Quick Answer
Items such as antiques, vintage furniture, collectibles, vinyl records, artwork, and jewellery may have resale value when you’re clearing out a storage unit. Before throwing anything away, check its condition, rarity, age, and potential demand. Valuable or unusual items may also be worth having professionally appraised before you decide whether to sell, donate, or keep them.
Do you have a self-storage or portable storage unit that is full to the brim with belongings that you no longer need or want? Have you considered selling these items, and earning a little extra money?
Storage units are often home to the unexpected, and these items can be both valuable and collectible. If you’re looking to make space in your storage unit by clearing out those items that you no longer want, it’s worth taking a look for some of those old possessions that you can sell for cold, hard cash.
In this blog, Calloway Storage lists five of the most common items found in storage units that are sometimes worth a pretty penny.
1 – Antiques & Vintage Furnishings
Many people use self-storage units to store unneeded furniture that they don’t know if they want to part with. A large number of these people are shocked to discover that some of these items are actually considered antiques.
It can be difficult to tell from inexperienced eyes whether a piece of furniture is an antique or desirable vintage piece. It’s a good idea to organize all of the pieces of furniture that you want to take out of your storage unit, and then get them appraised before you commit to either throwing them out or selling them. This will give you an idea of how much they are worth, and whether it’s worth putting them in an auction or selling them to a dealer. If it’s not worth selling them, consider taking old furniture to a charity shop rather than the dump.
2 – Collectibles
Collectibles – such as playing cards, toys, comic books, first-edition books and many others – can all be easily sold. Depending on the rarity and demand for collectibles, there’s a chance that you are sitting on a fair bit of money.
3 – Vinyls
Vinyls outsold CDs for the first time since 1986 in 2019, and there’s no denying that many vinyl records are now collectibles. This has significantly raised the price for many vinyls, and you can now make a fair bit of money by selling that huge box of vinyls that are crammed into the corner of your storage unit.
In fact, if you have made sure that your vinyls were stored correctly and avoided damage, you’ll probably be surprised by how much you can earn from selling those records you don’t listen to anymore.
4 – Artwork
If you have read our blog, ‘Can I Store My Artwork and Paintings in a Self-Storage Unit?’, you will know that you can safely store artwork in a self-storage unit as long as you take the proper precautions to protect them from damage. Did you know, however, that you can make money from that artwork?
If you find an old painting from a noteworthy artist, then you have hit the jackpot. But don’t be disheartened if you don’t find a piece of artwork that’s worth thousands. Selling all of your artwork can still earn you money.
5 – Jewellery
There’s a high chance the jewellery stored in your self-storage unit is sentimental. For many, however, there comes a time when that jewellery needs to be sold no matter how sentimental it is. Gold, metals, watches, gemstones and diamonds are all worth money and some of your jewellery items may even be antiques.
Before selling any jewellery in your self-storage unit, first get it appraised to find out how much it’s worth and then take some time to consider whether you really want to sell it. If the jewellery is sentimental to you, then selling it may not be a good idea.
How to Find Out What Your Storage Items Are Worth
Finding something interesting in your storage unit doesn’t necessarily mean it’s valuable. Before putting an item up for sale, take some time to research its age, condition, manufacturer, rarity, and current demand.
- Check the condition: Damage, missing parts, stains, scratches, or restoration can affect an item’s value.
- Look for identifying marks: Manufacturer names, signatures, dates, model numbers, and other markings can help identify an item.
- Research similar items: Look at comparable items that have actually sold rather than relying only on asking prices.
- Consider professional appraisal: Antiques, jewellery, artwork, and other potentially valuable items may benefit from an expert appraisal.
- Don’t rush to sell: If an item appears valuable or sentimental, take some time to determine its value before accepting an offer.
Sell, Donate, or Keep? What to Do With Items From Storage
| Sell | Donate | Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Items with resale value | Usable items with little resale value | Items with sentimental or future value |
| Rare collectibles | Furniture and household goods in usable condition | Family heirlooms |
| Valuable jewellery or artwork | Items you no longer need but someone else can use | Items you may need later |
To learn more about selling items in your storage unit, or to simply find out more information about either self-storage units or portable storage units, then please contact Calloway Storage today. We provide storage solutions right at the heart of cottage country, Ontario.