BUYING A PIANO
These factors among others, should be considered when purchasing a new or used piano: your budget, who will be using the instrument and space limitations. A good starting point is "The Piano Book" by Larry Fine. This will provide a lot of good information such as how pianos work, what to look for, salesmen's claims, ratings of pianos and much more. It is indispensible in making a knowledgeable choice. Do your homework, talk to dealers, music teachers, piano technicians, choir directors and musicians to get various opinions. See what is available in your area, use the internet to gather information to make an informed purchase, such as pianomart.com.
If you are looking at a used instrument, by all means hire a reputable technician to look it over, just as you would use an auto mechanic to check out a used car. It could look great on the outside but it may be hiding a variety of problems inside.