They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Real treasures to be found nestled in big piles of random odds and ends. Some vintage items can even be worth hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. A rummager with a keen eye can be poised to make a comfortable living doing the thing they love, with a little bit of knowledge on their side. Here’s our list of some of over looked and undervalued items at garage sales, yard sales, and flea markets.
Old Glass Bottles and Containers
Keep your eyes peeled when out rummaging the sales for vintage glass bottles and containers. It may not matter particularly what the bottles were for either. Old whiskey bottles are a popular vintage collector’s item, but some old medicine bottles, soda bottles or household cleaner containers fetch a pretty penny in the right market. Sometimes it only matters if a bottle is interesting looking or rare. If the price is low enough, the turnaround could be very impressive with enough luck, or skill.
Vintage Children’s Toys
Flea markets and yard sales are often loaded with toys whose owner’s have long since grown up and abandoned them. Parents with an empty nest often breathe a sigh of relief when they can clear out a whole childhood’s worth of unused toys and clutter. This can be a treasure trove of vintage toys, action figures, board games, and video games. Some of the video games we grew up with only two or three decades ago can be worth a lot of money. Don’t forget to check the toy pile for some valuable vintage toys.
Vintage Clothing
The global consignment shop we all call the internet, is a great place to resell vintage clothing. The price tags on some of yesterday’s styles can be mind blowing and if you know what’s selling you can be poised to make a small fortune on the right items. Most people are either unaware or just unmotivated to do the research about the vintage clothing market, but awesome deals can be found rummaging through the piles of old clothes. Keep your eyes peeled for vintage jackets, hats, and shoes.
Vintage Tools
“They just don’t make them like they used too!” Who hasn’t heard that line before when talking about a tool that didn’t hold up. With cheaper and more efficient production methods being developed every day, there is actually a lot of truth to the sentiment. Many times the new stuff just doesn’t hold a candle to the old trusty tools. Did you know that people will pay top dollar for vintage tools? Be on the lookout for hand tools with brand names you recognize or tools that seem well taken care of and sturdy. Take the aesthetics of the tools into account as well. Some people just want to hang those old tools up for display in the barn or garage. A good vintage looking paint job will catch a lot of eyes, and usually fetch top dollar.
Vintage Housewares
Everything from old plates and glasses and silverware sets, to vintage appliances and furniture can be worth more than it is priced for at yard sales. From truly antique items made before the industrial revolution, all the way up to the retro items from the 70’s and 80’s, there is a market for vintage houseware items. Keep your eyes peeled for items that hang well on the wall, make an excellent decoration or are great conversation pieces. On more modern items, condition is important, find pieces that are functional and have little wear and tear.
Vintage Automotive Items
There are plenty of over looked automotive items that are valuable to the right collector. Classic cars and old signs can be worth a fortune, but commonly over looked items include vintage fluids and cleaning products for cars whose cans. Look for cans that are still legible and in good shape. Also look for parts like headlights, taillights, and hood ornaments. Remember automotive nostalgia is huge and even many of the lesser items are still valuable.
Be sure to keep an eye out for these valuable finds at garage sales. Do your research online if you are unsure the value of a potential item. Often when dealing with antiques the eye doesn’t lie. Some items will bring a good price solely because they look cool, even if nobody knows what it is they’re looking at. Trust your gut, enjoy the hunting, and good luck!
