13 Random Things That Are Worth A Lot Of Money – All In Your Home
Your parents are selling your childhood home. So, your dad asked you to help him clear out the attic. Boy, is it confusing! Nostalgia kicked in and now you can’t figure out what to keep and what to toss aside for the garage sale. Here’s a pointer—there might be some random things that are worth a lot of money!
For you, the real challenge is to let go of memories attached to a Boy Scout badge or an American Girl doll. You don’t care how much you make out of it. And bam! You just lost a few hundred thousand dollars.
It’s not your fault that you thought that old guitar collecting dust in the corner is pure junk. Little did you know it’s a Gibson Les Paul ‘59 burst and it could make you rich! That’s just too bad. Let’s make sure you can filter the rare items out of useless junk and sell them for what they are truly worth.
13 Old Things That Are Worth A Fortune Today
You probably own some old things that are worth a fortune today. It could be your grandfather’s pocket watch. Maybe it’s an early edition of The Joy of Cooking lying around in your mother’s kitchen.
The next time you plan to spring clean the house, don’t be too quick to discard everything you don’t use anymore. You need patience to recognize the diamond surrounded by ordinary stones. If anything catches your attention, assess its condition and get it evaluated before putting a price label on it.
We have compiled a list of random things that are worth a lot of money to make the process easier for you:
1. Rare error coins
Did you have any idea that manufacturing defects can skyrocket a coin’s value? If the design is embossed twice or the coin is made of a different metal, it becomes a limited-edition sensation. These are items wanted by collectors. Rare coins like 1943-S Lincoln Wheat Cent Penny can sell for $2.3 million! If you dug out a few coins from an old box of junk, what are you waiting for? Get those checked right now!
2. First edition books
Books are the most valuable items in our homes whether they have a resale value or not. However, we might be talking big bucks if you have some first-edition books in the old shelf. Collectors would pay you for classics and high-demand books by famous authors especially if it’s a signed copy. A rare first edition of Pride and Prejudice was auctioned at $1.2million. Can you imagine?
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3. Vintage typewriters
Recently, I was doing some research for my great-grandfather’s biography. That’s when I found an old typewriter in his stuff. It’s a Remington. I looked into eBay to assess its current market value and discovered that antique Remington models from the 1910s and 1920s are listed for $2200–$2500.
I had no intention of giving it up. But you can sell for a small fortune if you have a beautiful art-deco typewriter in working condition. Of course, it has to be very old and rare and preferably made by brands like Underwood, Royal, and Olympia.
4. Christmas ornaments
Have you got your hands on a tin full of retro Christmas ornaments? These pretty pieces can easily bring you $15–$50. But if you are lucky enough to own the vintage Shiny Brite glass ornaments or the German Kugels, those babies can go up to $200–$300. I just caught a custom Radko ornament wreath priced at $275 on Etsy. So, fingers crossed!
5. Age-old cameras
Vintage cameras are one of the most expensive things that are useless unless you are a photography enthusiast. My friend Lucas is a sucker for retro camera models. He recently paid $10,000 for a Leica M6 limited edition.
Some of the Polaroid, Nikon, Hasselblad, and Contax models released between the 1910s to 1970s can be worth a lot of money depending on their condition and availability of lenses and films. Any chance there’s one in your attic too?
6. Vintage clothing
You might find a good old letterman jacket or a Rolling Stone concert t-shirt from the 80s tucked in your closet. Now they are not the right size nor do they fit your style. You can easily make a few hundred dollars in exchange for them.
If you are aiming for a higher amount, you may have to give up an iconic Givenchy couture or Chanel purse for something like $5000-$10,000.
7. Vinyl records
Vintage vinyls are absolute gold mines. Being sick of Spotify ads, more and more people are shifting back to vinyl these days for the personal touch. Some records of popular artists are in high demand.
Just take a quick scan through your collection if there are any Dylan, Beatles, Elvis, or Led Zeppelin records. In 2015, a man sold a copy of The Beatles’ The White Album for a whopping $790,000 which he originally bought for $3. Aren’t you a little excited to try your luck?
8. Old watches
Collecting is such a passion that pushes people to spend on things that cost a lot of money. Antique watches are one of those expensive rare items. You are looking at more than $15,000 with a 1960 Rolex Submariner or a ‘76 Patek Philippe. No matter which brand you are selling, the price often depends on the product’s condition, purchase record, and rarity.
9. Mint condition toys and board games
Have you noticed how the nerdy scientists in Big Bang theory are always running after mint-in action figures? Captain Spock, G. I. Joe, or Ironman toys are timeless for many collectors. They would pay you anywhere between $100–$500 for one in its original packaging. The same goes for a 1986 Samantha Parkington doll or a deluxe edition of Scrabble.
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10. Antique furniture
Let’s hear it from Tracy James, a consultant from Arizona who thrifted two chairs for $215. She writes on Quora, “I saw a label on one of the chairs and researched it. Turns out I had purchased some Hancock & Moore pieces made in Hickory, North Carolina that originally sold for around $11,500.00!” Guys, she is not exaggerating. A classic Victorian parlor chair or a Colonial revival desk are valuable items you can sell for a small fortune.
11. Fine China set
Is there a vintage China set in your family probably inherited from your grandparents? If you want to get rid of it for space crunch or to make money, you are in luck today.
Beautiful patterns of Lenox or Wedgwood China often sell for $500–$2000 at online auctions. Don’t waste your time. Post a picture and start the bidding war!
12. Retro concert posters
Of all the things in your attic that may be worth a lot of money, band posters are the least suspicious. How would you guess that a decaying piece of paper can be sold for thousands of dollars?
And if it’s well-preserved, you will be making money hand over fist. See if your dad saved any of his old posters or tickets from The Beatles or Led Zeppelin concerts.
13. Comic books
Don’t we all have a dusty stack of old comics boxed up somewhere in the garage? If you are trying to make some money selling clutters, go hunt them out. Comics are one of the most coveted items wanted by collectors. Bidding over rare, mint-in comic books often goes insane.
In 2010, a family in financial crisis discovered a copy of Action Comics #1 (where Superman appears for the first time) in their home. They put it up for auction via ComicConnect and earned $436000. Who knows you might be sitting on a fortune too!
That concludes our list of random things that are worth a lot of money. If you do find something priceless in your attic, you may consider saving it for your personal collection or protecting it as a family heirloom. A gallery or library might benefit greatly if you donate the item. Choose your path wisely. Make sure that your prized possession doesn’t fall into the wrong hands for a few hundred bucks.
