After seeing the piano in our video short, are you itching to buy and repair a secondhand piano of your own? Buying a used piano is easier and far more doable than you might think.

You don’t have to know much about pianos in order to find a good instrument that will enhance and add harmony to your life. However, if you’re feeling a little hesitant, here are five questions to ask yourself when shopping for a secondhand piano.

1. How does the piano sound?

When you’re examining a secondhand piano, sit down and play a tune. Pay attention to how the piano sounds. It’s OK if it’s a little out of tune—that can be fixed. Listen to the overall tone of the sound.

Consider what type of sound you’re after. Do you like a mellow sound, or would you rather have a brighter sound? Different types of pianos have different sounds—it all depends on the length of the soundboard, which is a piece inside of the piano that the strings vibrate against.

Spinet pianos usually have a bit of a brighter sound, consoles have a mellower sound, and uprights have the deepest and most resonant sound. If you’re not sure what kind of sound you like, try a few different types of pianos.

2. How does the piano play?

Pay attention to how the piano feels when you play it. This is very subjective—it all has to do with how you personally like to play the piano. Some pianos have strings that are stiff, requiring you to press harder on the keys. Others can be played with a lighter touch because the strings are softer.

If you are a beginning piano player, you might not know much about how you like to play the piano. Try a couple of different pianos until you find one that feels the most natural to you. In the end, it’s up to personal preference.

3. How does the piano look?

Many people think the look of the piano is less important than the sound or the feel. However, this piano is going to be a part of your home. You need to like how the piano looks. Make sure it matches and fits with your personal style. You can adjust the look of the piano to match your home décor by painting it, restaining it, or buying new accessories for it. But you should ask yourself if you like the initial appearance of the piano. Is there something there for you to work with?

4. What condition is the piano in?

Be sure to check out the condition of the piano. Are the pedals broken? Are there keys that don’t play? Does the piano make any weird buzzing noises? You may want to take an expert or a tuner with you when looking at a piano. A lot can be done to fix broken piano parts, but some fixes might be more complicated than others. For example, a missing music desk is much easier to replace than a cracked soundboard.

5. How are you going to get it home?

Pianos are big, heavy instruments, so moving one can pose a few challenges. You can hire a moving company, or you can move it yourself. If you choose to move it yourself, make sure to take proper precautions to protect the piano. Also, you’ll probably want to get your piano tuned six weeks after you move it. Moving a piano will cause it to go out of tune. After the strings have some time to settle, it’ll be time to call a tuner.

Whether your piano is secondhand or new, painted or stained, the most important thing is that you have an instrument in your home and a way to bring music into your life.

If you want inspiration for refinishing your new used piano, check out this tutorial video from Kari, a DIY blogger, to help you get started!