Steinway upright 1901 value?

[mathieu77mtl]

Hello!

My mother wants to sell her Steinway upright piano made in 1901 (I beleive this is model "I"), any help on how much she should be asking would be very much appreciated!

The piano is all original, ebony black with ivory keys. It was professionally tuned every year and piano tuners were always amazed by its sound. It was kept in a room with controlled humidity. The paint shows some wear, and we were told that eventually, the hammers and strings would have to be replaced because of normal wear, but that's nothing urgent.

She wants to sell it quickly since she will be moving soon, we will be using local classifieds in the Montreal area. What would be a fair asking price?

Many thanks for your help!

Mathieu

[iansinclair]

An almost unanswerable question.  If you look on eBay, for instance, you will find upright piano prices all over the place, with no apparent rhyme or reason -- although the more optimistic ones (higher prices) don't seem to get many bids.  Further, each market will be different -- what you might be able to get for a that piano in Montreal might be very different from, say, Thunder Bay -- never mind somewhere in the US or Europe.

Have you gone to piano dealers in Montreal and looked around at all?  Have you asked the piano technician who has been maintaining the piano?  I think they might be able to give you a much better idea as to what you should ask than any notion I might have.

[indianajo]

A mirror front pre WWII Steinway 44 upright went for $300 to the proffessional Craiglist watcher and Steinway flipper in Louisville three years ago.  I knew the family, but didn't hear about it until it was over.
These sound rather modern for prewar uprights so the main part of the Upright curse is the 400 lb weight when it is moved.  Steinway still draws a premium in my market, however obsolete the style.  
You may demonstrate how fast the action is, which is above average, to lookers who can't decide.  Tuned every year is not so important, although it will certainly make it sound better on inspection.  
I might point out these were tuned to A=432 pre 1920's.  
I'd ask $500 and settle for $300. Make sure you see the cash at purchase, then don't accept it until the crew and truck are there to move it out the door. Wanting a Steinway and arranging four competent movers are often different tasks, and you have a deadline. Don't promise to hold it for someone.  You want it out the door , not satisfy some dreamer who can't organize the move.  
I wouldn't start with a pro tuner or flipper, they are going to take their cut which you might have yourself. If you have time to show it to people.  You certainly don't want to involve a music store.  They pay professional salesmen to tell everybody how unreliable old product made in the USA is. My physician friend bought a "superior" Pearl River 4 years ago, now regrets it.   I'm playing a 1941 Steinway 40 console, and the wood is far superior than any new piano you can buy today outside of a Steinway grand made in Queens.  
Besides craigslist.org, don't forget kiji online  in Canada which is more popular there.  If you search for pictures of pianos in Montreal, you are sure to come up with some Kiji ads.