YOUR house can be loaded with hidden gems. . . you just have to know where to look.
This morning Moneymaking expert and pawnbroker Dan Hatfield says households have £76bn worth of unwanted items that are usually thrown away.
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So instead of letting these little treasures end up in the landfill, you can exploit their hidden value by turning them into cash.
Dan said, “We are a nation of undersellers.
“It’s so important to do your research and figure out exactly how much you’ll be paying.”
From Pyrex dishes to beanie babies, follow Dan’s guide to the treasure trove waiting to be discovered in your humble abode.
Game technology
Average £814 old technology languished in drawers and cupboards.
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Mint condition old Super Nintendos and limited edition Game Boys can fetch hundreds.
Video games are also a great source of additional income.
The 1990s Mario Kart NES is currently fetching over £100 on Ebay.
I’ve also seen the classic Legend Of Zelda game go for up to £450.
Comics
OLD comics are collectible thanks to the nostalgia factor.
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The vast majority that is worth anything is American and are usually editions when a new hero or villain is introduced.
A comic book introducing Spiderman, for example, sold on eBay in 2014 for £3.2 million.
However, British comics can also be worth quite a bit.
The first edition of the Dandy is worth £5,000 and if you have the original whistle included as a free gift, that’s worth £20,000 all in.
Furniture
OLD everyday furniture is now worth five times its value compared to a decade ago, according to eBay.com.
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This is largely due to an increased demand for sustainability and more households wanting to recycle and upcycle furniture.
Check out sites like eBay and Etsy to get an idea of what kind of furniture sell well.
It’s not just old cabinets and sideboards made of oak and elm that do well.
Even early Ikea furniture and housewares that are no longer in production are worth more than their original price.
ikea Skamt vases – originally just 75p – can fetch up to £15 each, while multicolored sets can reach £90.
Pyrex dishes
EVERYONE’S grandma or mum has some of these glass bowls – and even the simplest type can set you back between £50 and £100.
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It’s no surprise that many of these are thrown out, but they have an ever-growing cult following.
Kitsch is often the key to hidden treasures – so the more retro your dishes are, the more they can fetch.
There are a few specific ones to watch out for.
The 1961 promo gold gourmet casserole can go for £1,500.
And a Lucky In Love pattern casserole can cost up to £4,800.
The more flashy and old-fashioned your item is, the better.
Vintage toys
Kids from the 80s and 90s are all adults now and have disposable income.
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So when it comes down to it toys that were popular in their heyday, they can complete the collection.
A princess Diana commemorative beanie has recently sold for £60,000, and a Peanut Royal Elephant Beanie can be worth £4,000.
Original Furbies will fetch £700 if they are in pristine condition.
Movie merchandise can also set you back a few bucks.
Original Jurassic Park action figures are very popular and a T-Rex figurine has been known to cost £3,000.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures in perfect condition can fetch between $200 and $800.
A Polly Pocket Partytime Stamper can set you back a cool £5,000.
Sewing machines
HUNT that old sewing machine lying untouched in your attic.
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Thanks to sustainability and the cost of living crisiseveryone wants to make and fix now.
Sewing machines trade for hundreds of pounds.
Keep your eyes peeled for a vintage Singer Featherweight, model 222k.
One of these is currently going for £750.
Lego
LEGO is one of the most collected items in the world – and limited edition and rare builds will always sell well.
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A Star Wars 2007 Millennium Falcon set is currently going for £7,000 which is 20 times more than its original value.
As with any collectible, value will vary depending on condition,
If your LEGO parts are missing or clearly heavily used, you will see a decrease in value.
Items still in their original boxes will go for much more.
Money
YOU can make new money with good, old money.
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Ancient currency and especially limited edition 50 pence pieces can be worth much more than their monetary value.
A 2012 5p can go anywhere from £40 to £100 each.
Meanwhile the Kew garden The 2009 coin can go up to £200.
They are all still in circulation, so check your wallet if you already have one.
Royal Doulton
THOSE porcelain figurines that used to be everywhere on mantelpieces are now worth quite a bit.
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Surprisingly, the whimsical figures are in demand Japanese and Middle East markets like the US.
Buyers love the kitsch factor – especially figurines from the 1980s and 1990s.
A 1990 Romeo & Juliet figurine can go up to £1,000.
Even the ones that have collected dust on your grandmother’s side table can be sold for £200 to £300.
Resale value depends on how many of each design were made at the time and their condition.
I suspect thousands of these have been thrown in the trash, but they are worth a fortune if you find the right market.