After cleaning out your attic, you realized you had an old violin sitting there collecting dust and you are now wondering what in the world you are going to do with it. You could consider getting a violin appraisal to see its worth. You could then decide whether or not you want to keep it or you want to sell it.

People that are qualified to set a value for it will let you know what their thoughts are on this topic. They have probably spent a lot of time figuring the cost of an instrument like yours. They will base it on what other violins of the same year, shape and size would be worth. It is all done on research and watching the market's patterns.

Your instrument may be worth more than you think. It may have a lot of value or it may not. Consider keeping it and not selling it. If you want to play the instrument and it has some sentimental value to you, do not sell it. Take some lessons so you can learn how to play unless you know already how to play.

Looking online may be a good option to see what is a fair price. You could also learn how to do the appraising yourself. Many instruments are out there that need a price tag put on them. Their owners are wanting to know the price so they can sell it. See what you find out or ask a professional in your area for their advice.

Look for various ways to get connected. People sometimes gather together at shows where they display their products for sale. Each year, many cities have them for musical instruments. Look to see if your area is going to sponsor one this year. Attending one of these might be a good idea because it will allow you to network and maybe find someone who will give you a good appraisal on your instrument.

It is always good at events like that to network as much as possible. Networking is very powerful. It gets word of mouth out for learning about good deals instead of relying on traditional advertising which can be very biased and impersonal. Take people's business cards if they have them and call them or email. Stay in touch and get the word out of what you are looking for in the way of your instrument's value.

You may find a buyer at a trade show. Ask them what they are willing to give you for it. Use your best judgement when it comes to business dealings. It is not fun getting taken advantage of. Trust your gut instinct, too.

Try to do business with honest people. You may have done your networking so well that you now have several people wanting to work with you. Take your time as you make these careful decisions. Do not rush into an important decision that you may regret later.