There's cash in car-boot clutter, so pitch up and turn junk into treasure

Published on Wednesday 31 August 2005 12:04

THEY set their alarm clocks for 5am to find the best buy on the trestle tables, think nothing of wading in mud for potential investments and haggling is their favourite hobby.

This new breed of bargain hunters have made their mark on the shopping scene - but they're certainly not afraid to spend, spend, spend. Every year, Britons part with 1.46 billion buying second-hand goods at car boot sales, a new survey by Prudential has revealed.

John Dixon, a partner with Georgian Antiques on Pattison Street in Edinburgh, reckons our love for car boots comes because we are naturally nosey.

"People love having a rummage in other people's property! And all these programmes like Flog It! have helped. People do get a buzz from wheeling and dealing."

Second-hand goods expert Dr Liz Parsons adds: "British consumers have developed a love affair with all things retro, antique and kitsch.

"Left uninspired by 'samey' high street brands, shoppers are now looking for a unique shopping experience where they can be entertained by the fact that new and very varied items appear for sale at every visit."

The car boot sale is fast becoming a popular summer activity - almost 40 per cent of people say they attend sales.

Books are the most popular items to buy or sell at car boots, followed by toys, clothing and music, according to Prudential's survey. But many people scour the pitches for collectibles, like the 2 teapot bought at a Tamworth car boot this year that sold for 32,000 at auction.

Spotting potential antiques or investments is tricky if you're not an expert though, says Lorne Spicer, presenter of Car Booty.

"Unless you have a lot of knowledge on collectibles, look for something that you're interested in and go with your gut instinct. Use eBay as an online reference library.

"If you're interested in books, you can see what types of books people are paying really good money for and which ones are selling well.

John Dixon says looking at it as a fun day out, rather than a way of making a fortune, is the most sensible attitude. He adds: "The most simple piece of advice is; are you happy with the piece and the price you are paying?"

"Car boot sales are a hard slog - you have to be there early with a sharp eye," says John.

"Always haggle at car boot sales - that's the real joy of them," adds Lorne.

"There is never really a set price on something, like you would find in the shops. If you're interested in three items, ask the best price for all three and often you pay full price for two items and get the third thrown in free."

To find a true bargain, John says it needs three factors, rarity, desirability and affordability. "Rare on its own isn't enough, it has to be desirable as well."

He adds that buyers should be aware there are many "aged" antiques on the market - modern copies imported from the Far East - and there is very little way of telling the difference between them and the originals.

"But you can look at the price - if it's too good to be true, it's probably a forgery."

UK families are hoarding a staggering 5bn worth of unwanted, forgotten goods, say seconds goods store Cash Generator.

They say the average household could be 230 better off if we cleared out those cupboards and looted our lofts.

Mark Franks, co-author of de-cluttering bible Life Laundry, has helped hundreds of people clear out unwanted goods. "Many people are completely unaware that they are sitting on thousands of pounds worth of goods," he says. "I once discovered an old guitar that sold for 16,000."

So, what should we hold on to for future investments?

"Today, it's the modern collectibles and limited editions that dominate the world of collecting," says Lorne.

"Hold on to items that are iconic of a certain era. If you have something and think, 'That's so 1960s', it's probably got a value."

Once you've sorted the junk from the possible future collectibles, Mark Franks has these tips before you sell the rest.

• Don't throw anything away - one person's unwanted goods is another person's treasure.

• To ensure you get the best price for your clutter, seek out professional advice. Reputable second-hand goods stores will have experts to value your items.

• If you are selling electrical goods, avoid auctions or car boot sales. You'll get a better price for these in outlets where you can show that they work properly.

• Be especially careful when selling high value or specialist goods like jewellery and musical instruments. These need an expert to value them properly and are the goods that most people make a mistake with.

• Car boot: If you want to clear out your junk fast and make some quick cash, sell at a car boot sale. You turn up and just pay for your pitch on the day - anything between 8 and 15.

• Auctions: Best for more expensive items. Whatever you sell, both online and traditional auctions have commission and lot charges to pay. With traditional auctions, there is a lot of time between putting items into auction and receiving your money - anything up to three months.

• Seconds goods stores: These will charge a percentage on what they make on the item, but there's no guarantee it will sell.

• Find A Fortune, by Lorne Spicer, is published by Orion, priced 12.99. Georgian Antiques is based at 10 Pattison Street, Leith Links