YOUR house could be loaded with hidden gems . . . you just need to know where to look.
This Morning’s moneymaking expert and pawnbroker Dan Hatfield says households have £76billion in unwanted items which usually get binned.
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So instead of letting these little treasures end up as landfill, untap their hidden value by turning them into cash.
Dan said: “We’re a nation of undersellers.
“It’s so important to do your research and find out exactly how much you are due.”
From Pyrex dishes to beanie babies, follow Dan’s guide to the treasure trove waiting to be discovered in your humble abode.
Game tech
ON average, £814 of old tech has been left languishing in drawers and cupboards.
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Mint condition old Super Nintendos and limited edition Game Boys in good nick can fetch hundreds.
Video games are also a great source of extra income.
The 1990s Mario Kart NES is bringing in more than £100 on Ebay at the moment.
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I’ve also seen the classic game Legend Of Zelda game go for up to £450.
Comics
OLD comics are collectable thanks to the nostalgia factor.
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The vast majority that are worth anything are American and tend to be editions when new hero or villain introduced.
A comic book introducing Spiderman for example sold for £3.2million on eBay in 2014.
However British comics can be worth a fair bit too.
First edition of the Dandy is worth £5,000 and if you have the original whistle that came as a free gift with it that’s worth £20,000 all in.
Furniture
OLD everyday furniture is now worth five times its value compared to ten years ago, according to eBay.
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This is largely down to an increased demand for sustainability and more households wanting to recycle and upcycle furniture.
Look at sites such as eBay and Etsy for an idea of what kind of furniture is selling well.
It’s not just old oak and elm wardrobes and dressers which are doing a roaring trade.
Even early Ikea furniture and homewares no longer in production are worth more than their original cost.
Ikea Skamt vases – originally just 75p – can fetch up to £15 each, while multicoloured sets can reach £90.
Pyrex dishes
EVERYONE’S gran or mum has some of these glass dishes – and even the most basic type can fetch you around £50 to £100.
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It’s no surprise that a lot of these get thrown away, but they have an ever-increasing cult following.
Kitsch is often key to hidden treasures – so the more retro your dishes, the more they can fetch.
There are a few particular ones you should look out for.
The 1961 promo gold gourmet casserole dish can go for £1,500.
And a Lucky In Love patterned casserole dish can reach up to £4,800.
The more garish and old- fashion-ed your item is, the better.
Vintage toys
EIGHTIES and Nineties kids are now all grown up and have disposable income.
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So when it comes to toys which were popular in their heyday, they can complete the collection.
A Princess Diana commemorative Beanie sold for £60,000 recently, and a Peanut Royal Elephant Beanie can be worth £4,000.
Original Furbies will fetch £700 if they are in pristine condition.
Film merchandise can also make you a buck or two.
Original Jurassic Park action figures are really popular and a T-Rex figurine has been known to go for £3,000.
Mint condition Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures can get you anywhere between £200 and £800.
A Polly Pocket Partytime Stamper can earn you a cool £5,000.
Sewing machines
HUNT out that old sewing machine that’s lying untouched in your attic.
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Thanks to sustainability and the cost of living crisis, everyone wants to make and mend now.
Sewing machines are trading for hundreds of pounds.
Keep your eyes peeled for a vintage Singer Featherweight, model 222k.
One of these is going for £750 at the moment.
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 Millennium Falcon set from 2007 is currently going for £7,000 which is 20 times more than its original value.
As with any collectable it’s value depends on the condition,
If your LEGO is missing pieces or is clearly very used you will see a decrease in value.
Items still in original boxes will go for a lot more.
Money
YOU can make new money from well, old money.
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Old currency and especially limited edition 50 pence pieces can be worth much more than their monetary value.
A 2012 5p can go for anywhere from £40 to £100 each.
Meanwhile the Kew Garden 2009 coin can reach up to £200.
They are all still in circulation to be sure to check your wallet in case you’ve got one already.
Royal doulton
THOSE china statuettes you used to see on mantelpieces everywhere are now worth a fair bit.
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Surprisingly, demand for the whimsical figures is coming from Japanese and Middle Eastern markets as well as the US.
Buyers love the kitsch factor – especially statuettes from the Eighties and Nineties.
A Romeo & Juliet figurine from 1990 can go for up to £1,000.
Even the ones that have been gathering dust on your nan’s side table could sell for £200 to £300.
Resale values depend on how many of each design were made at the time and their condition.
I suspect thousands of these have been chucked in the bin, but they are worth a fortune if you find the right market.
