Are there priceless items in
your cupboards and closets? The answer could be yes! From priceless paintings
to retro comics, you could have more money in your home than you think. Experts
at Mental Floss remind readers to find treasure in, “collectibles of any kind”
and even consider taking a second look at “those dusty old toys and sickeningly
retro Pyrex casserole dishes your grandmother used to warm up meatloaf in can
bring in hundreds of dollars.” If you are ready to sort the gems from the junk
in your home, here is a list of 5 commonly uncommon items worth a
second look before they’re tossed in the trash.
Vinyl Records
What’s old is spinning around
to make a comeback, especially when it comes to vinyl records. Your vinyl
collection could be worth thousands in the right condition. Music historians at
loudersound.com say the range of what the records are worth falls in two
categories “some have an evergreen value, while other valuable vinyl records
fluctuate in price depending on buying trends, band anniversaries and other
notable events, including the death of an artist.”
Board Games
Check your closets and attics
for board games that could give your bank account a boost. Personal finance
expert Cynthia Measom mentioned some sets are worth close to $1,000 or more. A still-sealed 1974 anniversary edition of
Monopoly was valued just under $2,500 and in 2011 a craftsman created a
gold-plated Monopoly board and set valued more than $2 million, according to
Smithsonian Magazine.
Books and Cookbooks
Don’t judge your books by the
cover. Take a closer look at your book collection to see if it includes valuable
items worth more than you expect. Interior design expert John Linden says, “a first-edition
copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses, for example, is valued at around $8,000.”
If there are vintage cookbooks in the mix with your book collection they could
also be worth more than expected, even if they are well used.
Lunch Boxes
If you still have your
daughter or son’s elementary school lunch boxes in the cabinet, keep an eye out
for items that may be worth more than you expect. Self-proclaimed history and
sci-fi nerd Alex Daniel wrote, very few “items encapsulate the pop culture
obsessions of their era better than lunch boxes.” The value on these small unique
time capsules can jump in value over time. Surprising items like “a Jetsons
1963 lunch box can pull in $1,650 these days, while a rare 1954 Superman box
can be worth as much as $16,000.”
Tools
Before you replace your tool
set or that of a loved one, check to see if the old set is a classic coveted by
collectors. Experts at BestLife.com say “[c]lassic tools fetch a pretty
impressive price, and that's especially true of a few particularly high-value
items. For example, a Chaplin No. 1 plane recently went for $7,700, while a
rare John Deere Wrench (of which just 100 were made) sold for $16,500…”
As you clean your attic and
closet storage, remember to open old boxes especially those that haven’t been
opened from move-to-move. If tackling the attic feels like a daunting task,
consider hiring experts like Caring Transitions that can help you clear and
declutter your space in addition to finding a happy home for hidden gem
valuable items with tools like CTBIDS.
Sources