Cash in the attic
HAVING A LOCKDOWN CLEAROUT? BE CAREFUL YOU DON’T THROW AWAY A FORTUNE, WARNS DAISY FOX
IF YOU’RE taking the chance to have a good clear-out while you’re on lockdown at home, it might be worth doing some research before you bag things up – you could be sitting on a goldmine.
We’re not just talking antiques. From cassette players to your old bathroom suite, there is money to made all over the house.
Vintage expert Kate Beavis explains: “Don’t just assume an item is not worth anything.
“It’s about looking further than the big stuff. People could be focussing on some old sideboard thinking: ‘It’s retro, that. It must be worth £400’, but it really isn’t.
“Meanwhile they’ve got coloured Pyrex in the kitchen that they could be selling for £300 that they just put in the bin or give to the charity shop. That happens all the time.”
So how do we know what’s worth something? Apart from researching online, Kate adds that nostalgia plays a big part.
“It’s all about what you remember from your childhood,” she says.
“If an item makes you feel nostalgic that could be a pointer when it comes to deciding if it’s worth something.
“Vintage always soars in a recession. We are not in a recession now but in times like these we do generally get nostalgic for the good old days. So it could be the perfect time to do your research and make a bit of money.”
Here Kate tells us what to look out for around the house.
LOUNGE
■ MAGAZINES: The trick here is having somebody iconic on the front cover. For example I’ve got a copy of The Face from the 90s with Kurt Cobain of Nirvana on the front and it’s selling for £35.
Specialist sites were selling the Kate Middleton Vogue for £100. They’re not selling for that now, but I would say that’s a collectible for the future so keep hold of it.
1950s Woman’s Own or Credit: Anna Berry older magazines sell for about £5/£6 a go, generally because the adverts and pictures are cool.
■ ART: In the 1960s, Woolworths and Boots sold mass-produced wall art. It’s a bit naff to most people, but now some of them are very, very collectible.
Art by Vladimir Tretchikoff can go for about £200. Condition matters of course. If it’s in really bad condition, say sun-faded, it’s not going to be worth that.
■ FURNITURE:
A sideboard that’s made from wood – teak not just laminate – in good condition can make £300. Look for sleek lines, things that look quite smart.
An Ercol sideboard could be worth £200 to £600 depending on its condition and age – the older the better.
KITCHEN
■ PYREX: The Americans are obsessed with Pyrex. If you have certain designs in certain colours you could sell them over there at a couple of hundred quid. Granny’s mixing bowl could be worth £200-£300. Looking at ebay sold listings will give you an idea as to what things are selling for.
■ GADGETS: One really rare gadget is the Caddymatic – a loose tea dispenser that looks like a rocket and goes on the wall.
An original one from the 60s could fetch £100. There are none on ebay or Etsy at the moment. Whenever we had them in the past we would sell them in seconds at whatever price. It’s very desirable but really random.
■ KITCHENWARE AND UTENSILS: Look for good colours – people like oranges and dark reds, blues – nothing too chintzy and pretty. Utensils that have orange or coloured handles could sell for about £15 a set.
The rule here is, don’t bin it, look at it. If it’s coloured, look it up and try to sell it.
BATHROOM
■ BATHROOM SUITE: Coloured suites are back in fashion.
I’m talking pale pink, lemon and pale blue… not avocado. We haven’t got there yet!
A pink bath sold last week for £500 but it was a fancy, deco style.
Basically a suite is selling for between £50 and £500, so don’t just launch it outside.
BEDROOM
■ COSTUME JEWELLERY: People often disregard early plastic jewellery but a Bakelite bangle can sell for between £30 and £100.
There is a lot of reproduction out there so look online for ways to check if it’s genuine.
1990s designer stuff is quite big and brash but it’s really popular so prices have soared.
Get your magnifying glass out and look for names.
■ CLOTHES: 1930s, 40s and 50s dresses really hold their value and are getting harder to find.
A lot of them are very small as the woman of the past was skinnier, so larger sizes are worth more because more people can wear them. 1950s cotton day dresses can sell between £50 and £100.
Maxi-dresses by 1970s designer John Bates which are very flamboyant, very Florence and the Machine, can sell for a few hundred pounds each.
Look for moth holes and odours because those things affect value.
ATTIC
■ SUITCASES: Old suitcases and trunks could be worth more than what’s inside them. An attractive leather one, depending on the brand and the age – say 1940s or 50s – could sell for £50-£100. But not a battered 70s one.
■ VINTAGE TOYS: Fisher Price toys from the 1960s to 1980s are worth loads.
The wind-up record players are worth about £25-£30.
Some Polly Pocket toys from the 90s can be worth up to £15 a pop.
Sylvanian Families toys are really expensive but the old ones can be worth more than they are new.
Sindy doll clothes have