What kinds of items do pickers look for the most?

Pickers tend to look for items with steady demand from collectors and decorators. Common targets include old advertising signs and store displays, vintage toys, tools, gas station and automobile items, primitive and farm pieces, mid-century furniture, quality older furniture, pottery, vintage clothing, records, and anything with a strong regional or historical connection.

Condition, originality, and rarity drive value. An unrestored item with original paint often appeals more than one that has been heavily repainted or altered.

Interests also shift with trends and with the buyers a picker serves. A picker who supplies a sign dealer will chase signs, while another who sells to decorators may focus on rustic furniture and architectural salvage. If you want to know whether your items might appeal to a picker, a short conversation and a few photos are usually enough to find out.