Olde Towne Piano Shop - Piano Appaisal and Consulting Service

Phone: 301-695-6150
Fax: 866-618-9698

Sales & Service since 1963

Piano Appaisal and Consulting Service

Are you interested in Buying, Selling, Trading, Reconditioning, Rebuilding or a Complete Restoration of a piano? Would you like to know the value of your piano for Insurance Purposes, for Legal Matters or for Donation Purpose? Also, an Appraisal and Consultation service with a qualified and experienced Registered Piano Technician (RPT) may prevent selling your piano too low or paying too much. Ultimately, something is worth only as much as someone will pay for it. What is your piano really worth? There is not an actual piano manufacturer's “Blue Book” for used pianos. Prices for pianos vary greatly depending on the locale and upon the style, model, interior condition, as well as, exterior condition. The value of a piano also depends very much on how knowledgeable both the seller and potential buyer may be. We highly recommend that you have the piano evaluated or appraised! A “real” and “fair” appraised value can be given AFTER a qualified Registered Piano Technician (RPT) visually and audibly inspects and has “hands-on” evaluation of the piano's condition. Mechanical condition, name brand, style, cosmetic finish and size are basis for piano value. Value is not based on age, as with antiques, in most cases. Note: It is not possible to determine what your piano is worth, unless we have a “hands-on” evaluation. For a reasonable Fee, you may hire Theodore H. Snyder, RPT for this service.

IMPORTANT! There are various issues of concern about Insurance. The best advice is to be sure that you have proper Insurance coverage on your piano. The insurer must schedule the items on the policy and provide an "Agreed Value Clause” in the policy. The other method for coverage is “Actual Cash Value” but a certain percentage becomes problematic. “Replacement Value” is full retail price, using the same rules as “Actual Cash Value.” It is ESSENTIAL to have an up-to-date written Appraisal of your instrument for “Replacement Value”, making sure you provide the insurer a written Appraisal and have an “Agreed Value Clause” in your insurance policy.

In the event that the insured does not provide proof of valuation (appraisals) PRIOR TO a loss taking place, other issues can cloud the claims process. For instance, did the items insured ever really exist? If so, were they original as claimed or something other than originally described? Did the insured have legal ownership of the items insured (receipts)? And finally, as expressed above, are the values accurate with respect to the items being insured? Clearly, the best way to insure is to provide an appraisal to the insurance carrier PRIOR TO the loss and have them provide coverage on an Agreed Value Form. For a fee, Theodore Snyder, RPT of Olde Towne Piano Shop can evaluate your piano and submit a written Appraisal.

Consider piano values differently if you have different purposes of knowing the value of your piano.

“Resale” Value sold at Retail Price.
“As Is” Value sold at Wholesale Price.
“Replacement” Value needed for an Insurance purpose.
“As Is” Value for Donation tax-write-off purpose.

If you are looking for a piano to purchase, define your values and priorities early in the decision process to determine what options are important to you in upgrading your piano or making a purchase of a new or “like-new“piano. Sorting out the conflicting claims of dealers and manufacturers and deciding which piano represents the best value is often aided by speaking to a sympathetic and knowledgeable person. Do you want to hire Theodore Snyder, RPT of Olde Towne Piano Shop to evaluate and appraise the piano for you or give consultation? With his background of years of advanced piano instructions and more than 41 years of experience as Piano Tuner, Craftsman and Technician, remanufacturing, rebuilding, and having been a Piano Dealer for new and used pianos of many name brands, you will find Ted Snyder very knowledgeable about the subject of pianos. Contact us for his services at 301-695-6150 or email: estthsnyder@bww.com.

You will benefit from Appraisal and Consulting Service if you have such questions as the following:

How long will this piano last before needing major work?
If this piano needs work, what are the various options available to me and how much can I expect to pay? Which options will be more most effective in the short run and in the end?
What will be the consequences if I don't do the work that has been recommended?
What results should I expect from the various types of upgrades possible? How long will these upgrades be likely to last?
Is this piano worth upgrading? (Reconditioning, Rebuilding, Remanufacturing)
Is this piano a good investment?
If I have to sell it in 2 years, will I recover my money?
How does this piano compare with other pianos?
Is this piano easy to service?
What value should I insure this piano?
What price should I sell this piano?
At what price should I buy this piano?
If I can't afford to do all of the recommended upgrades on this piano, what other options are available to me? Can I do the work in stages over time, without having to redo work or waste money or costing me more in the end?

If you are out of Snyder's Piano Service area, you can find a qualified RPT by making a click on “Find An RPT” from our Hot Links Page. If you wish to research in reading, to be more knowledgeable about various new and used pianos, read Larry Fine's, The Piano Book. It is important to realize that not all

pianos are equal in quality. The cosmetics of this piece of furniture do not tell you the internal or mechanical condition of the piano as an instrument. Do your “homework;” learn whom you can trust for the right decision about a piano specifically for you. In addition, you may call Mr. Snyder at Olde Towne Piano Shop for consultation to gain a better understanding about your options on your piano. Someone said, “If you think a good technician is expensive, just try a bad one.” This statement is very true. It costs unnecessarily more to correct somebody's mistakes, shortcuts and unfinished work that should have been done in the original rebuild job.

Are you looking for a particular brand name, a particular style, one of a certain era, or size in a piano? Call for assistance, for consultation about your questions or desires. Hire Theodore Snyder, RPT at Olde Towne Piano Shop, as your Piano Broker, to find that piano you have been looking for. Are you wishing to sell your piano or you wish to place a “Classified Ad” on our web site? Click List Your Piano for instructions.

Is your piano consistently going out-of-tune and you are wondering why? It may be of different reasons. In consultation with Ted Snyder, you may learn your answer. On the other hand, it may possibly be the humidity conditions within the area of your country in which you live or within the room. The manufacturer of Dampp-Chaser® Climate Control System has designated Ted as one of their Field Experts. If you have questions about the use of or wish to have a System installed correctly as recommended by the manufacturer, please make an appointment for Damp-Chaser's Field Expert to install a complete System. Note: It is important that the System is installed properly and by a qualified technician; or the manufacturer does not guarantee the System. If you are in his Field or Service area, please call for an appointment at 301-695-6150.