Grandchild Sells Priceless Family Heirloom Without Asking the Rest of the Family First

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Oct 27, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

Some items are easy to hold onto. If you have a precious ring or other jewelry worth a lot of money, it's easy to hang onto that for generations to come. All you have to do is give it to the responsible daughter who knows where her possessions are and not to the spacey daughter who couldn't tell you where her birth certificate was if you put a gun to her head. I wonder if you all can tell which one I am…

On the other hand, there are objects that, while sentimental and valuable, are not easy to keep around. Furniture and musical instruments of the past require a level of maintenance that might not be achievable by the young people inheriting them. One great-grandchild recently came to Reddit with their story of selling their great-grandmother's vintage grand piano without first asking the rest of their family, and people are roasting them in the thread. 

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  • 01
    Human body - r/AmltheAsshole u/TrappedInTechLoop • 20h AITA for selling the family heirloom even though I had the legal right to do so?
    via u/TrappedInTechLoop
  • 02
    Font - I've recently found myself in a whirlwind of family drama, and I'm honestly unsure if I've done the right thing. My great-grandmother left behind a valuable family heirloom - a vintage grand piano. In her will, she bequeathed it to me specifically, stating that she wanted me to have it due to my deep passion for music. I've been playing the piano since I was a child, and she always appreciated my connection to it.
    via u/TrappedInTechLoop
  • 03
    Font - However, my current living situation doesn't allow for such a large item. I live in a small apartment in the city, and the piano has been in storage for the last 5 years, incurring monthly storage fees. Recently, I've faced some financial hardships, and after careful consideration, I decided to sell the piano. I used the money to pay off some debts and set aside a portion for my future, possibly for a down payment on a house.
    via u/TrappedInTechLoop
  • 04
    Font - When my family found out, they were furious. Many feel that the piano should've remained in the family and passed down to future generations. They argue that its sentimental value far outweighs any monetary gains.
    via u/TrappedInTechLoop
  • 05
    Font - I understand their sentiments, but I also felt burdened by the costs of storage and the practicalities of my situation. The piano wasn't being used or enjoyed, and I believed selling it was a beneficial decision for my future. So, AITA for selling the family heirloom, even though it was legally mine?
    via u/TrappedInTechLoop
  • 06
    Font - Cutch35 20h sinet [7] YTA. Not for selling it, but for not telling/asking them first. You knew it had sentimental value to them. You should've told them you didn't want it anymore for the reasons you listed and then told them if they wanted it to stay in the family, they could buy it from you or else you'd sell it to someone else. I suspect they wouldn't have bought it and still would've been but then they would've had the chance and it's on them, not you · Reply 18.6k
    via u/Cutch35
  • 07
    Font - TogarSucks. 19h ado [15] Yup, when it comes to selling heirlooms and sentimental items family has right of first refusal at a reasonable price. YTA. 6.6k
    via u/TogarSucks
  • 08
    Font - dr-sparkle 17h Colo-rectal Surgeon [44] ● A reasonable price for a used grand piano could easily be $100,000, depending on the piano. A "low end" could be over $10,000 used. If OP is the only one in the family that actually appreciates music, it's doubtful they would fork over that much for it, even if they had the space for it, which would require a fair amount. And they'd probably give OP a bunch of asking a reasonable price at all. for 1.3k
    via u/dr-sparkle
  • 09
    Font - waterbird 17h · It's just nice to ask though ✩ 2.4k
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  • 10
    Font - synth-0404 13h ● Probably didn't have to ask for purchase immediately, maybe just covering the storage fees until either someone in the family could buy it or until op is better off. 726
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  • 11
    Font - ZO Mysterious-System680. 7h It's just nice to ask though It's self-preservation to ask. My advice to somebody in the OP's position would be to have the heirloom in question appraised, decide the minimum price they're willing to settle for, offer relatives first refusal at 25% over that price, and, if somebody is willing to buy, allow themselves to be bartered down to the minimum price in the name of family. If nobody is willing to buy, that's a shield against arguments that the heirloom s
    via u/Mysterious-System680
  • 12
    Font - HELLbound_33 16h ● I mean, was this a Steinway, Bechstein, Bösendorfer, or very high-end piano? Because that's the only kind I can think where it's used and gives you enough to use a portion of the sale towards a down payment on a home. Most high ends, the price depreciates if it hasn't been serviced every year, isn't in a controlled environment. It's very expensive to move because you have to have specialized movers.
    via u/HELLbound_33
  • 13
    Font - I only know this stuff because my own family had a grand piano that my generation didn't want. The expensive of the upkeep and specialized tuners and service, just a money pit. Especially if you don't use it and isn't your passion. But the difference was all in the family was offered the piano. We even checked if any of the kids wanted to learn piano (they wanted drums, guitar, violin, but no piano). It was agreed by the whole to sell it. 188
    via u/HELLbound_33
  • 14
    Font - Looking4Lite4Life. 17h There would have been so many options if they decided they wanted to keep it in the family, but couldn't afford the price. If someone REALLY wanted the piano they could've traded their own inheritance for it. Someone could've paid some lower amount to borrow it for a few years until OP moved somewhere that could house a piano. They could've done a gradual payment plan. Etc. By selling it without even running it by the rest of the family who may have had deep attachm
    via u/Looking4Lite4Life
  • 15
    Font - MaybeAWalrus • 20h Commander in Cheeks [251] N TA for selling it. But YTA for not offering to sell it to a family members first. Reply 46.7K
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  • 16
    Font - shesinsaneornot • 20h Exactly! There was a grand piano in my family and it was handed down to my brother. Neither of his kids were interested in playing piano and it got so out of tune it was going to cost thousands to fix it, so he decided to sell it. Then he called me and told me all this and asked if I had any objections (1 did not). He sold it but there were no hard feelings because he took a few minutes to let me know before he sold it. 1.4k
    via u/shesinsaneornot
  • 17
    Font - s2inno • 18h Partassipant [2] The difference is her great granny left it to her because she thought she would keep it in the family due to her passion for music - as stated in the will It also seems like a huge amount of money if she can pay off debts AND have enough left over for a down payment on a house. As a sibling, when the monetary value reaches 100k would this have changed how you had felt? I don't thinking the family had any intention of buying it, they feel jaded that she's prof
    via u/s2inno
  • 18
    Font - awoodby. 17h Partassipant [1] u sure it wasn't granny's intention? she had to know OP wasn't living in a mansion. maybe grandma wasn't expecting to pass until OP was a millionaire, but more likely she didn't care one way or the other and left it to OP. 4 69 д
    via u/awoodby
  • 19
    Font - Svazu • 17h Honestly older people who have had a comfortable life sometimes have no concept of those things. When my grandma died my family tried to give me any items or furniture I said I liked, even offering to store it for me "until I can use it". I'm disabled, can't afford a flat on my own and I live in an already furnished houseshare that I don't plan to leave any time soon. I'm never going to need a fancy china set for 12 people lol. 376
    via u/Svazu
  • 20
    Font - luna672 16h Partassipant [4] Yep. My grandma bought a massive chandelier as a wedding present for a couple who live in a small one bedroom apartment. It is a lovely gift.. 125
    via u/luna672
  • 21
    Font - Seven_bushes. 17h This hits home hard. My sibling took a very sentimental item after our mom passed. The problem is, this sibling has zero sentimentality or concern for any other family member except their current spouse and kids. The item was given away, not sold, without even checking with me to see if I wanted it first. Of course I wanted it! I'm still extremely; over that. ETA YTA 126
    via u/Seven_bushes
  • 22
    Font - sawdeanz 20h Last [9] A . ● Obviously you are legally free to sell it, but it's also understandable why the family would be upset. I feel like usually you would give the family the right of first refusal, in other words give them the opportunity to buy it off of you. So, slight YTA for that reason. ... Reply 298
    via u/sawdeanz
  • 23
    Font - Vodoe • 17h no slight about it. MASSIVE YTA. Grandma gave it to OP because she thought OP would treasure it. Legally it's OPs, but spiritually and morally it wasn't at all, because they received it under a false pretence. Lets say I sell my house, and purposefully choose to sell it to two young parents about to start a family. That's great! If, after signing the papers, it turned out they were paid actors and it was a corporation buying up loads of houses to rent, I'd be p Legally, its th
    via u/Vodoe

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