Buying a piano

Speak to the teacher. I have a lot of students who begin on electric/digital pianos - fine up to around grade 5. But I'm fussy about which ones they get and I only tolerate them because a) small flats and b) really bad second-hand pianos. My own teacher made us fork out £3k for a new upright when I started, but I was 11yo and working for grade 7 on another instrument.

Can you ask his teacher? If I wanted a new piano I would ask my teacher and/or piano tuner where to go. I know that my teacher knows someone who sells good pianos but doesn't have a shop.

I suppose it depends on whether you want a new one, fairly new one or an older one.

I know little about it tbh but suspect it is easier to buy the wrong one if you are buying an old one. Mine is old and was re-conditioned/re-strung about 20 years ago when I bought it. It is lovely, my tuner really likes it (told me not to think about selling it when I considered buying a new (old) one) but the fact that it is so nice is down to luck really as I didn't seek anyone's advice at the time.