9 vintage things hiding in your house that could be worth money

Whether you've inherited Grandma's crystal or frequent antique markets, you could have rare vintage items hiding in the corners of your home — and they could be worth thousands of dollars. It's hard for the average person to spot valuable items, but there are certain things you should always give a second look.

To help you learn where to start, we tapped two experts: Lily Barfield, founder of Lily's Vintage Finds, and antiques dealer and Sally Schwartz, founder of Randolph Street Market Festival.

If you think you may own a rare vintage find, Barfield suggests browsing antique shops or resale sites — "you start to get a feel for what brands or artisans tend to fetch a good resale value." For a quick result, Schwartz recommends a search using Google Lens. "If you can take a good clean photo of the item and any imprints or signatures it might have, you can quickly see what comes up for sale or recent auction prices."

Vintage items that could be worth money:

Art

If you own one-of-a-kind artwork (or think you might), do a little research. "Even if it's unsigned or unknown, older artwork — especially oils on canvas or anything framed under glass — can hold value," says Barfield.

Concert tickets

This one might surprise you: Vintage concert tickets are valuable to collectors. If you or a family member saved "ticket stubs from famous bands and 1960's music festivals like Woodstock," you might get lucky, according to Schwartz.

Audio gear

"It seems like everyone wants a record player these days — vinyl is huge again and components like turntables and gear for audiophiles, like Marantz amplifiers, are very valuable," says Schwartz.

Crystal and glassware

Take a second look at that heirloom glassware set you inherited from Grandma. "Etched or cut crystal from companies like Fostoria or Cambridge can be worth a lot, especially full sets or rare patterns," says Barfield.

Sterling silver

From flatware and home decor to jewellery, pure sterling silver can sell for a lot — especially if it's made by a reputable brand or silversmith, like Tiffany & Co. "Many people don't realise they're sitting on sterling because it's not always labeled clearly," says Barfield. "Look for small hallmarks or stamps like '925' or 'sterling' on flatware or serving pieces."

Light fixtures

"Light fixtures are often overlooked, especially unwired chandeliers or sconces, because people don't always realise they can be restored," says Barfield. "With a little knowledge and the right help, you can rewire and clean them up. A fixture with good bones can carry serious resale value once brought back to life."

Blue Danube dishes

If you don't recognise the name, you'll recognise these blue-and-white patterned dishes — even modern brands continue to replicate the vintage style. Look for "Blue Danube, made originally in 1950's Japan and then later made in America with a different stamp on the bottom," says Schwartz, who says original soup bowls are really difficult to find and can be sold individually.

TV guides, magazines and comic books

Issues that pre-date 1970 could hold value to collectors. "People who collect these look for specific issues and will pay top dollar to fill a gap in their collection," says Schwartz.

14K gold charms

Grandma's gold charm bracelet could be worth thousands of dollars. "People started melting down these charm bracelets when gold prices soared and it's hard to find the charms anymore," says Schwartz. "Each charm can go for hundreds, so an individual charm bracelet can be a literal goldmine."