What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet?

Remember when cameras had film? Yeah, me either. But apparently, they did. This movie camera probably documented countless family memories, but who cares? I know what those jerks looked like. My genius brain stores all the documentation I need (there's no "off" switch).

"This is a mass-produced camera," says Harrison. "They probably produced millions of them so it's not really that valuable."

Think about it like this: if it's something that was inexpensive and accessible to the masses, it's probably not going to be worth anything.

"Other cameras from the 1960s, like an original Nikon that's in really good shape can be worth up to $2,000," says Harrison. "But something like this isn't going to get you very far."

What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet?

So you're sitting on the couch, eating your feelings in the form of a pint of Ben & Jerry's, and you see a commercial for something that is "valuable," "priceless," and "collectible." Limited time order, they say. Buy now, they urge. Only 42 easy payments of $19.99, they promise. Put down the phone. This junk isn't going to be worth anything, ever.

"When you buy something that's already deemed a collectible when it's brand-new, it's never going to be worth anything," says Harrison. "It's the things that people never thought would end up being worth money that end up being the most valuable. I've sold Zippo lighters for over $3,000 and people carry those around in their pockets every day."

The lesson here? You should always be skeptical when someone shouts from the rooftops how rare and collectible an item is, especially when it's on a TV commercial on Lifetime at 2AM.

If only my grandfather had known this when he bought this sculpture. And the 30 or so other ones we have lying around the house.

What a financial wizard he was.

What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet?

When looking for antiques, remember this: just because something is old doesn't mean it's valuable. Need an example? Take a look at Joan Rivers.

"I have three billion-year-old rocks in my backyard, but no one's willing to buy them off of me," Harrison laughs.

In other words: don't make assumptions.

The pupils in my eyes had already turned to dollar signs when we unearthed this old phone from our crawl space. This thing doesn't even have buttons! It looks like something that would be in an old Western movie, or at least in a restaurant that's trying to manufacture old-school charm.

I will be rolling in dough, like a baker (is that an expression? It should be).

Wrong.

"These types of things aren't worth as much as you would think," says Harrison. "They're definitely collectible, but you have to remember that every house had one, so they're not that rare."

What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet?

The word "rare" isn't always synonymous with "big money." Your weird cousin might collect unusual bocce balls, but just because something is rare or strange doesn't automatically mean it's worth anything.

"I'm sure dinosaurs turds are pretty rare, but I don't imagine that they're worth a lot," laughs Harrison.

This cash register was stationed on the bar in my grandparents' restaurant for years. "They would call this a candy store cash register, because the highest amount on here is $1," says Harrison.

Because it's functioning, in good shape, easy to clean up, and in relatively high demand, my ship has finally come in.

BOOM!

What Treasures are Hiding in Your Closet?