What Household Items Are Worth Money?

When I moved, I decided to sell everything and start all over again. In doing so, I did a lot of research into what household items are worth money. So, I put together this article summarizing what I found.

So, what household items are worth money? Jewelry, antiques, collectibles, musical instruments, electronics, and furniture are household items that are worth the most. There are also unique categories and products which can sell for many thousands to millions of dollars.

There are exceptions, however, and exactly how much you can get for each category needs explaining. Below, I will describe how to value household items, what they are, and how to sell them.

How do I know if my household items are worth money?

Appraisers are qualified individuals who are licensed to appraise items. It is best practice for an appraiser to have done a Uniform Standards in Professional Practice course (USPAP). It should also have been done within the last 24 months to be relevant and up to date.

There are large appraiser organizations that have members that are vetted. They include:

How does getting an item appraised work?

Appraisers are qualified individuals, who are licensed to appraise items. It is best practice for an appraiser to have done a Uniform Standards in Professional Practice course (USPAP). It should also have been done within the last 24 months, so that it is relevant and up to date.

There are large appraiser organisations which have members that have been vetted. They include

The Appraiser Association

They are an international organization based in New York. It was established in 1949, and it aims to provide accurate appraisals. Their members used to be heads of auction houses, and curators at museums.

They have a code of ethics that covers unbiased appraisals, no conflict of interest, only appraising items that they have experience with, and not charging a commission on the item’s value.

The International Society of Appraisers

They are a non-profit that was founded in 1979. They specialize in antiques, furnishings, decorative art, fine art, gems, jewelry, machinery and equipment, fine wine, classic cars, and sports memorabilia.

They also provide:

• Auctions services and auctioneering
• Estate sales
• Expert witness testimony
• And consulting on maintaining valuable items, repairing, and restoring them.

The American Society of Appraisers

The American Society of Appraisers is a non-profit that aims to establish trust in their appraisers through ensuring they maintain professional and ethical standards. They provide a database of reputable appraisers that you can search for on their website.

They provide the following services:

• Gem and Jewelry appraisal.
• Business valuation
• Appraisal review and management
• Machinery and technical equipment appraisals, among others.

Learn more about how antiques are valued & appraised.

What collectibles are worth money?

Collectibles are unusual in that people are willing to pay dramatically more money for particular items. In contrast, others don’t sell for more than their retail value. 

• Dolls and toys. Limited edition dolls, and toys, that have sentimental value to collectors and hobbyists. Examples are barbie dolls, original Transformers toys, and many many more.

• Trading cards. Trading card games such as Magic the Gathering and Pokemon are popular among adults and children alike. Some cards are rarer than others because they are only produced in limited quantities. An example is the Black Lotus, which has been sold for US$166,000.

Other examples are foil Magic the Gathering cards, where the colors on the card shine and are reflective. The holy grail of trading cards is a rare card such as a Black Lotus that is also foil. 

• Postcards and stamps. According to Cnn.com, the most expensive stamp in the world was the British Guiana One-cent Magenta, which sold for USD 9.5 million. Other examples of highly sought after stamps are the George Washington stamp, the Benjamin Franklin Stamp, and the declaration of independence stamp.

• Coins and currency. Coins from historical cultures such as the Romans. Some coins and currency are made from precious metals as well, which further increases their value.

• Comic books. Many fans pay a considerable amount of money for limited edition, original copies, and rare comic books. Click here to find out how to know if a comic book is worth money.

• Vinyl records. The most sought after vinyl records are rare. I wrote a whole article on how to price vinyl records, which you can read by clicking here. If you are interested in how much your vinyl records are worth, you should definitely give it a read.

These are the main ones. But, there are hundreds of individual products that are considered collectible. Including things you wouldn’t think people would want, such as Mcdonalds toys. 

These items are often bought for pennies on the dollar but are now worth thousands and in some cases millions.

Why are some household items worth so much?

Most reasons are irrational. If a person were to think clearly about what the item is worth, they wouldn’t pay so much. This means that people are buying them for emotional reasons.

Some examples are:

Scarcity

This is a factor known as a product’s scarcity value. Meaning items were produced in limited quantities. The lack of availability drives their price up. It is worth it to the buyer because it saves them time searching further for the item.

Some companies only produce limited quantities of items to increase their value. Or because random events stopped the production of a particular product. 

An example is a retracted copy of a controversial product, such as a poster or a vinyl record. Where the producer thought it would reflect poorly on the company.

People have an emotional connection to the items.

Some people get so fascinated with particular items that they become obsessed with them. It resembles how people get excited when they see a celebrity in real life.

When people that buy your items have an interest or hobby related to the item, it makes them happy to spend large sums of money to acquire it.

They want to get it as a gift.

If someone wants a particular item as a gift for a friend or family member, they are often willing to spend more to secure it. They get their heart set on it, and can’t walk away no matter how expensive it is.

The auction emotions

During the heat of an auction, when people compete for each other with bidding, prices can get artificially inflated. It is only worth more because the other bidder is willing to pay more.

Many people who invest in the stock market, or frequently buy at auctions are aware that they need to differentiate their emotions from purchasing decisions. Otherwise, they can get carried away by the excitement and end up spending too much on a particular item.

A common strategy is to set a maximum amount you are willing to bid.

What household items are good to sell?

1. Books

Books can fetch a bit of cash. Expensive books that you have already read can usually fetch 30% of their retail price at least. If you sell them yourself directly to the buyer, you can get 50% for a book that is in near new condition. Or, less if they are worn or damaged.

Book categories that fetch high prices were found in a study done by The Book Flipper. It showed that the highest average price by category for used books sold on Amazon.com are:

Top 10 categories by highest average price. In descending order

	Genre
1	Music
2	World History
3	Military Science
4	Fine Arts
5	Auxiliary Sciences of History
6	Philosophy, psychology, religion
7	Bibliography, Library Science
8	Language & Literature
9	Technology
10	Law

Top 10 subcategories (average price)

	Subcategory
1	Judaism
2	Oriental Languages
3	Greek and Latin Language
4	Railroad engineering
5	Geology
6	Asia
7	Philosophy
8	Literature in Music
9	Linguistics
10	Visual arts

So, if you want books that are worth money, you should see what categories you have, to get a rough estimate of whether they are valuable or not.

I have written an article about how to price books for resale. That goes into much more depth about apps, and websites you can use to get an estimate of what you could sell them for. 

You should give it a read if you are interested in how much your books are worth. If you’d like to learn how to make a full-time income reselling books click here. Now if you’d like to learn more about only selling books online click here.

2. Electronics

Electronics are household items that are worth money. The things worth the most are retro and discontinued electronics such as walkmans, iPods, etc. Also, new items such as TVs that are expensive to buy new will also sell for a good amount of money when sold second hand. Other electronics that are worth money are:

• Home theatre systems
• Stereos
• Apple computers

To assess how much they are worth, you should look at how old they are, their condition, and what price they are new. If a particular household electronic is cheap to purchase new now, then it won’t be worth much to sell it used.

Apple computers are a special case, and old versions of apple computers can be worth large sums of money. This is because of how popular the brand is. 

Apple computers have a cult-like following, and some of their customers have nostalgic, emotional connections to the older models. CNBC.com reported that one vintage apple computer sold for US$900,000.

3. Gift cards

Some people have unused gift cards. That they didn’t get around to using, these are equivalent to cash. Many websites will buy your gift cards.

But, be wary when selling them online as there is sensitive information on them. If you accidentally give away a serial number or similar, the card could be used without them physically having it.

Swindles are common in the used gift card market, so exercise greater caution than you normally would.

4. Household appliances

Examples of household appliances that are worth money are:

• Air conditioning units
• Ovens
• Fridges
• Freezers
• Washing machines
• Dishwashers
• Water heaters

Some household items need to be removed by a professional, in order to ensure they are in working condition. If you remove them yourself you can damage the wiring or blow a fuse, and it is a pain to get them repaired.

5. Designer clothing and bags

If you own designer clothing or bags, they can keep their value and be worth a tidy sum. Although you can expect less than 50% of the retail price, their high retail price makes them valuable to sell used.

Examples of designer brands are:

• Armani
• Alexander Wang
• Calvin Klein
• DSquared2
• Diesel
• Dior
• Escada
• Givenchy
• Gucci
• Jean Paul Gaultier
• Jil Sander
• Louis Vuitton
• Ralph Lauren
• Philipp Plein
• Saint Laurent Paris
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Versace

If you are unsure if your clothing is a designer brand, you can search the item on Google and see what it is worth. Designer clothing and bags are priced significantly higher than clothing most people wear.

You can also search on Amazon, Sheepbuy, or eBay to see what they are worth secondhand to get an idea of what you can sell them for.

6. Calculators

Some calculators are worth money. They are reasonably priced new -selling for US$50 to US$100 or more- depending on their features and quality.

Calculators are often used for a degree in sciences. As a result, aren’t as useful to you after you have completed.

Also, many educational institutions allow laptops now in class. So, you don’t need a calculator unless you are going out into the field.

Antique and old calculators can be worth many thousands of dollars.

7. Antiques

Antiques are well-crafted furniture and household items that are unique in style. The story and history behind an antique give it a higher value. For example, french chairs have a recognizable style that antique collectors know and love.

Other factors that contribute to being worth money are that they are: 

• Rare.
• In good condition.
• Have a utility value.

They are made by professional craftsmen and can have ornate and interesting designs. Antiques can have variable value, and their value is subjective. Meaning they can attract high prices if a person has a particular emotional connection to a piece. 

The widespread availability of the internet has out-competed traditional retail stores. It is much easier to buy antiques directly from their custodians.

This means that there is a good market for selling your antiques online.

Antiques can be furniture, and in some cases, china dinnerware is also considered antiques.

I have written an article about how antiques are valued and appraised. Give it a read if you are interested in learning how to value antiques.

How do you know if your china is valuable?

The factors to look for when valuing china are:

• The brand. 
• The pattern and design.
• Where it was made.
• How old it is.

You should get your china valued by an appraiser if you want to get an accurate value. It is easier than researching online.

Click here to learn how to sell collectibles and antiques.

8. VHS Tapes 

Because Netflix, DVDs, Blu-ray video formats have long since replaced VHS tapes. Some titles and versions of movies and shows can fetch thousands of dollars. According to Cheatsheet.com, a version of the movie Beauty and the Beast sold on eBay for US$1000.

It is worth looking through any old boxes with DVDs, VHS, or other old technology to see if you have any titles that could be worth some money. If you think they are, you can take a look on Amazon, Sheepbuy, or eBay to see what they usually sell for.

9. Christmas Ornaments

Christmas ornaments that are very old, or have an emotional value to people, can be worth much more than what you bought them for.

Decorations that you can no longer buy, but, at one time were owned by lots of people can be good items to start with. Handmade glass can be particularly valuable among certain collectors.

10. Art

You will likely know if you have valuable art. But, you might be in a situation where you have inherited items from a loved one and are unsure of its value. There are many famous artists and valuable artworks. So, the chances your art piece is valuable is plausible.

Many people hang prints in their home if they have children and don’t want to damage them. Prints are replicas of the originals and are not worth as much. But, they can still command a reasonable price if they are in good condition.

11. Musical instruments

Musical instruments can be worth money. Any type of instrument that is in good condition can be sold for a good profit. Large instruments can be worth more. 

But, even small instruments can be worth a lot if they are of high quality, such as a set of harmonicas.

Musical instruments can become damaged over time if you don’t maintain them. For example the neck on a guitar can bend under the stress of the guitar strings, if they are left in the case for too long.

So, if you have musical instruments that you have put in storage, you should research how to maintain them. That way, if you resell them, you can get the same or a better price for them.

Some musical instruments, such as guitars, are collector’s items. Signed guitars from famous musicians can go for tens of thousands of dollars. If you are interested in reselling guitars, I wrote this piece on how to start a guitar flipping business.

What is the best way to sell household items?

No way of selling household items is necessarily better than others. The options are:

• An online marketplace.
• Over social media.
• An auction.
• Specialist websites.

Selling your house hold items on an online marketplace

Online marketplaces are one of the easiest ways to sell household items. Most people are familiar with the bigger websites and have no problems selling their items from start to finish. The step to selling your items on an online marketplace are:

1. Find an online marketplace that seems right for your items. 

Some household items aren’t suited to bigger online marketplaces. If you can find similar products to the ones you’re selling on the online marketplace this is a good sign.

Otherwise, use your best judgment in regards to what marketplace to sell on.

2. Create an account, or set up a store on an existing profile.

If you don’t yet have an account, set one up on the online marketplace of your choice. When you set up the account, make it look as professional and credible as possible. Meaning fill out all the relevant sections. Make yourself a simple logo, and think about setting up a business website. The business website is not essential, but it can help. If you already have skills in this area, you can set one up quite quickly.

When you have an existing account, you can create a new store, or update your profile, so it looks professional.

3. List your items

Set up listings for the items you are trying to sell. Include all the information the online marketplace recommends to use. For example, a few photos from different angles.

4. Market your listings 

You can engage in marketing your items through a bunch of different methods. This will increase the speed with which you sell your items. There are many free and paid methods to market your listings.

In general, free methods are sufficient, yet you can spend money on pay per click campaign or similar.

This website sheepbuy.com is an online marketplace. We offer a free account, and if you need to sell more monthly paid plans start from $2.99 and up. The best part of Sheepbuy is that they have no selling or hidden fees whatsoever.

All transactions are between buyer and seller only via paypal.

That way, you can buy and sell your items, and don’t have to pay a commission, unlike other online marketplaces that charge you an arm and a leg. Click here to go to the registration page, to create your free account now.

Selling your items on social media

To sell your household items on social media platforms you can simply create a post with images of the items. You can then ask for inquiries or list a price that you want to sell it for.

From there, it will show up on people’s newsfeed, and people will get in touch with you if they are interested.

It can be wise to list your items on multiple social media platforms to sell them faster, such as Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

Selling your items at auction

Expensive items that have been appraised can be sold at an auction house. Auction houses are found in most towns and cities. Auction houses also have appraisers.

But, you should be wary of conflicts of interest that can be present when getting your items appraised at an auction house. They can also charge high fees or a high percentage split.

It is better not to sell them at certain auction houses. This is because you can get more for your items on an online marketplace or on social media.

Do some research into what auction houses are available in your area.

There are also charity auctions, where you can get considerably more for your items. But, the proceeds are donated to charity. So, it isn’t a financial benefit for you to sell them at a charity auction.

But, if you have a charity that you want to support, you should consider it.

Conclusion

Household items that are worth money are:

• Jewelry
• Antiques
• Collectibles
• Musical instruments
• Electronics
• Furniture
• Antiques

As well as other miscellaneous items. Some rare items in these categories have sold for more than 1 million dollars. To find the price of a household item, you can search for the item on Amazon, Sheepbuy, Ebay, or get the item appraised.

But, getting an item appraised is usually reserved for items which you think can have a very high value. You can sell your household items on an online marketplace, via social media, and at an auction house. 

Recommended Blog Posts:

• How to use Sheepbuy?
• 100 Legitimate ways to make money at home.

Sources

• Appraisersassociation.org: About us
• Isa-appraisers.org: Homepage
• Appraisers.org: Homepage
• Polygon.com: Magic: The Gathering’s Black Lotus sells for $166K at auction, doubling its value
• Cnn.com: British Guiana stamp: This tiny piece of paper just sold at auction for $9.5 million
• Thebookflipper.com: The Most Profitable Book Categories on Amazon
• Cnbc.com: These old Apple computers are worth up to $905,000—and you might have one sitting in your basement