While you may have heard stories of people striking gold you probably aren’t going to find any long lost Picasso pieces at your local flea market. However, that doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to find items that don’t have a high-value potential. Here are a couple commonly overlooked flea-market items that could net you a hefty return. Vintage CookwarePeople have been returning to a homier time and style of things which is why websites like Etsy are doing so well. Pyrex is a style of cookware that has been around for about 100 years and people are going crazy for the vintage designs from the 80s and before. If you can get the full set you can sell them for hundreds of dollars. Sonic TV Remote ControlsToday’s televisions are controlled by infrared remotes, and have been for quite a while. Though this likely isn’t going to change anytime soon, it wasn’t always the case. Sonic-controlled remotes from the 50s through the 80s were the way to change the channel if your family could afford such a luxury otherwise, you had to elect someone to get up off the couch and do it manually. You can find these in bins of old or unused electronics at flea markets all across the country. You should snatch them up as soon as you see them as they tend to go for at least $50 to collectors and even can nab you a few thousand for a rare brand in good condition. Japanese Barbie Dolls It’s no secret that dolls and, in particular, Barbie dolls have a high collector value. However, a quick way to net some serious cash is to check the stamp on Barbie’s behind if it is marked Japan it is worth in the ball park of $2,000-2,500 to collectors. They were a very limited release and are considered to be highly valuable. They will likely be mixed in with a bunch of other dolls in old plastic bins, so you might have to do some searching and investigating. Video GamesThe retro factor that goes into old school video games marks them very valuable to collectors. Generally, the oldest and the newest will sell the best so stay away from titles that haven’t quit reached an iconic level of status yet like the PlayStation 2 or the Wii (however, their day will eventually come). Really old school game systems like the Atari 2600 and Nintendo Entertainment System, along with their games, will fetch you a pretty penny. Same goes with current-generation platforms like Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or the Wii U. Books and TextbooksTypically, individual books aren’t going to net you a ton of money. However, if you find complete sets of authors or certain series’, you can get quite a bit of money. For example, a complete Harry Potter or Anne of Green Gables is likely to earn you a decent amount of money, if they are in good shape.Start Exploring Now that you have an idea of some common finds with high-value potential, get out there and explore. Peruse online directories to find the nearest flea markets around, you’ll be surprised at how many exist. Make a list of markets you want to visit over the coming months and before you know it, you’ll have yourself a new hobby. Be careful though; it’s easy to get hooked!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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