Acoustic Piano Appraisals

Although most piano technicians hold sufficient knowledge and experience related to pianos, they do not meet the valuation qualifications needed to prepare official appraisal documents. To ensure your piano appraisal meets all necessary standards, I work alongside a professional appraiser.

A professional appraiser is an individual who meets specific requirements for education and experience in valuing the type of property being appraised. Hiring a professional appraiser ensures a credible, objective appraisal that meets nationally recognized standards and requirements. For most purposes, it is best to utilize a professional appraiser who is a member of one of The Appraisal Foundation’s sponsoring organizations, such as the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) or the Appraisers Association of America (AAA). Note that for appraisals pertaining to non-cash charitable contributions, the IRS defines specific requirements of qualified appraisers, which will generally be met or exceeded by members of the aforementioned organizations.

I work with several professional appraisers who specifically appraise musical instruments and acoustic pianos. I typically work alongside Leopold Holder, the only Registered Piano Technician in America who is also a member of a recognized appraiser organization. Depending on the piano and the purpose of your appraisal, I can recommend an appropriate professional appraiser to work with.

No, the professional appraiser will not need to see the piano in person, nor be present for the appraisal inspection. The professional appraiser generates the official appraisal documents based on the inspecting technician’s data and photos.

No, the inspecting technician cannot provide feedback about the piano’s value. The technician’s data and photos are sent directly to the professional appraiser.

Data and photos are usually sent to the professional appraiser within 24 hours after the appraisal inspection. From there, the length of time necessary to generate the appraisal documents is dependent on the complexity of the appraisal, and how busy the professional appraiser is. The entire process (including mailing the appraisal documents) typically takes 1-2 weeks but can take over a month in certain scenarios.

Please be sure there is good lighting in the room, the piano is not against a wall, and all items are removed from the top of the piano (sheet music, lamp, picture frames, etc.). This will allow the technician to inspect all sides of the piano and capture necessary photos.