Lots of things put us off decluttering: the time, the decisions, the mess… But, when you’re working through a lot of clutter, there’s also a real fear you could be chucking out something valuable. You hush the niggling voice in the back of your mind and tell yourself to push on, but it’s heartbreaking when you later find out the voice was right…
A colleague recounted a tale of a Ringo Starr vinyl record they donated to a local charity shop. They later looked up its value to find it selling for as much as £200 on eBay. They returned to the charity shop to see if they could buy it back, but it was already gone. There are many such stories – some much more regretful than others. It goes to show how often this happens.
To help put your mind at rest, I’ve rounded up some hidden gems found among the clutter, so you know what to look out for. If you come across any of these seven things, think twice before you toss them aside.
1. Old books
Books can be tricky to declutter, especially when they hold sentimental value, but they still need sorting through. Before you take any to the charity shop, you should always check if there are any hidden gems first.
Paperbacks that are widely available won’t hold much value, but study books, cookbooks and decorative hardbacks might be worth more, so it’s worth checking these individually. Websites such as sell.worldofbooks.com and its app let you scan or input the barcode to quickly check the value.
For older books, look out for early (or even first) editions and copies that are signed by the author. Children’s books and classic novels, as well as more contemporary stories, such as the Harry Potter series, can fetch thousands of pounds. There’s currently a signed first edition of Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone on sale at Peter Harrington for £35,000. Such books should be valued by a specialist dealer or auction house.
2. Original paintings
If you have a stack of old paintings taking up space in your attic, inspect them before removal. Any prints that were purchased from a retail shop aren’t likely to be worth much, but even in these cases, look out for limited editions. There will only be a limited amount of these in existence, so they will have greater value. It will be numbered on the front accordingly.
Keep an eye out for any originals, too – these will be signed by the artist on the front (and potentially the back) and may even come with a certificate of authenticity. If there’s nothing but a signature, you could take it to a fine art auction house or professional dealer for authentication.
Even if the painting’s worthless, don’t forget to consider the frame! If it’s vintage with exquisite detail, or just made of expensive hardwood, such as mahogany, it will be worth something.
3. Toys
Toys generally need to be vintage, collectible, in good condition or, better yet, in the original packaging to be worth something. But, that’s not always the case, depending on how rare the item is – or how difficult it is to get hold of (just look at Labubus). Where you have more than one toy from the same range (or even the whole collection), grouping them together can make them more valuable, too. Star Wars, Barbie, Hot Wheels and Lego sets are particularly popular.
For instance, I have a collection of Snoopy figurines that I won from a contest when I was young. The set is contained in a large Snoopy house. I’m hanging on to it for now in the hope that the collection will be worth something some day – you never know!
For any toys you think could have value, you should consult a specialist auction house, such as Vectis Auctions – a mint condition, sealed Lego Star Wars Millennium Falcon set sold for £1,300 in 2023.
4. Jewellery
Jewellery – especially costume jewellery – is often hidden among the clutter in the attic. The trouble is, unless you’re a specialist, it’s tricky to sort what’s real from what’s fake. Gold-tone is not nearly as valuable as gold-plated or indeed solid gold, and fake pearls can look identical to real ones, so where should you start?
Look out for any marked or stamped jewellery – this can indicate the manufacturer as well as the type of metal and its purity. A certificate of authenticity may also be provided, which shows the full composition, including any gemstones.
Don’t judge by tarnish – the purer the silver and gold is, the less prone it is to tarnish. Instead, take items you’re unsure about to a trusted and recognised jeweller for a valuation. The Guild of Valuers and Jewellers specialises in valuing jewellery.
At the same time, don’t throw away your costume jewellery just because it’s not solid gold – it can still fetch a decent price on Vinted and eBay.
5. Vintage clothes
Like jewellery, vintage fashion is in high demand, especially if it’s on trend. For starters, look over the brand labels to see if there’s anything you recognise off the bat (think Chanel, Dior, Gucci etc). Next, consider what it’s made from – natural fibres, such as silk and cashmere, will be much more valuable. Finally, consider the intricacy of the design and if it’s likely to appeal. Beads and sequins are highly sought after if the item is in good condition.
Speaking of which, any items comprised of natural materials should be safely stored in garment bags until you’re ready to sell them on or donate them. It would be such a waste to find them covered in moth holes when the time comes to part with them.
6. Games consoles
Games consoles, both old and new, can be worth more than you’d think. They need to be in working order, and ideally you’d want the original box (selling some games alongside can sweeten the deal). If you have all that, then you have a good chance of making some money.
Newer consoles can be traded in and bought by trusted local retailers, such as Currys. Currys offers an online calculator so you can value your console before you sell, too. Just make sure all personal information is deleted from your console and a factory reset is performed before trading it in. At the time of writing, you can get £140 for a PlayStation 5 825GB in working order.
For older consoles, a specialist auction house such as Vectis, can help. It even lists examples of retro games that will likely have the most value, such as Pac-Man and Sonic the Hedgehog. A boxed Atari video computer system with games sold for £240 just last year!
7. Maps
While we don’t rely on physical maps so much nowadays, they still hold a lot of value. We’re not talking about modern maps, though – the older and rarer (and often more decorative), the better. Plus, the cartographer can have an impact, too.
If it’s dated, then that gives you an idea of the value (although older doesn’t always mean more valuable). If it’s undated, you can sometimes calculate this to an extent using landmarks and changes to names of countries (Cambridge University Library lists several resources that can help with this), but a specialist is best to give an accurate date.
A specialist dealer or auction house, such as Sotheby’s, can help with the dating, valuation and selling of antique maps. Depending on the date and rarity of the map, these can be worth thousands of pounds.
