I just browsed lokal ads, and like always there are a bunch of pianos given away for free provided you organise the transport.

But this time there is also an Art Nouveau piano and the owners are willing to pay for the transport.

I am tempted since I have a weakness for both, piano and art nouveau.
Friend of mine is a piano tech/trained builder actually, so...he might help me get it in tune.

But I live in a very run down old house and I fear my floor doesnt sustain the weight.
Also, I feel ashamed to accept the offer cause it does cost them.

What should I do?

Contact a contractor and have he/she come scope out the structure of your floor. If your floor can handle the weight and you can get a good instrument for nothing, go for it. I think it is a no brainer.

I bought my furst house so I could buy a Yamaha C7. A piano company was going out of business and had 3 C7's for less than half price so I jumped on the opportunity. I got the best one of the three.

I wish I still had it but my career forced me to relocate a number of times so I had to let it go.

real pianos are great. we have one. get the floor checked and get it. just remember. one day it's gonna be you posting that ad to give it away.

The floor is a gamble, cause it's a laminated covered old wooden floor that clearly has some broken spots, but you' d need to remove the laminate to examine it.

I wrote to the piano owners nevertheless, cause they planed to trash it (which will cost them transport too), and thats just too sad. Offered them half the estimated transport cost (cause I am short of money) in case they dont find anybody else interested.

So lets see what the Universe decides on this.

In the end I didnt get it, they actually never got back to me and one day the offer ended.

I am not unhappy about that though, piano is a bit too noisy for my apartment, I wouldnt feel comfortable with everyone in the house listening, and than I would love to play at 3 a.m....

Right now I am eyeing on a very different rare musical instrument that needs a lot of maintanance and refurbishing, and I am not telling what it is right now,...as not to spoil the chance, anxiously wating for a reply to my offer.