Expert Henry Cole reckons Brits collectively have hundreds of millions of pounds lying around - in sheds and garages.
The TV presenter and restoration expert visited more than 1,000 sheds, and based on this, he believes Britain has only scratched the surface of the value of items stored in their outbuilding.
With hidden private collections including hundreds of cars, dozens of aircrafts and tractor and motorcycle hoards.
And he added that if anyone has automotive memorabilia and vintage oil cans or jugs taking up space, instead of running them to the tip, they could sell them for a pretty penny.
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 per cent 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 is 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.”
The study also found the most common items adults have lying around include garden equipment or tools (65 per cent), DIY materials (58 per cent) and old tools or machinery (43 per cent).
But 59 per cent hold onto items as they might be useful one day, while 34 per cent said they have sentimental value.
It also emerged 14 per cent would restore old bicycles from their garage or shed if they could and 12 per cent would rebuild or repair tools or machinery they own.
While 45 per cent think it’s likely they have items of monetary value in their shed or garage that they don’t use.
And 42 per cent know other people who could also be sitting on a lot of money from unused items at their home.
But 48 per cent 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.
But 46 per cent claim they needed the space at the time and 31 per cent thought it was just junk.
And of those who took part in the study, carried out via OnePoll.com, 53 per cent 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:
1. Garden equipment or tools
2. DIY materials (e.g. wood, paint or tiles etc.)
3. Old tools or machinery
4. Boxes of miscellaneous items
5. Bikes or sporting equipment
6. Seasonal items (e.g. Christmas decorations, camping gear etc.)
7. Old appliances (e.g. lawnmowers, fridges, freezers etc.)
8. Furniture
9. Children’s items no longer in use
10. Electronics or electrical items
11. Car or motorbike parts
12. Tyres or wheels
13. Boxes of paperwork, manuals or instructions
14. Collectables (e.g. toys, memorabilia or records etc.)
15. Automotive memorabilia (e.g. petrol pumps, old oil tin cans etc.)
