10 Shocking Things Found During Junk Removal Jobs

After 10 years and thousands of junk removal jobs across Long Island, the team at VanGo Junk Removal has seen it all. While most cleanouts involve the usual suspects—old furniture, appliances, and accumulated clutter—sometimes we discover items that make even our experienced crew do a double-take.

We’ve collected some of our most memorable finds to share with you. Fair warning: these stories might inspire you to finally clean out that storage unit or garage you’ve been avoiding

1. A $10,000 Comic Book Collection Forgotten in a Basement

During an estate cleanout in Huntington, we found several boxes of vintage comics from the 1960s and 70s. The homeowner had no idea they were there—they belonged to a relative who had stored them decades ago. Before tossing them, our team noticed some familiar superhero covers and suggested an appraisal. Good thing we did! The collection included several early Marvel issues worth thousands.

The Takeaway: Always have professionals check items before disposing of them, especially in inherited properties. At VanGo, owners Cosmo and Travis train all staff to identify potentially valuable items before they hit the truck.

2. Wedding Rings Hidden in a Recliner

An elderly couple in Great Neck called us to remove old furniture before downsizing. While lifting a recliner, we heard a distinct jingling sound. Hidden in the mechanism were three diamond rings that had slipped down years ago—including the wife’s original wedding ring she thought was lost forever. Her tears of joy made our entire week.

The Takeaway: Sometimes what seems like junk actually contains treasure. We always inspect furniture thoroughly before removal.

3. Cash Money in the Walls

During a renovation cleanout in Southampton, we were removing drywall when bundles of cash literally fell out of the wall—over $3,000 in old bills. Apparently, the previous homeowner didn’t trust banks. We immediately notified the current owner who was as shocked as we were.

The Takeaway: Old homes can contain surprises in the most unexpected places. This is why VanGo emphasizes honest service—our 500+ five-star reviews reflect our integrity in situations exactly like this.

4. A Fully Functional Vintage Arcade Machine

A Syosset homeowner called us to clear out an oversized garage full of “worthless junk.” Among the items was what appeared to be a broken arcade cabinet covered in tarps and boxes. Upon inspection, we discovered a pristine 1980s Ms. Pac-Man machine that still worked perfectly. The owner had forgotten purchasing it years ago! After a quick dusting, it became the centerpiece of their newly cleared game room instead of heading to our truck.

The Takeaway: Sometimes the “junk” you’ve forgotten about might be exactly what you want to keep once rediscovered.

5. Historical Documents from the 1800s

While clearing an attic in an old Oyster Bay home, we found a dusty trunk containing handwritten letters and documents dating back to the 1860s. Some appeared to be from a Civil War soldier writing home. We carefully preserved these items and helped the homeowner connect with a local historical society that was thrilled to receive such well-preserved documents.

The Takeaway: Long Island homes can contain genuine historical artifacts. Our careful inspection process ensures nothing of historical significance gets discarded.

6. A Live Python (Yes, Really)

Perhaps our most shocking discovery came during a garden shed cleanout in Massapequa. Inside an abandoned terrarium was a very much alive ball python that had apparently been surviving on mice in the shed. The homeowner had no idea it was there—it had belonged to a previous owner’s child. We carefully secured the snake and arranged for a local reptile rescue to take it.

The Takeaway: Sometimes junk removal requires specialty skills! Thankfully, our experienced team has handled just about everything you can imagine.

7. An Original Painting Worth $15,000

During an office cleanout in Melville, we found a large framed painting leaning against a wall in a storage room. It was dusty and had a small tear in the canvas. The business owner considered it trash, but something about the signature caught Cosmo’s eye. After some research, we discovered it was by a significant regional artist whose works typically sell for $10,000-20,000. The business owner was able to have it restored and eventually sold it at auction for $15,000.

The Takeaway: Art authentication is definitely not in our job description, but our commitment to customer service means we always speak up when we think something might have value.

8. A First Edition Book Signed by the Author

While cleaning out a cluttered home library in Garden City, we found a first edition of “To Kill a Mockingbird” signed by Harper Lee herself. The homeowner had inherited dozens of boxes of books and had no idea this treasure was among them. The book was later appraised at over $7,500.

The Takeaway: Books that look like ordinary clutter can sometimes be extraordinarily valuable. Our team is trained to spot potentially valuable editions.

9. Wedding Dress Preserved Since 1952

In a Rockville Centre attic cleanout, we found a perfectly preserved wedding dress from 1952, carefully wrapped in special preservation paper. The homeowner—who had recently purchased the house—had no connection to the dress. We helped them track down the previous owners’ family through social media, resulting in the dress being returned to the original bride’s daughter, who had thought it was lost during the move. The tears and hugs at the reunion showed us once again why we love what we do.

The Takeaway: Sometimes junk removal becomes family reunion facilitation! We always try to help connect meaningful items with their rightful owners.

10. Unopened Vintage Star Wars Toys

A garage cleanout in Commack revealed a box of unopened Star Wars action figures from the 1970s and 80s. The homeowner had purchased them years ago as investments but forgotten about them. Some figures were selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars to collectors. Instead of trashing them, we helped the owner connect with a collector who offered a fair price for the entire set.

The Takeaway: Toys aren’t always just toys—sometimes they’re valuable collectibles. Our knowledge of collectible markets helps ensure our customers don’t accidentally throw away small fortunes.

The VanGo Difference: More Than Just Muscle

These stories highlight something we’ve always believed at VanGo Junk Removal: quality junk removal is about more than just muscle and trucks. It’s about attention to detail, knowledge of what items might have value, and genuine care for our customers.

Owners Cosmo and Travis personally train every team member to look for items of potential value during removals. This extra step has saved customers from accidentally disposing of family heirlooms, valuable collectibles, and even significant amounts of cash over our 10 years serving Long Island.

While we can’t guarantee you’ll find hidden treasure in your junk, we can promise the same careful attention to detail that has earned us over 500 five-star reviews across Long Island.

Ready to discover what might be hiding in your cluttered spaces? Contact VanGo Junk Removal today for a no-obligation quote. Who knows what we might find together?