10 most valuable items hidden in attics which could be worth a small fortune
One in five people across the UK admit to struggling when it comes to decluttering due to sentimental attachment to items and 26 per cent of homeowners are clueless about what is tucked away in their loft space.
However, years of collecting could have turned their attic into something of a treasure trove, with the top 10 items worth serious money on popular selling platforms such as eBay.
Specialist home insurer Homeprotect analysed eBay's sold listing data for common household objects which are probably sitting in a corner gathering dust which items hold the most value. The found coins and stamp collections are the most sought after items that carry the biggest cash boost, particularly rare 50p coins.
Rare 50p coins can sell for an average price of £11,670 on eBay, with some such as the Benjamin Bunny 50p recently selling after being listed for a whopping £20,000.
If you're looking to cash in on some rare coins, now would be a good time, as searches for 'rare 50p coins' have gone through the roof in recent months, with 49,500 average monthly searches on Google - a 123 per cent increase year-on-year and 49 per cent in the last three months alone.
Vintage jewellery is the second most valuable category, with engagement rings piquing the interest of 9,900 people per month in the UK on Google search, fetching an average of £7,277 on the online marketplace.
A Platinum Blue Sapphire No Heat Sri Lanka 18K Diamond Ring is the most expensive ring found in our study, sold recently for nearly £18K on eBay. Tiffany and Co. rings also pick up a tidy sum at auction on resale sites, with one selling for just over £4,000.
It's worth bearing in mind that securing a high price for vintage jewellery generally depends on the item's condition and whether it comes in its original packaging.
Antique furniture is the third most valuable find, with an average of £6,485 made from relevant eBay sales.
Specific designers are particularly well sought-after, with a set of four chairs from Danish designer Borge Mogenson selling for £8,000, a single wardrobe by Robert 'Mouseman' for nearly £6,000, and a set of two armchairs for £5,500.
Furniture from certain eras also fetch a pretty penny, specifically 18th-century furniture. A Boulle-style dining set sold for £8,000, while a mahogany breakfront bookcase went for nearly £5,000 earlier this year.
In fourth place, vinyl records, specifically 1960s vinyl, are selling for nearly £4,000 on average.
Most valuable items selling on eBay
Coins and stamp collections - £11,669.18
Vintage jewellery - £7,277.21
Antique furniture - £6,485.40
Vinyl records - £3,931.52
Clocks - £2,671.42
Ceramic figures - £2,006.87
Lamps - £1,867.40
Paintings/prints and posters - £1,829.99
War memorabilia - £1,554.34
Recent big-money sales include a promo copy of The Velvet Yellow Underground & Nico featuring iconic art from Andy Warhol which sold for £6,747, the Beatles Please Please Me stereo first gold label vinyl for just over £4,000, and a promo copy of Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album for just over £3,000.
Promo releases (copies of albums or singles distributed for free by record companies before release) tend to do well - with experts suggesting they generally sell for 50 per cent more than a standard pressing, minimum.
Clocks are the fifth most valuable item you can find in the attic. Grandfather clocks garner 12,100 Google searches on average per month and sell for a tidy sum of £2,671.
It seems the older the better when selling old clocks on the online marketplace, and hand-carved ones do well, too. An Art Nouveau Italian Baroque grandfather clock carved with cherubs sold for above the average price of a clock in its category at nearly £4,000, as did a red lacquer longcase clock by Thomas Bell London which went for £3,450.
Completing the top 10 most valuable items you might find in your elderly relative's attic are porcelain dolls (£2,006), vintage lamps (£1,867), vintage posters (£1,829) and WW1 medals (£1,554).
Commenting on the findings, David Joyson, Chief Customer Office at Homeprotect, said: 'It's incredible how much value can be hidden in everyday items that may have been gathering dust in an old cupboard, garage or attic – with some now selling for thousands on sites like eBay.
'If you, or an elderly relative have items like these lying around, or if you come across an item you think may have a high value, it's worth getting them professionally valued, so you can check that you have the right insurance – many insurers will ask you to specify an individual item on your policy – at Homeprotect that's the case if an item is worth more than £1,500. Not doing this may mean that it wouldn't be covered if you needed to make a claim.
'If you have financial power of attorney for an elderly relative and/or have been named as an executor for their will, in the event of their death it is worth auditing and valuing items, to ensure you have a complete list of their assets and to understand the value, whether you intend to keep any treasured items or if you are considering selling anything in the future once the probate process is complete.'
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