Treasure Hunting

            Treasure Hunters! Locate treasures for gifts or decorating by going to Flea Markets, Garage Sales and Craft Shows. I’m not talking gold coins or gem stones, although you may find some of those too. I’m talking about anything that holds value to the person that owns it. That is the true definition of a Treasure!

            This website will help both the buyer and seller in the “treasure hunting” market.

            Treasures change hands everyday. Shopping at Garage Sales, Flea Markets, and Craft Shows are some ways to get unique items to decorate or give as gifts at a great price. People change their decorating style or upgrade their kitchen getting rid of perfectly good items to make room for the changes. What once held value to them is now one more item in the treasure hunting market. The baby has outgrown his clothes and baby toys. New grandparents can pick up these items at a bargain to have a box that makes visiting at Grandma's feel like Disneyland instead of a museum. The college student is out on her own. Time for parents to reclaim the extra room and get rid of the posters, cd's, stuffed animals and other items that are no longer loved and scattered all over the place. These are great items to sell at a garage sale or even online. Grandma is downsizing to a condo. She has collected tons of candy dishes and knick knacks. Some of these could be real treasures and they are being sold for pennies!
By treasure hunting you may locate that hard to find item, an antique from days gone by, or something valuable that you can resell for 5 times what you paid for it.

            How about doing some house cleaning to make room for new treasures? You can contribute to the treasure hunting market. Do you have items that you no longer want, but at one time they held value to you? You can give them to family or charity, or you can sell the items at a garage sale, rent space at a flea market or even auction them off online. Share your treasure with someone else.   

            Garage Sales and Flea Markets are great ways to do some inexpensive treasure hunting for your home. Using someone else’s junk, cleaning it up or redesigning it can make your home look like you’ve gone to exclusive decorating stores to make it a showplace. Do you need a mirror for that dark hallway? Look no further than your neighbor’s garage sale. What about a gift for that hard to buy for aunt? A local flea market may have some unique trinket that will remind her of days gone by. Need some extra cash? Why not look for items that you can resell with the help of an online auction site!

            Craft shows and Bazaars provide hand crafted items like grandma and grandpa used to make. Homemade shelves, one of a kind designed jewelry, specialty candles and soaps, knit baby blankets and handmade doilies. You don't want to give gifts that 10 other people already found at a department store. Buying a baby gift from a Craft show ensures that when opened, it will earn Ooh’s and Ah’s from everyone watching. “Did you make it,” will be the question? Take credit for making it if you want to but watch out that Aunt Sallie doesn’t ask you to make one for her new granddaughter.

            There are other places to search for treasure besides Garage Sales, Flea Markets and Craft Shows. Did you ever stop in a Goodwill or Salvation Army Store? How about an Antique Mall (watch out for “antique” pricing though), or Thrift Shop? Most towns in America have one or more of these. If you can’t find any in your location, look online! Besides the auction sites, there are other sites that cater to “Treasure Hunters”. 

            I saved my favorite treasure hunting place for last. These items are FREE! But you have to have a sharp eye, find it first, and not care what others think about your treasure finding method. It’s called STREET SHOPPING. What is Street Shopping you ask? Some people may call it “trash picking”. I’ve found perfectly good tools, a porch swing, and even a snow blower (that works great!) destined for the trash truck.  Now I don't recommend going street shopping as a routine treasure hunting method. It can be a little unsanitary and considered a little "low class" by some people. However, those people that are changing their kitchen theme and don't want to bother with giving items to someone else will just put good, usable items in the trash. If you are driving by and see something that catches your eye, check it out. Remember the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? Keep your eyes peeled and get out the scrubber, sanitizer, and paint. Turn that trash into a treasure that you can use.

           Treasures can be found everywhere and with a little imagination you can turn that unloved, cast-off item into a showpiece for your home, a unique gift for a friend, or a way to earn extra cash.