sell My Piano Privately?
You may be able to achieve a little more from a private sale, but you would then have the additional inconvenience of advertising, buyers visiting your home and also delivery costs. You may also incur internet auction fees and payment fees should you sell using one of these channels. It is also worth considering that selling a piano is not an easy task, and finding that someone who falls in love with your piano, and is willing to pay the price you are asking privately might take some time.

Which Pianos Do We Buy?
We will consider most pianos for purchase, although we prefer upright pianos rather than grands - simply because it is easier for us to sell upright pianos due to a larger customer base looking for this type of instrument. Bonners Piano Centre particularly favour pianos made by reputable manufacturers such as Bechstein, Bluthner, Yamaha, Bosendorfer, Kemble, Kawai, Steinway, Broadwood to name but a few.