In a message dated 98-07-01 22:28:44 EDT, you write: << A customer is trying to determine the value of his McPhail grand piano for home insurance purposes. The piano is about seventy-five years old and is in reasonably good condition for its age. I don't know the size, but it is short, surely somewhere around 5 feet. It has never been rebuilt--all is original. What would any of you suggest as to its value? Any suggestions will be helpful so that we can come up with a general ballpark figure. Thanks in advance. Arlie >> The piano you describe would be worth about $1000 in its current condition, in someone's home. Ask the customer if she has replacement value insurance, or "as is" insurance. If she has "as is" insurance, should the piano be damaged, then all she would get from the insurance company is $1000, or the cost of the repairs, whichever is less. With the cost of labor and parts these days, $1000 is not going to go very far. The customer will not only loose the piano, but will not be able to buy another decent piano with that money. Replacement value insurance, however, will allow the customer to either buy a brand new piano of similar quality, or enough money to make the repairs on the piano. It might be worth it for your cusotmer to look into replacment value insurance. Willem Blees RPT St. Louis
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