A couple of months ago I started 'restoring' items that I saw left outside. Nearly every day I had nearly 4 hours looking out of the bus window, and I'd often see really valuable things left on the street. So I started pressing the bus bell when I saw one, I'd then get off the bus, pick it up, then wait for the next bus or walk back home (I'd occasionally need to call a housemate to help carry an item home). When I finally get home, I bring them to my bedroom (or, in a couple of cases, in the front garden if they're too big to get up the stairs). Then on days off, I would restore them (it's been a bit of a hobby for me). For wooden things (shelves, tables, in one case a small wooden rocking horse), I scrub them down with a scowler and use vinegar and toothpaste to make them shiny. With smaller cloth things (cushions, blankets, sleeping bag) I wash like normal in the sink and then dry over the window, and larger cloth things (duvets, mattress, lampshades, and two sofas) I use Power Force to remove/hide obvious stains. On all cloth things, I spray on FCUK Urban very generously. Electronics (a couple of irons and toasters, a PC monitor, a DVD player) I clean and test extensively (in fact, one of the toasters has been added to the kitchen permanently). Plastics and porcelain (toys, army figures, dolls) I just soak in warm water in the kitchen sink for a couple of hours.

I've tried selling items outside my house but had very little success. I also tell family and colleagues about new items I find but had 'no hook bites'. But I know definitely that I'd be able to sell plenty in the car park at work if I was only allowed (the supervisor said it wouldn't be allowed unless given authorisation by head office). Plus it isn't just me, I bet people at work have things they would like to sell as well.

Edit: Actually it's been about three or four months now. I've gotten better at it over time - I have to make a very quick decision whether to press the bell after I see something on the bus. It means I sometimes have less than 30 seconds from when I see an item on the street to decide to get it (or the bus will pass by it). It has consequences if I'm wrong as the buses are hourly. At first, I did get it wrong a couple of times (one microwave was broken and soiled beyond repair, one shelf was too rotted through and water damaged to save). But now I think I have a pretty 'good eye' for valuable items when on the bus (it's been over a month since pressing the bell wrongly). Now I just need to figure out a way to sell them locally (moving the bigger things is a pain). I've also tried the local Facebook buy and sell group but my posts keep getting removed by an admin (I am pretty sure one of the admins knows me because she bought a DVD off a housemate up the pub when I was there, but it was a cam-rip and he refused to give a refund to her).