30 Valuable Items Around Our Homes That Are Probably Collecting Dust
Believe it or not, it is possible to get rich without having to work hard. No, we’re not fooling you. No this is not clickbait. We all feel the need to collect things, and sometimes we forget what we have collected or what is lying around our house. There are a lot of articles collecting dust in regular household around the world that may be of no use, but might be worth a lot of money. Maybe what used to be special to use as a child or teenager is now an extremely valuable collector’s item. Don’t believe us? Then let us introduce you to 30 things that are probably collecting dust in your house that you can sell to earn some cash!
Perfume Bottles
What do you do with old perfume bottles? Well, if you are like most people, then you throw them to the garbage. But, did you know they can be of a lot of value depending on the size and material of the bottle? Yes, that’s right. There’s a high demand for empty perfume bottles.
Perfumes usually run for years. In fact, a 100ml bottle can stay for up to two years. Most of the regular bottles may not be of much use, but custom-made or rare bottles can earn you up to $200 each. You can check on the International Perfume Bottle Association to find out how much your perfume bottle is worth.
Books
If you have a public library, then you might want to take a visit, and go straight for the rare books that have a fan or cult following. Believe it or not, the first edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is claimed to be worth $6,500 today… Talk about an expensive read!
However, don’t get too excited about these rarities. Most of these books and first-editions are usually bought by well-off fans and museums. If you have one, then head over to Amazon or eBay and put it up for sale. If you market it properly, you will be able to make a decent amount of money.
Video Games
Some people make thousands just by streaming games, and some take-home hundreds by winning tournaments. You don’t have to do all this if you want to make money. All you have to do is look for old game titles lying somewhere in your home.
Video games can earn you money in a lot of ways. Games like Marvel Vs Capcom, Doom, and XBAND are said to be worth over $200 each. You will find some of these games on the internet, the demand for real CDs or DVDs is still pretty high.
Quarters
Many don’t know that old coins have more value than they are originally worth. Take quarters for instance. Have a look at your loose change, and see if you’re lucky enough to find Kansas quarters. In 2005, they were made illegal, and are said to be worth $100 today.
These coins are pretty easy to identify. Funny story actually: A coin pressing machine malfunctioned, causing the machine to print ‘In God We Rust’ instead of ‘In God We Trust’ on the coins. Other than this, some other rare coins may also be in demand. So, look around for old quarters and see if the tables turn for you.
Gaming Consoles
A new version of PlayStation hit the market in 2020 selling for just under $600. The PlayStation 5 is considered one of the most expensive gaming consoles out there, yet did you know there are some vintage consoles that are still around which can earn you over $1,500, even if they do not work! Yes, you read it right.
A special Xbox, One Titanfall Development Team Edition, was recently sold to a lucky user on eBay for around $5,100. You might not be lucky enough to have this limited console because it is so rare, but others including Commodore 64 GS can also fetch good money for ya.
Typewriters
Typewriters may look good, but the fact remains that they are extremely inefficient and do nothing but take up space. If you have an old model of a typewriter lying around, then it may be a good idea to consider selling it.
You can take $300 and $600 to your pocket based on the model you own. Buyers mostly search for vintage typewriters for their aesthetic and look. You can easily auction one off online on websites such as eBay. Other than this, consider visiting the nearest antique shop, and figure out the true estimate of your typewriter.
Vintage notebooks
If you have had an old notebook lying around for years, then take out a few minutes and read it. Believe it or not, some old notebooks can be worth thousands depending on what they contain and what they are made of. A few years ago, a man found a diary in a forest that contained the life story of the writer.
The diary was sold for thousands and received immense attention and acclaim. Of course, the diary has to be valuable for it to sell well. And the story must be somewhat interesting. So, look for a notebook that contains something original that people would like to read.
Really old phones
Technology is changing the world at an incredible pace. Smart phones are reinventing themselves with better cameras, storage, and performance. Yet, vintage phones sell at a higher price since they’re extremely rare. Companies use old mobile phones for study purposes, and museums like to keep ‘em for obvious reasons.
So, if any of you have the first generation of phones lying around somewhere, then consider putting it up for sale. Other than this, your old, wired telephone set may also be in demand. In fact, some movie producers are often looking for old phones to make movies look authentic.
Postage Stamps
Over 20 million people across the world collect stamps, and many are willing to pay hundreds to get their hands on some rare postage stamps. If you have some old and vintage stamps lying around the house, then consider putting ‘em up for sale.
Most people usually want discontinued stamps or rare stamps that are issued on special occasions. We suggest take a gander at groups and pages dedicated to stamp collectors so that you can easily find a seller or buyer. An old stamp can easily earn you up to $50, and some rare ones are said to be worth up to $500.
Photographs
Vintage photos are in demand, especially if they have a story to tell. You will find a section dedicated to pre-40’s photos on eBay, so go through your personal collection and see if you have something the world would like to see,
such as a much-loved celebrity in the background or a monument we admire.
A few years ago, a man purchased a vintage photograph from a random antique shop for only $2. It’s one of the only two photos of Henry McCarty, popularly known back then as ‘Billy the Kid.’ Today, the picture is said to be worth millions.
Greeting Cards
Since we are living in the digital era, most people now send and receive digital greeting cards. Yet, the demand for traditional cards, especially vintage ones, is still pretty high. Some people love to collect greeting cards that contain special messages.
Plus, if they have been sent or received by someone famous, they are consider very valuable. An old Christmas card that may not be of much value to you today can easily fetch you about $50. However, we suggest you keep ‘em if the cards are of emotional value to you, obviously.
Old Bags
If you’re rich and own designer bags, such as Hermes Birkins, then you can easily earn over $20,000 just by selling it. The demand for vintage designer bags is pretty high. Some 20-year-old bags can sell for a higher price than for what you bought it for.
Most women get sick of wearing the same bag, so they end up putting it somewhere in a corner to collect dust. Do not make this mistake. However, they need to be in good condition in order to sell well. Most people just purchase designer bags to wear ‘em and flaunt ‘em.
VHS Tapes
This is the era of Netflix, yet VHS tapes are still worth a lot. Most kids today have no idea what a VHS tape is, how they work, or what they look like. In fact, most households do not even own a VCR anymore.
But, if you have a first edition of some classic movies like The Lion King, then it can fetch you a good amount of cash. In fact, a 1991 special edition of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast just happened to sell for $1,000 on eBay. Other than this, rare and controversial titles also sell well.
Dolls
Almost all households around the world have at least one doll lying around somewhere. While most new models will barely earn you anything, some old and discontinued models can be worth a lot. In fact, an ‘out of print,’ American Girl doll can fetch over $5,000.
So, check your house, and see if you have old dolls collecting dust somewhere. Most people buy old dolls since they remind them of their childhood. After all, nostalgia really get the best of us. So start searching, put your old dolls up for sale, and see how much they can bring you.
Musical instruments
If you have a musical instrument such as a guitar that has been played or used by a popular artist, then get ready to laugh all the way to the bank, since they can fetch you thousands of dollars – way more than you would have imagined.
Pink Floyd’s, David Gilmour, was recently highlighted for selling his $21.5 million dollar guitar collection. If you own rare guitars, then you’re in luck. Other than this, classic pianos are in demand as well since they look good and can add tons of value to a room.
Comics
Whether you’re a Marvel fan, or a DC fanatic, you need to be aware that old comics are a hot item and can earn you thousands. When we say old, we mean comics originally introduced in the ’70s or ’80s. Comics that star today’s popular characters like Spiderman and Batman fetch big numbers.
In fact, the comic that introduced Black Panther to the world is said to be worth $1,000 today. It went up in value once the movie hit the theatres and became a box office hit. The market for comics is huge, and most old comics are not even available online, hence their high demand.
Autographs
This is the era of selfies and filters, and very few people actually take out a pen to ask for autographs, making them a pretty rare sight to see today. So, if you have an autographed item lying around, then it may be worth hundreds.
Items signed by late artists such as Michael Jackson and John Lennon are worth plenty since they have cult followings of people willing to spend hundreds and thousands to get their hands on an item signed by their favorite star. We suggest you sell these items on fan clubs belonging to the star they have been signed by.
Pokémon Cards
Remember the time when we used to invest a lot in Pokémon cards? They may not be as popular today, but they’re definitely worth more than they used to be. If you have complete sets in good condition then you can easily earn a few hundred dollars.
Don’t believe us? Let us tell you about a lucky man who sold a holographic Charizard for $11,999. However, such rare cards will have to be examined by an expert to verify they’re authenticity. If you’re lucky, and your cards are rare and in good condition, then you can earn thousands.
China sets
If your mother loved collecting china sets, then you may have a reason to thank her. You may not be fond of seeing old china resting on your dinner table, but some people may be willing to shell out hundreds to get their hands on what you consider useless.
You will have to take the goods to an antique dealer to get them appraised. Since china sets are durable, some can be over a hundred years old. If you have vintage sets such as these, then expect them to make you a few thousand dollars.
Action figures
The world is crazy for action figures, and most production companies have realized this very early on. However, when the first Star Wars movie came out, there were no toys ready for sale. Nobody expected the movie to be the kind of hit it turned out to be.
Kenner had to quickly start production, so the toys finally hit the shelves a few days after the movie’s release, and they sold like hotcakes. If you have one of these lying around, then expect to earn up to $10,000. However, it’s not just Star Wars, other rare action figures may also sell amazingly well.
Vinyl Records
Some people love to collect vinyl records, and they’re willing to spend thousands on some real gems. Check Amazon, and you will come across dozens of sellers selling vinyl records. One lucky seller even earned $13,750 for a self-titled Beatles rarity.
The worth of a record depends on its condition and the artist.. Unlike other items on this list, a vinyl record has to work for it to fetch good numbers. So, search around and see if you have some vinyl records lying around. They’re obviously more useful than you thought they were.
Paintings
We all know that old paintings by the likes of da Vinci are worth millions; we can’t even touch them. But some classics designed by some lesser-known names can also fetch good numbers. However, it’s a tricky business since paintings are among the most pirated pieces of art.
You will have to get the painting inspected by an expert (or a few) for authenticity purposes before you put it up for sale. The artist doesn’t have to be recognized for a painting to sell well. He or she only has to be a prominent figure.
Old computers
There are two kinds of people; some throw away what they do not need, and some keep useless items stored in an empty room and don’t touch them. If you belong to the latter and have old computers lying around or stored somewhere in your house, then it’s time to get moving.
If you own a first edition computer from a known manufacturer, then keep your fingers crossed. Computers from some popular brands like Apple can earn up close to $900,000 believe it or not. But, of course, such rare gems wouldn’t be lying around unattended.
Wine
Now, this is a tricky one. We do not know of many people brave enough to keep old wine untouched, but if you come across some old bottles of wine, and you have no interest in galloping it down, then consider putting it up for sale.
When discussing wine, the older, the better. It is not uncommon for people to buy wine and forget about it. Most people keep wine bottles in the cellar, hence it may be a good idea to have a look at your cellar and see what you have there.
Weapons
The market for antique firearms is pretty big, especially since most states do not require the buyer to own a license in order to purchase antique guns and other weapons. We suggest giving a call to your grandpa to see what he might have lying around.
Everything from an old rifle to a vintage bow and arrow can be worth hundreds, even if it doesn’t work. However, guns need to be really old – above 100 years – for them to sell at a good price. Some well-known models can earn up to $50,000.
Ornaments
If you’ve got old Christmas decorations lying around somewhere in your house, then it’s time to rip open the boxes and see what you have collecting dust. Everything from wind chimes, antique ornaments, to hand-blown glass ornaments can be of value.
Other than this, antique pieces used to decorate your house may also be of greater value today. If you’re someone with these lying around, then it may be a good idea to visit a specialist and get them appraised to get a price estimate. This way you’ll know where to turn to if you ever need money.
Watches and clocks
The opinion on vintage watches appears to be unclear, but we can’t deny the fact that they are worth thousands, especially if they belong to valuable brands such as Rolex and Hublot. Other than this, vintage clocks are also highly valuable and sought-out.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that thousands of people visit clock museums, and people are willing to spend thousands to own a part of history. However, when it comes to watches, people usually opt for rare gems that hold some history. So look around your house and see what you may have.
Board Games
Every family has a collection of board games in their house. Search through them, and see if you have something that others may be interested in buying. Focus on the antiques. Most buyers are interested in old games that are in good condition.
A few years ago, a well-kept Monopoly game in the middle of Atlantic City earned just under $146,500 at an auction. Some other board games that are heavily in demand include Fortune, Swift Meats Major League Baseball Game, Coromandel Games Compendium, Be a Manager, Fox and Geese, and The War of the Ring Collector’s Edition.
Money bills
We discussed quarters earlier in this article, but do not be upset if you can’t find any lying around the house, any as old money bills can also be just as valuable. Old American currency and notes from other countries should not be overlooked.
In fact, an old, $10 bill can earn you over $100 depending on its condition, year, and country. Finding a buyer for old currency notes can be difficult, but if you have some lying around, then consider posting an ad on eBay and other such websites and wait for your phone to buzz.
Stickers and labels
This may come as a surprise to some, but vintage stickers can fetch a good price in the secondary market. It is not uncommon for people to buy a pack of stickers and never use them. If you have some vintage stickers lying around, then it’s time to go through the pile and see what you have.
Stickers from the ‘80s can earn around $50, which may not be much compared to other items on this list, but something is better than nothing. However, unlike most other items on this list, stickers have to be either ne or unused for them to be sold.