Acoustic Piano Appraisals

To ensure that the proper services are provided to you, please consider the following distinct service, which is commonly confused with an appraisal: A piano technical inspection is designed to assist a buyer in the potential purchase of a piano by providing insight into the piano’s condition, warning of any red flags, and suggesting any treatment or repairs the piano might benefit from. A technical inspection is not an appraisal and does not provide a monetary value of the instrument. If this is the service you are looking for, the remaining information on this page does not apply. Instead, please find more information here.

A piano appraisal results in written appraisal documents for a piano, which state the monetary value of the instrument. This service is typically requested for one of the following reasons:

Resale

The customer would like to know the monetary value of the piano for the purpose of resale

Insurance

The customer’s insurance company requires an appraisal to insure the piano

Legal Matters

The piano’s value is required for estate settlement, divorce/ marriage dissolution, or other reason

Noncash Charitable Contributions

The piano is being donated, and the customer would like to take a tax deduction for their donation

Are you considering the donation of a piano? More info at bradfantpianos.com/donations

Piano appraisals necessitate a two-step process involving both a piano technician and a professional appraiser:

STEP 1

Appraisal Inspection

The piano technician performs a comprehensive, in-person inspection of the instrument, according to requirements from the professional appraiser. Data and photos gathered by the technician are then sent directly to the professional appraiser.

STEP 2

Appraisal Document Preparation

The professional appraiser reviews the provided information, performs analysis, and prepares official appraisal documents. Once complete, the official appraisal documents are sent directly to the customer.

Have questions or ready to proceed?

Contact Brad Fant Piano Service for more information or to schedule your piano appraisal.

Which areas do you service?

We service the area denoted in green on the map below. This includes, but is not limited to: Ballantyne, Carmel, Dilworth, Matthews, Myers Park, Quail Hollow, South End, and SouthPark. Please contact us by phone at 704-593-6741 or by email at bradfantpianos@gmail.com to inquire about special accommodations.
How often do I need to have my piano tuned? Why does it go out of tune?

Generally, pianos should be tuned every 6 months or every year, even if they are not being played regularly. Pianos on the concert stage, in recording studios, or in schools may require more frequent tuning and attention. The piano's main structure and soundboard are both made of wood, which expand and contract with climate change and humidity variation. Fluctuations in the wood net an out of tune piano. It is especially important to tune new pianos several times during their first few years to ensure that the string tension and piano structure reach a stable equilibrium. For more information about tuning, please see here.
What is a "pitch raise?"

All modern pianos are designed to be tuned and sound their best at "standard pitch," where A4=440 Hz (A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second). If a piano has not been tuned for an extended period of time (over ~12 months), has been through extreme climate fluctuations, or has been moved, the overall pitch of the piano may be significantly higher or lower than standard pitch. In this situation, the piano will require a pitch adjustment or "pitch raise" to bring the piano’s combined string tension back into a normal range before a standard fine tuning can be performed. A pitch raise and fine tuning are typically performed in the same service appointment, but in very extreme cases, where multiple pitch raises are necessary, a second appointment may be necessary. The need for a pitch raise cannot be determined without assessing the piano in person. For more information about pitch raises, please see here.
I'm moving. How can I move my piano safely and when should I have it tuned?

Moving your piano shouldn't be stressful and you most definitely should not attempt to move it yourself. Hire an insured piano mover, not just any mover! The piano is a fragile instrument and permanent damage can easily be done by an inexperienced mover. Please feel free to reach out if you would like a referral. It's generally recommended to wait about one month after your move to tune the piano, allowing it to acclimate to the new location. This will net a more stable tuning than had it been tuned immediately.
Do you repair digital pianos and keyboards?

We do not service or repair digital pianos/keyboards, and recommend contacting your instrument's manufacturer for a referral to a certified service center: Casio Kawai Korg Roland Yamaha
What is a RPT (Registered Piano Technician)?

The Piano Technicians Guild is a nonprofit organization that regulates the trade of piano technology. A RPT is a piano technician who has undergone and passed tuning, technical, and written exams according the the Piano Technicians Guild standards. The Registered Piano Technician certification is the only official guild certification for piano technicians in the United States. For more information about Registered Piano Technicians, please see here.
What type of payments do you accept?

Accepted forms of payment include: paper check, cash, Zelle, Venmo, Apple Pay, and all major credit and debit cards. For more information about payments, please see here.

Frequently Asked Questions