Items In Your House Which May Be More Valuable Than You Think

Phil, of Midlands, England, decides to sell the “contents of my life” – Image: Phil Campbell

Whether you are looking to raise a little extra cash by selling some of your things, or you are thinking about reviewing your house contents’ insurance in order to take into account recent changes, you may be surprised by things that hold value in your house. Often we buy things and then forget we even have them – and these possessions can end up forgotten about in lofts, cupboards and drawers.

In this article, we are going to talk you through some of the items in your house that may be more valuable than you think, so that when the time comes to review your insurance or sell off some bits and pieces, you know what you are dealing with. Here they are:

Musical Instruments

Many people have musical instruments tucked away in their house somewhere – even if they are not a musician. It is not uncommon to receive musical instruments as heirlooms when an elderly relative passes away. You may be reluctant to sell it because of its sentimental value, and it can be hard to know what to do with it.

More often than not, these instruments such as violins, cellos, harps and brass get thrown into the loft and forgotten about. It may well be worth dragging them down and getting them valued, because you just never know. Some things may be worth disappointingly little, however, other things can surprise you with what they are worth. You never know – you may be harboring a Stradivarius in your attic!

Crockery & Silver

If you are a collector of crockery and silver, then you will probably know what your collection is worth. However, many people are passed collections of crockery and silver when somebody passes away and may be completely unaware of their worth. Again, these beautiful pieces can end up thrown in a loft and forgotten about. It’s well worth getting them valued because you may be pleasantly surprised by their value.

Jewelry

Everybody has a little jewelry in their house, and while some of it may be inexpensive costume jewelry, other items may be worth a little more. Jewelry that has been passed down your family may well be worth far more than you think – after all, items made from gold or silver tend to appreciate over time.

Although you may never sell the pieces because of their sentimental value, you should still find out their value in order that you can get them adequately insured. Speak to a local expert and ask him or her to appraise the pieces, giving you a certificate of valuation. This will need to be reviewed every couple of years to take into account inflation.

So, your house could well be harboring far more valuables than you thought. Making sure you are adequately insured is vital – you never know when disaster might strike. And if you are looking to sell some belongings in order to free up some cash, you may well have the answer sitting, long forgotten, in a box in your attic!

Jennie Parker works at Lior Diamonds, suppliers of wholesale diamonds in Chicago. Jennie is a fitness freak and follows her exercise routine very strictly.