Tom: This piano is not worth near what you think. Of course, "fair market value" is what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller if neither is compelled. But we as technicians are bound to create value in the market as neutrally as possible. The story of your client is warm and fuzzy, but has nothing to do with the value of the piano which may be worth $1500 to someone who doesn't know about Sojin. Do you? Do the research, watch the classifieds for 20 years, and "appraise" with great trepidation and anxiety if you must do it at all. Or call someone who does know (not a dealer; nothing against dealers, they're too interest conflicted to be used to establish market value (as opposed to market cost))! Paul "If you want to know the truth, stop having opinions" (Chinese fortune cookie) In a message dated 05/03/07 14:49:49 Central Daylight Time, tvaktvak at sbcglobal.net writes: List One of my oldest clients, in both ways, has just passed on. She died one day before her 66th Anniversary. She met her husband when she was 13 and he was 15, and they got married only two years later. I can only imagine how much they must have loved each other, since America in 1940 certainly wouldn't have smiled too brightly on an interracial marriage, let alone one where the two betrothed were only 15 and 17 years of age. Even to one such as myself, who only saw them once a year, it was apparent what a remarkable couple they were. At any rate, her husband is now selling her piano. It's a 1986 Sojin grand, model DG-1E, high gloss black polyester finish, w/bench. The piano is in mint condition. She had arthritis since I began tuning the piano, and although I'd come back each year, I never had to do more than tweak a couple of unisons. She always complained that it was too painful to play, but nevertheless had the piano tuned annually. He said he paid $6000 for it in 1986. I told him I wanted to get some outside opinions, but if forced to, I guess I'd appraise it at $4000-$4500? Does that sound ballpark to you guys? Thanks for your input, Tom Sivak Chicago -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20070503/4aa04786/attachment.html
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