Clearing out your house and getting rid of old possessions you no longer want or need can be a time-consuming task that many of us put off.
It’s easy to forget about items stored in the back of a cupboard or in a dark corner of the garage. However, if you take the time to have a clear-out, you might uncover some unexpected treasures.
Many of the old items in your home could sell for a significant amount of money. It may be worth checking to see if you can make some space in your home while also boosting your savings.
Here are five forgotten items in your home that could be worth a fortune.
1. Old toys
If you have kids or grandkids, you might have some old toys stored in the house. You may assume they’re worthless but certain toys could be collector’s items that sell for a large sum.
For example, Yahoo Finance reports:
- A vintage Troll doll sold for £190
- An Easy-Bake Oven could be worth £315
- An original Furby may sell for as much as £787.
Not all toys will be worth this much, but you might be surprised at how valuable certain items are. If you find any toys when clearing out your home, it may be worth checking sites like eBay to see what similar items have sold for in the past.
2. Cameras
Most of us have high-definition cameras on our phones. Despite this, film cameras are still very popular among photographers, and if you have some in your home, it may be worth selling them.
The precise value will depend on the model, age, and condition of the camera but some can be very valuable.
According to Camera Recycle, the Leica M3, first released in 1954, could sell for as much as £3,000 if it’s in good condition.
Others might not be worth so much, but if you have several different cameras, you may want to research them online or visit a specialist shop to have them valued.
3. Watches
As well as being a fashion item, watches can be an excellent investment piece as they often hold their value well. If you have some old watches at home, they could be worth more than you realise.
Most of us already know that famous brands such as Rolex are expensive. However other brands that could be valuable include:
- Omega
- Longines
- Zenith
- IWC
- Daytona
- Submariner
If you have watches of your own, or have perhaps inherited some, a vintage watch specialist could tell you whether they’re worth anything. Even if they are not working properly, you could have them repaired before selling them.
4. Furniture
You may already know that vintage furniture can be expensive. Yet, you don’t need pieces from the Victoria era to earn good money.
In fact, there is a strong market for mid-century furniture manufactured between 1945 and 1970. These pieces are popular for several reasons. First, the quality of the manufacturing is very good compared with more modern furniture. The mid-century style has also come back into fashion, so many people are willing to pay a premium for furniture from the period.
Buyers often like to upcycle old furniture so even if you have damaged items, you might still be able to sell them.
5. Books
Most old books are worth very little. However, a first edition – a copy from the original print run of a book – could be very expensive and collectors often seek them out.
For instance, according to We Buy Books, the first edition of Ulysses by James Joyce is worth £275,000.
This is one of the most valuable books and others may not sell for this much, but many of them are still worth thousands.
The value of the books is largely dependent on the condition, and if they are signed they could be worth far more.
Some books will have “first edition” or “first printing” written on the copyright page near the front. Otherwise, you may want to check the dates and see whether the printing date matches the copyright date, as this could indicate a first edition.
If you’re unsure, the staff in a second-hand book shop will likely be able to help you identify whether you have any first editions.
Get in touch
If you make some additional income from selling any of these items, we can help you decide how best to use that wealth.
Please get in touch to find out how our team of VouchedFor Top Rated planners could help today.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.