How to choose the right piano for beginners?

[cherylcole]

Hello everyone in the PianoStreet community
I am looking to buy my first piano to practice more seriously, but there are many options: upright, digital, grand… and each type has different prices, advantages, and disadvantages.
Currently, I am wondering:
Should I start with a digital piano because it is cheaper and has headphones to practice without disturbing the neighbors?
Or should I invest in an upright piano to feel the keyboard and sound more realistic from the beginning?
With a mid-range budget, is there any brand or model that you have experienced and found suitable for beginners?
In addition, I also want to know:
How to check the condition of a used piano before buying (eg, key sensitivity, sound, and pedals)?
Should I hire a piano technician to come along to evaluate it?
I believe that there are many people in the forum who have gone through this step, so I really hope to receive everyone's sharing and advice so that I can choose the right guitar to accompany me for a long time in the learning process.
Thank you, everyone, in advance for your useful comments!