One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
An antique dealer has gone viral after finding over $300,000 worth of loot — including several rare coins and fur coats — in a hoarder home he purchased for a paltry $7,500.
Alex Archbold, who owns an antique shop in Edmonton, Alberta and runs a popular Youtube channel with hundreds of thousands of followers, purchased the home and belongings of his late music teacher, Bette-Joan Rac.
“I was told she had a modest income and so I wasn’t expecting much,” the 46-year-old Canadian told Bored Panda. “When I saw the inside of the house for the first time, I was a bit shocked at the state of the home as she was a very nicely dressed lady.”
“It was in an extreme state of hoarding,” Archbold said. “In fact, the only reason I bought the contents was because I thought it might be a fun adventure for our YouTube channel and at very least, I would get a grand piano. It was impossible to see what was in the house because of how full it was at the time. Places were piled up to the ceiling.”
Along with his wife and kids, the Youtuber plundered the house in search of anything they could possibly sell and were immediately surprised when they came across silver bars hiding in a stack of papers.
According to Archbold, the bars were only the tip of the iceberg.
“Our most impressive finds included wallets full of cash, a 100-ounce silver bar, and bags full of gold and diamond rings,” he said. An initial auction raked in nearly $200,000. Archbold expects to bring in at least another $100,000 by the time the house is completely emptied.
The Alberta Prime Times reported that Rac was born in 1944 and was on track to become a dancer until a broken femur from a car accident caused her to be bedridden for nearly 5 months.
Rac continued to pursue her love for music at the Royal Conservatory of Music and at the age of 23, she graduated with a piano solo performer degree and a year later received a piano teaching degree.
One former student of the eccentric teacher as “a proper lady no matter the circumstance.”
“They don’t make women like her anymore,” said Vince Anderson. “Honestly it was like a time travel portal opened in the 16th century and she walked in.”
Archbold and his family also found several boxes from high-end designers such as Chanel, Burberry and Tiffany.
In addition, they uncovered whole wardrobes stuffed with fur coats and more designer clothing dating back decades.
Valuable old records, vintage cutlery, shoes, books, and at least three sewing machines were also discovered in the house.
“Everything in here has potential, which is why we bought the contents,” explained Archbold.
“This was the best investment I have made to date,” laughed the Youtube sensation.
Archbold revealed that he kept the grand piano for himself and hopes to move it into a cafe he plans to open next to his existing shop.
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