How to Purchase a Baby Grand Piano

For those current or would-be piano players who desire the full sound of a grand piano but have neither the budget or space for one, a baby grand piano may be just the thing you've been looking for. Before you rush out and buy a piano, there are a few things you should do first.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Place for piano
• Budget
• Research
• Music store
• Piano technician

1. Make sure you have a place to put your future baby grand piano in your home. Find the exact place for it and make sure that it will fit there comfortably.
2. Decide how much money you are willing to spend. Purchasing a piano is a big investment and you should decide upon a budget before you begin your search.
3. Do some research on brand names to find the best manufacturer and model of piano that fits your needs. Narrow down your selection and make a list of baby grand pianos you would like to look at.
4. Call music stores to check inventory to make sure they have the baby grand pianos available to look at or check the manufacturer's website of the piano you have chosen. Usually the website will have a list of stores that carry their merchandise, or you can contact them for this information.
5. Visit stores to see the pianos up close and personal. Take your time in making a decision and look at as many different baby grand pianos as you can. Play them all, even the ones that you can't afford, to get an idea of tone and a feel for the piano you like the best.
6. Decide if you would like to purchase your piano new or second hand. Have the piano checked out by a reputable piano technician before making your purchase. If the piano is used, make sure its been taken care of by asking when it was last tuned and opening it up to see if the inside is relatively clean.
7. Make your purchase and enjoy the many years of beautiful music your baby grand piano will afford you.

Tips & Warnings

• You can probably find a baby grand piano for sale online; however expect the shipping price to be quite expensive. Make sure that shipping insurance is available if you are having this expensive item shipped to you.
• If you purchase your piano new, it will give you more than fifty years of use if taken care of properly.
• If you are buying a new piano, make sure you get a warranty for both parts and labor.