water damage

[Mark Schecter]

Hi, J Patrick.

It seems to me that if he is getting it for a song, after it's written 
off by him, then later finding residual value in it, someone might think 
there's a possible conflict of interest in the writing-off process. I'm 
sure I would never think that, but ...

-Mark (let's call the writing-off off)

PS I think automatically writing off a piano that has had water damage 
is like automatically writing off a car that has had collision damage. 
How much damage? Damage to what? Can if be repaired for a reasonable 
cost? I had a Steinway that got leaked on, some felt was damaged, some 
glue was loosened, but 2 hours work fixed it. Would it have been better 
to write the piano off, and then buy it for the salvage value? I don't 
think it's a good survival strategy.


J Patrick Draine wrote:
> 
> On Mar 21, 2006, at 10:05 PM, Jack Houweling wrote:
> 
>>   I certainly would not like a piano that had water damage. Do I write 
>> these pianos off? What amount of water can any piano withstand?
> 
> For the purposes of the insurance claim, my opinion is that it should be 
> completely written off. If you're getting it for a song after it is 
> written off by you for the insurance company, and can let it sit in 
> storage and cycle through a full year of summer humidity and a super dry 
> winter, *then* maybe you'll be ready to see if there's a future for the 
> poor abused piano. Good luck!
> Patrick
> 
>