He Paid Just $110 For A Mini Storage Unit And One Horror Movie Box Set Inside Has Comparable Copies Selling For $200 To $260 Online

Susan Parker

1 hour ago

Storage unit auctions are a gamble, and the best deals often come when the unit looks boring from the outside. A reseller at Treasure Hunting With Jebus says he just bought a mini storage unit for only $110, one of the cheapest he has gotten in forever. A tote full of collectibles was sitting on the ground, and he hoped that meant more waited inside.

It did. Within minutes of digging in, he says he found one horror movie box set that already paid back his whole investment, and a pile of other items that could add up.

Here is what turned up, and what the find can teach anyone who loves a bargain hunt.

The First Finds Out of the Gate

The first thing on top was an Adidas coat, a thick, nice one that is reversible. Next came a calculator, which turned out to be a TI-84 Plus Python. He noticed it looks different from the ones he is used to seeing, a bit flatter, and thinks it might be worth a little money.

There were also fantasy books, including Game of Thrones titles. He says he did not want the books themselves, but they told him the owner was into nerdy collectibles, which was exactly what he hoped to find in the tote on the ground.

The Horror Movie Box Set That Doubled His Money

The heavy tote was labeled cinema DVDs, and inside he found a stack of old VHS tapes and DVDs. Some were sealed. He points out that old, obscure horror movies are the ones to look for, because they are worth money. He also spotted the classic Wizard of Oz, complete with its paperwork, plus Night of the Living Dead and Casper.

The standout was a Nightmare on Elm Street box set featuring Freddy Krueger. He looked it up on eBay and says the last few pre-owned copies sold for $200, $200 and $260, the last one still in the plastic. His conclusion was that he had doubled his money on the entire unit with one single item. Those are recent sold prices for comparable copies, not a sale of his own set.

Classic Comedy Shows, Video Games and a DVD Player

The same tote held a run of classic Comedy Central shows on disc, including Drawn Together, Reno 911, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and a Dave Chappelle title, along with Ren and Stimpy Uncut and Happy Tree Friends. He admits he was nerding out over the collection. Who Framed Roger Rabbit was in there too.

Elsewhere in the unit he found PS2 games and an Xbox title, which he rated a solid three out of four on the keep-or-pass scale. A Walking Dead figure turned up as well. A mobile DVD player, complete with its wires, also made the pile. He says those sell pretty well.

Plush Toys, Clothes and a Few Surprises

Not everything was a winner. A tote of plush toys held bears, rabbits, Minions, a frog, Tigger and a big Winnie the Pooh with a Disney tag. He notes Disney items sell well and that some Beanie Babies were in the mix. Another tote of generic holiday plush will likely end up at a yard sale.

He also pulled out roughly 50 ties, which he plans to lot up and sell as one group, a vacuum sealer, a Hurley bag and suitcase, and a set of colorful knives. Boots in a couple of decent brands were in the shoe bags, and he says a bit of money could come from them.

One of the more promising discoveries was a stash of hand-sewn items with individual price tags of $40 and $60 attached, apparently from someone running a small boutique. He estimates there are a couple hundred dollars in just those pieces, and the larger ones are likely priced over $100. He says he usually does well with hand-sewn goods like these.

What Treasure Hunters Can Take From This

Whether you shop storage auctions, garage sales or thrift stores, the same basic habits apply. A few lessons stand out from this haul.

Check sold listings, not asking prices. He looked at what the last few copies actually sold for on eBay before deciding the box set was worth anything.
Look for niche collectors. Obscure horror titles and sealed discs sell because a small group of fans wants them.
Lot up low-value items. Rather than sell 50 ties one at a time, he plans to group them together.
Test before you buy. A unit full of clothes is common, but the small things in totes are where the money often hides.

He also had a friendly bit of advice for the previous owner and everyone else: wash your clothes before you put them away, since it makes a reseller’s job easier.

A Cheap Unit and a Pretty Good Day

By the end of the dig, he had a long list of items to sort, list and lot. He says that when he went to finish the unit, two people were clearing out the unit directly next to it. All that was left in there was a couple of hangers and some sweaters, so he did not miss anything.

His verdict was that he was pretty happy for $110. He says he may sell some items on Whatnot and put the leftover clothing and furniture out at a yard sale. For anyone dreaming of a storage unit windfall, the real takeaway may be that you do not need a fortune. Sometimes a few well-chosen discs on a cheap unit can cover the whole bill.