Musical instrument probate valuations only £49

HMRC-compliant valuations
delivered online in 2-3 days.

Just add photos and our experts
will handle the rest.

Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google and Trustpilot

Online or in person valuation? Both Available

Swift Values offers musical instrument probate valuations either way. Most instruments are well suited to our online service, but where a visit is more cost-effective, such as for a piano or a large collection, we can help with that too.

Online Instrument Valuation – £49

The best option for almost every estate. An expert valuer personally assesses the photographs and details you provide. Simply include images and any details you have about age and condition where known, and we will provide a full HMRC-compliant probate valuation within 2–3 days.

Start your valuation

Best for: 95%+ of estates

In-Person Valuation – from £298

An in-person valuation is generally only necessary for large collections or estates containing numerous musical instruments, where a single visit may be more cost-effective than paying for multiple online valuations.

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Best for: high-value or specialist instruments

Not sure which you need? Call the office on 0330 088 4099 and we will be happy to help.

Your probate valuation in 3 easy steps

Swift Values provides a simple, best-value way to meet your musical instrument probate valuation obligations. Here’s how it works:

Add photos and instrument details

Simply upload images and details about the instrument. No need to research the value yourself.

We assess the instrument properly

Our experienced musical instrument valuer asseses each instrument and current market prices. If additional images are needed we let you know.

Receive your HMRC compliant report

Typically delivered within 2-3 working days and prepared under Section 160 IHTA 1984 – ready to submit with confidence.

✔ No home visit required ✔ 100% transparent with no hidden costs ✔ Just £49

✔ No home visit required

✔ 100% transparent with no hidden costs

✔ Just £49

“Valuations are the biggest single area of risk, accounting for a large part of our compliance checks. You are strongly advised to instruct a qualified independent valuer.”

Source: Inheritance Tax Toolkit, HMRC, Published July 2018

What we can value

We provide specialist probate valuations for musical instruments, from modern guitars and digital pianos to antique violins, brass instruments and complete collections.

ITEMS WE CAN VALUE FOR PROBATE

Pianos & Keyboard Instruments

Upright and grand pianos, electric pianos, organs, synthesisers and other keyboard instruments. The maker, model, age, condition and likely removal costs can all have a significant effect on probate value.

Guitars, Amplifiers & Equipment

Acoustic, electric and bass guitars, including instruments by Gibson, Fender, Martin, Gretsch and other established makers. We can also assess amplifiers, effects pedals and related equipment where these form part of the estate.

Violins & Other Stringed Instruments

Violins, violas, cellos, double basses, harps and bows, ranging from modern student instruments to older or potentially collectible examples. Labels, construction, provenance and condition may require careful interpretation.

Brass & Woodwind Instruments

Trumpets, trombones, French horns, saxophones, clarinets, flutes, oboes and similar instruments by both commercial and specialist makers.

Drums, Percussion & Musical Collections

Drum kits, cymbals, orchestral percussion and collections containing several different instruments. We can also value cases, accessories and associated equipment where they have a meaningful separate value.

Need help? Call the office on 0330 088 4099 and we will be happy to help.

How to photograph your tractor

A few clear photos are all we need to value your car accurately — no specialist kit, just a phone and good light.

We’ve kept it simple so anyone can do it well. Watch this video by our founder Mark Littler to see exactly how to photo your tractor or farm vehicles. While Mark talks about cars in the video the same applies for agricultural vehicles, with the caveat that we also need to know the hours for most agricultural vehicles.

See exactly what you’ll receive

Every Swift Values report is a professionally formatted PDF, ready to submit with your probate application. It includes:

100% HMRC compliant

Fully illustrated PDF report

Section 160 IHTA compliance statement

Valuer notes

Signed declaration for IHT400

Specialist valuer credentials

View example report

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Why executors choose
Swift Values for musical instrument valuations

Musical instruments are often among the most cherished items in an estate, particularly where they have been played, collected or passed down through generations.

That can make the valuation feel like a specialist and potentially expensive undertaking. In reality, most instruments can be valued accurately online using clear photographs, maker and model details, serial numbers and information about their condition.

Sentimental value, insurance figures and the original purchase price do not always reflect what an instrument would achieve on the open market. Age, maker, rarity, condition, provenance and current demand can all affect its probate value.

Our valuers consider the relevant evidence and provide a clear, defensible valuation for HMRC without the cost or disruption of an unnecessary visit.

Swift-Values-Probate-Valuations-For-Executors

Trusted by thousands of executors

Rated ‘Excellent’ on Google. Over 1,000 valuations completed UK-wide.

I was overwhelmed by my mother’s estate. Swift Values made it simple and sent a professional report within two days. The service was perfect.

Barbara, Ipswich

Clear, thorough and incredibly quick. Exactly what we needed for probate to go through quickly.

Richard, Southampton

The report was far more detailed than I expected for the price. HMRC accepted it without question.

James, Salford

What’s included in your valuation?

Our £49 online valuation covers most musical instruments, including guitars, violins and other stringed instruments, brass and woodwind, keyboards and pianos, and vintage or collectable examples.

If an instrument requires specialist assessment, we’ll explain this clearly before any further work begins.

Service

Musical Instrument Valuation (per item)

Price (inc. VAT)

£49

If everything is routine, our standard fee of £49 per musical instrument is all you’ll pay. If something unusual stands out, such as a particularly rare instrument, a potentially very high-value example or an item requiring extensive specialist research, we’ll explain why and confirm any additional costs before further work begins.

Fair use policy

Is there a limit to what’s covered in our fee?

No. Our £49 per-instrument fee covers a full valuation and report for every instrument you submit. Last year, 99% of our valuations were completed at the headline price and needed no further research.

In the 1% of cases that need more work, the only thing that changes is how precise the figure is. Most instruments are straightforward, but now and then one needs far more research. If a violin turns out to be by a notable maker, we’ll still value it for £49, but the initial valuation may need to be expressed as a wider range, for example, £20,000 to £60,000. That gives you a reliable indication of where the instrument sits in the market, but narrowing it further may require more detailed research into its maker and provenance, comparable auction results or an inspection in person.

If the estate is comfortably below the inheritance tax threshold, a wider range usually makes no practical difference. You can use the top figure and move on. If inheritance tax is due, a narrower figure can make a big difference. For example, further research might narrow a range of £20,000 to £60,000 down to £35,000. Using £35,000 rather than the £60,000 top figure takes £25,000 off the value of the estate, and at 40% inheritance tax that means £10,000 less tax to pay. Our valuer will explain what would be needed to narrow the figure down and what that would cost. You can then decide whether to go ahead. Nothing extra happens without your agreement.

Ready to start your musical
instrument probate valuation?

From just £49. Delivered in 2-3 working days.

HMRC-compliant – guaranteed, or your money back.