Buying a Piano
A piano is a source of joy for any household, whether the main player is an expert or a "plunker." If cared for properly, a piano is a good investment as well.   
   First, decide how the piano will be used. If a concert player, entertainer, professional songwriter or music instructor will use it, the cost is actually a kind of business expense and it should be a major part of the business setup, or studio. Dedicated players who use a piano regularly for pleasure should also have a fairly high piano budget. Those who have a child who wants to try piano lessons, and "plunkers" who will not be dedicating a great deal of time to the instrument, can get by fairly inexpensively.
   Next, decide if you have a lot of time to wait for a bargain. This means you will be scouring want ads and waiting for the slow seasons on the piano sales floor. If you are hoping for a freebie, note that those are usually not great pianos, but every few years one standout will show up. It might be a long wait, and certainly you will want to spend the money to have a technician check the piano before accepting it. However, if it is the only option, make a project of it and hang in there.
   Do your research (bookstores and libraries offer excellent books for piano consumers) and you will discover what pianos of different qualities and ages are worth. The ads in city papers usually feature a piano store here and there. Internet research is tricky; but if you look at a lot of sites you will begin to see who has a real clientele and who is picking up pianos anywhere and just pushing them off onto someone. Have your budget ready for your purchase, including the cost of a once-over by a technician (some calls to technicians will yield the information about what they expect to be paid for this) and moving the piano (again, make some telephone calls). Consider having a climate control plan; keeping the climate stable in your "piano space" will help keep the piano in better health. A whole house climate control system is best; but do the best you can on your budget.
   Figure out where you will make a space for your piano, and make sure it is not in front of a big window (unless you have curtains that will keep the sun off the piano and the room temperature is very stable) or too close to a heating/cooling register. Many piano movers not only deliver a piano, but also are usually a help to the customer regarding these issues.
   When you are ready to shop, make sure the piano(s) will be available to be played. Getting the feel of a piano is important. How it sounds to you is more important than what the seller thinks of it. Remember to ask a technician or two about the structural condition of the instrument. Knowing a piano's history can be helpful, but it is not critical…your aunt may have kept the cabinet very well, but done a poor job of keeping the insides tip-top. Ask the seller if there can be a "buyer’s remorse" or "warranty" agreement. This is where a piano store usually excels over other sellers.
   Once you are confident that you have selected the correct instrument and made the right deal, prepare for the delivery by clearing your space and contacting the piano movers. A few weeks after moving the piano to your home is the right time for the technician's first service call, as the change in climate from one building to another will probably upset the piano. Your technician can see to it that the piano is reacting normally.