TV presenter Henry Cole believes there’s many more valuables to be discovered (Image: BLAZE)
Restoration expert Henry Cole estimates that Brits have hundreds of millions of pounds worth of valuables hidden in their sheds and garages. The TV presenter, who has visited over 1,000 sheds, believes the surface has only been scratched in uncovering the worth of these stored items.
He notes that hidden private collections include everything from hundreds of cars and dozens of aircraft to hoards of tractors and motorcycles. Cole adds that items like automotive memorabilia and vintage oil cans and jugs could fetch a pretty penny instead of being thrown away.
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Sheds and garages are a common place to find valuables (Image: BLAZE)
Branded examples like Shell, Texaco and Pratt from the 1940-50s can put some cash in your pocket with rare oil cans fetching £2,000 or more, while exceptional examples can be sold for more than £3,000.
The advice comes after research of 2,000 adults found 65% have things in their sheds they haven’t used in years, with an average value of more than £800.
It was commissioned by BLAZE, which is launching a new series of Junk & Disorderly, which is on every Monday at 9pm.
Henry Cole, who presents the show, said: “Where Brits go wrong is that a lot of things they’re holding onto are worthless, from bikes to mobility scooters to brown furniture and bathroom goods.
“But at the same time, there is millions of millions of pounds worth of automotive related items, and when I go into a shed I can very quickly sift through the rubbish and find the good stuff.
“There are loads of things that can be valuable which don’t look valuable, like a G plan and mid-century furniture.”
Old oil cans could be worth more than you think (Image: BLAZE)
The study found the most common items adults have lying around include garden equipment or tools (65%), DIY materials (58%) and old tools or machinery (43%). But 59% hold onto items as they might be useful one day, while 34% said they have sentimental value.
It also emerged 14% would restore old bicycles from their garage or shed if they could and 12% would rebuild or repair tools or machinery they own.
Meanwhile 45% think it’s likely they have items of monetary value in their shed or garage that they don’t use. And 42% know other people who could also be sitting on a lot of money from unused items at their home.
Nearly half (48%) said the only thing that would motivate them to sell or get rid of their unused items would be if they moved house.
A quarter even admitted they have sold or thrown something away that they now believe to be a lot of money, with 31% claiming they thought it was just junk.
And of those who took part in the study, carried out via OnePoll.com, 53% have belongings they would rather pass down to younger generations than sell them on.
A spokesperson for BLAZE and the show Junk & Disorderly, said: “Adults are far more likely to be sitting on hidden treasures than they realise, with sheds and garages often packed with items that could be worth serious money.
“We want to highlight just how easy it is to separate genuine gems from everyday clutter and how satisfying it can be to turn forgotten belongings into cash.
“It’s all about taking a second look before writing something off as junk.”
15 ITEMS BRITS HAVE LYING AROUND IN THEIR SHEDS AND GARAGES: Garden equipment or toolsDIY materials (e.g. wood, paint or tiles etc. )Old tools or machineryBoxes of miscellaneous itemsBikes or sporting equipmentSeasonal items (e.g. Christmas decorations, camping gear etc. )Old appliances (e.g. lawnmowers, fridges)FurnitureChildren’s items no longer in useElectronics or electrical itemsCar or motorbike partsTyres or wheelsBoxes of paperwork, manuals or instructionsCollectables (e.g. toys, memorabilia or records etc.)Automotive memorabilia (e.g. petrol pumps, old oil tin cans etc.)
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