How should I sell my Mason & Hamlin A

[whod]

My wife and I have made the decision to pursue a dream that will require us to raise some needed capitol.  I have decided to sell my Mason & Hamlin A (91454) (Satin Ebony).  It is very difficult for me to sell.   Can anyone give me advice on how to figure a price to sell at?  Also, what is the best method for selling such a piano. 

Has anyone ever experienced selling something they love so much?  I hope that I will be able to replace it in the future.  Any advice is welcomed.  Is selling this piano going to be a miserable experience?

Regards,

Dave

[Brian Lawson, RPT]

Go to www.pianomart.com

[iumonito]

I feel your pain.  These pianos are very sought after.  If you have the time, go shopping for one.  That will give you an idea of what is a fair price.

Bear in mind there is great interest in getting these instruments for rebuilding, and therefore some discriminating customers will try to get you to sell to them for under $3,000 (an arbitrary number, my personal one was $1,000) because it makes little sense to pay more for an instrument that you will spend another $15,000 to $20,000 to put in top shape.

If you are able to expain the atmosphere in which the piano has lived, how much it has been played, the servicing it has received, the condition of the soundboard and pinblock and the piano plays decent, you should be able to sell for about 10% to 25% less than the price you find when you go shopping for the used ones.

Like with houses, dress to sell.  Polish the pedals and get the piano tuned and voiced.

Good luck and enjoy the thing you need the capital for.  I am sure it is worth it and a chance for an even better piano will come along in due course (maybe an AA, or a BB, which stands for bigger and better).

As for mechanics.  I like the idea of a silent auction, where you set the minimum price you will sell for and tell your potential buyers that you will open bids a couple of weeks after you advertise in the paper in your nearest metropolitan area.

[jr11]

Has anyone ever experienced selling something they love so much?  I hope that I will be able to replace it in the future.  Any advice is welcomed.  Is selling this piano going to be a miserable experience?

Selling something you love probably will be a miserable expeience. Mostly because to the buyer it will be just a piano, and there's plenty out there to choose from. So unless you are willing to sell it for well below market value, be prepared for lots of calls, looky-loo's, ad $ spent, insultingly low offers, and a long wait. If you are under any kind of a time frame to sell, it may be wise to enlist a dealer's help, just as you might a real estate agent for a home sale.