I am a piano recycler.  Each of my pianos would have been thrown in the dump had I not salvaged it.  These pianos were either dropped off trucks or down stairs, were in fires or floods, were vandalized in schools, or were left outdoors or in damp barns.  I spend hours of time and many dollars for parts in order to make these pianos work and look nice.  Pianos are like bicycles:  either fix them and use them or recycle them for parts.  My goal is to upgrade each and every one to prime playing condition.
 
 

     As you can guess, not all these pianos are in the same condition.  Consequently, I have scaled their rental prices accordingly.  If the piano doesn't work, it's free to borrow.  I offer free tunings and repairs on my rentals as long as you are paying rent.  If you have a free piano and would like it fixed or tuned, you have the choice of hiring me to work on it, or of paying a minimal rent, such as $5/month, and I will tune it for free.  So here is a list of categories:

FREE:            The piano doesn't work, but looks good in the space.
$5 /  month:    The piano has been cleaned and works, but has problems.  For example, it might not hold a pitch.
$10 / month:   The strings and pins are in good condition.
$15 / month:   All the key covers are there, but some strings
$20 / month:   All the clicks and squeaks and broken parts have been fixed, and the hammers have been filed.
$25 / month:   The piano has been fully regulated and adjusted and is in good playing condition.
$30 / month:   The worn-out felts, hammers, springs, etc. have been replaced.
$35 / month:   The piano even looks nice.
$40 / month:   This is one of my best pianos.
$50 / month:   Grand piano in relatively good shape.
$75 / month:   Grand piano average price.
$100 / month:  My best grand piano.

Benches are $/month extra, since I own 150 pianos and only 9 benches.
State sales tax must be added to whatever fee is charged.
If you would like the piano you are renting to be upgraded, I am willing to schedule the time to work on it at your place, after which your monthly payment will be altered accordingly.
 
 

MOVING

• Moving is $100 flat rate, including in and out.
• You supply help moving the piano in and out.
• Please call ahead to notify me of a move because I book up several weeks in advance.
• There is a three-month minimum for any of my rentals.  If you move out the piano in a shorter period of time, you still pay for three months. There is no outer limit as to how long you wish to rent.

• Your first tuning is free.
• Additional tunings are $25.00.
• Miscellaneous repairs are free.
• If you wish to up-grade the piano, the monthly rent will be adjusted accordingly.

FLAT RATE MOVING FEE:
    Anywhere within the greater Seattle area I charge a flat rate of $100.00 to move an upright piano one way.  The moving fee for my rentals, on the other hand, is $100 flat rate both ways -- that includes in and out -- and this fee must be paid up front upon delivery.  This is by far the best deal.   
There are only three exceptions to this rate:

• For extra travel distance I charge mileage.
• If the move is extremely difficult I will charge by the minute.  We will discuss this before the piano is moved.  
• If it is pouring rain and the move must happen that day, the rate is doubled.

BY-THE-MINUTE MOVING FEE:
       Your other option is to pay by the minute.  I charge an initial $75 delivery fee to show up at your door with a piano.  The charge is $1.00/min. from the truck to its resting place in your room.  We then double that time to pre-pay moving the piano out again, at $1/min from the room back to the truck.  So the total initial payment is $75 delivery, plus the time it takes to move the piano in, times two, plus the first month's rent, plus sales tax.

COMMENTS
  I am not a licensed, bonded or insured piano mover, although I have moved several thousand pianos.  Usually the people who want the piano supply the help to move it, which cuts down on the cost.  If you do not want to help or find help or can't get anybody, I know a few additional people I can hire at a rate of $20/hour/person.  Usually it takes one or two other people besides me, although with stairs or tight corners on stair landings, three or four extra people are necessary.  I charge mileage only if I have to go out of my way.
     When you wish to terminate your rental, please give me sufficient notice.  If you find another person who would like to take over the rental of your piano when you are finished and we can move the piano directly from your place to theirs, let me know.  I will still need your help getting the piano back out of your room and onto my truck.  If you have to move but want to keep the piano, call me and we'll schedule a time to move the piano to your new place.
    The catch is that I am very busy, so if you are in a hurry and you want me to move your piano, you might have to wait a month, and I don't like to move pianos in the rain, late at night, or without help.  I have an excellent mover who is experienced, efficient and available to move pianos upon rather short notice, who charges fair rates (higher than mine), and who knows a lot about pianos.  Either way, you will get a piano.

LATE PAYMENTS
    If a month goes by without payment, you will receive a reminder phone call, an e-mail, or a reminder notice in the mail.  There is a $5.00 late fee for each month you fall behind.  If you fall three months behind, you will be asked if you wish to continue renting.  If you wish to terminate at this point, you still must pay the back rent that is due. In the event that you get behind on your payments, continue paying at least the monthly rent each month, and we can work out the past due amount later.  If money is an issue and you can't afford to pay money, then we could work out some sort of barter or trade for your skills, services, or objects.  Another option is that you could come to my place and work it off.  A third way would be to supply me with a long list of ready customers.  I do expect to be paid for the length of time you have the piano.  Please, if there are problems, keep in communication with me.

PURCHASING
    For years I have said that my rental pianos are not for sale.  Now I am beginning to sell some of them.  If you wish to purchase one of my pianos, the transaction will be separate from the rental agreement.  In other words, even if the piano is in your home, consider it moved back to my shop and we are starting over.  Rent payments do not apply toward the purchase of one of my pianos.  For example, if the piano is for sale for $500, no matter how many months you have been renting it, when you are ready to purchase it you must then pay $500 in order to own it.  Thereafter you are on your own for tuning and repairs.  I will be glad to continue servicing your piano at my normal rates, as I do with my other piano customers.
    To view my pianos you are welcome to make an appointment to come to my shop on Whidbey Island.  Call ahead so I know when you are on your way.  Have in mind a rough idea of what you are looking for in terms of looks, touch and tone.  Call for directions.

PIANO RENT PAYMENT PLANS
    There are several options for making your piano rent payments.
• Automatic withdrawals.  Set up your account for automatic monthly withdrawals.  This is by far the easiest way to take care of your regular payments.  The other option is to set up set your bills up with a bank or company that will automatically mail a check each month.
• Post-dated checks.  At the time of delivery, write a series of post-dated checks, one for each subsequent month.  If you have had the piano for a while, mail a set of post-dated checks to cover the rent for future months.
• Lump payments.  Agree to pay for three, six or twelve months at a time.  If I know that you are paying for several months at once, there will be no late fee during the months when no payment was received.
• Month-by-month.  If you aren’t certain how long you will be renting, or you are not sure when you will have any available money each month, send a check or money order as you can each month.  Remember that if you skip a month there will be a $5.00 late fee added to your amount due for that month.
• Barter.  In the case that you have no money but have a skill, service, product or object that would amount to an equivalent trade and that is something I could use, then we could do either a partial or a 100% exchange.
• Unusual circumstances.  If you are having financial problems and have nothing to trade, let me know and we can work something out.  Even if you have absolutely no money and nothing you think you can trade, you could come out to my place and work it off at $8/hour.
• Purchases.  If, after renting a piano for a while, you wish to purchase it, let me know.  Generally I never sell my rentals, but in the event that you become particularly attached to the piano you are renting you may purchase it.  Rent payments do not apply to the purchase of any of my pianos.  The minimum amount my rentals sell for is $1000, and the prices go up according to the piano’s internal and external condition.  Otherwise, you are welcome to come to my shop and select a different piano to purchase.  One of the many reasons why people rent is so that they have a piano to play while they are shopping around for the ultimate piano they wish to own.