How to Find Hidden Treasure

WHERE TO LOOK

In my opinion, the best stuff at garage sales and estate sales usually isn't sitting out on the folding card table at the front of the house.  Most times, I find the things that eventually sell for decent money hidden away because the person having the sale thought it was worthless.  You never know for sure though.  Sometimes you do bump into some great things without even trying.  Today I experienced both scenarios.

MULTI FAMILY FUN

I'm still waiting for my current crop of auctions to end, but they seem to be doing alright. I've got several bids and watchers but we'll just have to see how it finishes up. The last minute of an auction definitely has the most potential for exciting jumps in price.

This week we had a very large multi-home yard sale near my house. I'm usually not that crazy about these because they get swamped with people in a big hurry. I really wanted to hit an estate sale that was starting at 9, so I just did a quick run through the plan of homes and hit a few of the houses where people had set up early. I haven't listed anything yet, but I think I did ok. I probably should have looked around some more.

I found some old plastic horses at one house. I didn't know anything about them but the seller said that they were Breyer horses and that she used to collect them. I picked up all four of them at 25 cents each. Checking on eBay just now, it looks like they may be a winner. I also picked up an old Nylint "Structo" horse carrying toy truck from 1966 for $5. The windshield has a crack but I think it might do OK as well.

I was a bit disappointed when I checked selling prices for the Harley Davidson floor mats and steering wheel cover I purchased. I spent $8 on them and I think I might just be able to break even. That was a real surprise because Harley items have treated me pretty well in the past when I sold them on eBay. Another bust was a die cast Star Wars watch. It only cost a dollar and it is in its original package, never opened. I think that one will go in the "save to sell in twenty years" pile.

BONEHEAD MOVE OF THE DAY

As I was riding through the plan, I saw a lady who I know sells tons of Hollister and Abercrombie stuff every year as she was setting up. I don't know why, but I didn't stop. My wife went later to pick out a couple of items for our daughters and said that the lady was about wiped out of clothes. She was selling those shirts that cost $40+ each for two bucks. I could have had them all if I had stopped. Just a tip for you, they sell EXTREMELY well in lots on eBay.

ON TO THE ESTATE SALE

I moved on to the estate sale at that point. It was being run by a guy who runs a local estate sale shop. His shop prices are a little less than eBay but his actual on site estate clearance prices are very nice. I didn't see much that interested me in the main area of the house so I headed to the basement and then out to the workshop in the back yard. Both places were pretty nasty to look at which I think kept some people out. Not me.

I think I might have found something pretty good out in the workshop. Buried under a bunch of other old books was an authentic World War II flight manual for a P-51D airplane. Surprisingly, it wasn't mildewed. I snagged it and moved on. I found an old ESSO brand lighter fluid can, an unused oil filter from the 1950's (still in its box), an old Cadillac engine part from 1962 still in its box with a receipt, four old applied color label pop bottles from local distributors that probably date to the 1960's and a few other little items. Here is the best part....TOTAL COST = $5.

I know there are people who would read this and think that I paid $5 for old garbage. All I've got to say is that one man's junk is another man's eBay listing of the week.