These Items Hiding in Your Home Could Be Worth a Lot of Money
TV shows like PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” and The History Channel’s “American Pickers” have intrigued viewers for years. It’s intoxicating to watch everyday Joes and Janes get serious dough for selling stuff that looks like, well, junk. In fact, I’ll bet that you’ve turned off your television at some point and thought, “I wonder if those boxes in the attic have anything of worth in them.”
You know what? They very well might. Read on to learn a little more about some common items hidden in your home that could be worth a lot of money.
1. Old Electronic Equipment
Because our technology keeps advancing by leaps and bounds year after year, we tend to think of old computers and video game consoles as worthless scrap.
But collectors pay a pretty penny for old Nintendo cartridges and ancient personal computers.
Although that dust-covered Commodore 64 might not send a child to college, it will might sell for a few hundred dollars.
2. Vintage Wedding Dresses
Sadly, most wedding dresses don’t hold their value all that well. The exception, though, is for satin and lace that hails from before the 1950s.
Enough brides long for such classic styles that your grandmother’s gown may sell well — at least if it’s in good condition and you’re willing to part with it!
3. Colored Pyrex Cookware
Okay, so let’s be honest: Most Pyrex pieces are only worth pennies. In fact, much of the appeal of this more-than-a-century-old glassware line lies in how its durability combines with a low price.
However, full sets, pieces in primary colors, and promotional items often appeal to Pyrex collectors, particularly if the items are in good condition.
4. First-Edition Books
This one is something of a no-brainer. Yes, like old cookware, many out-of-print books are only worth the paper they’re printed on.
Yet enough tales have cropped up about rare volumes going for outrageous sums that you owe it to yourself to peer at the copyright page before boxing up books for Goodwill.
5. VHS Tapes and Vinyl Records
Vinyl and VHS have acquired some cachet among hipsters in recent years, but there’s good reason for why these kinds of media may fetch a good price. Many music and movie fans prefer the experience offered by these older formats.
Additionally, the fact that they degrade over time means the more valuable ones generally increase in value.
Various online communities can help you determine if your tapes and records are worth anything.
6. Musical Instruments
Similarly, that old electric guitar case pushed into a basement corner may contain nothing more than a battered “beater” instrument.
However, the odd mint-condition Gibson has been known to surface from time to time — and to command a king’s ransom. Suss out several reputable local dealers to determine an instrument’s value before you even think of selling, though.
7. Loose LEGOs
Interestingly enough, LEGOs are the rare childhood toy that always seems to retain its value.
Collectors love to snatch up pre-built sets in pristine condition, and rare individual pieces can fetch an outsized price online. Yet even if all you have is a bundle of mismatched blocks, they’ll still command a respectable per-pound sum after they’ve been washed and bagged.
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