\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. It can be fun to bid on everything you see, but thats a quick way to go broke. If anyone has these items, pleas. A company rep cuts the lock off of the storage unit and rolls up the door so you can see inside. Not sure about the size you need? Most likely, the agreement specifies exactly what the storage facility can do and when. % of people told us that this article helped them. Next, think about what you would do with the contents of the unit if you were to win the auction. First, many storage facilities have strict policies against cutting locks off of units. 15 days: Arizona: Sale at public auction (unpaid rent only) Arkansas: Sale: California: 1) Sale at public auction 2) Destroyed if total value of items is less than $700 OR. Public Storage is the leading provider of wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Just go to the home pages of storage unit companies in your areaor check out websites that compile storage unit auctions like StorageAuctions.com and Storage Treasures. You can check with the storage facility directly, or you can look for a public records search online. Laws vary from state to state, but most storage unit companies can put a unit up for auction somewhere between 3090 days after the renter fails to pay. Do you honestly think they are gonna drive 3 hours back just to return photos of little Johnny in his soccer uniform? If you know you won't be able to pay your bill, let the storage facility know as soon as possible, Sutton said. Technically, you can find these in newspaper sections that include legal notices. Most websites show you a picture of the unit and describe what it appears to contain. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Storage locker auctions are typically conducted in one of two ways: live auctions or online. Clean the empty storage unit before returning the keys. Abandon the unit if theres nothing worth keeping and your contract allows it; the storage unit company will sell the items for you. If you fail to pay by this day, the company can declare that you have abandoned your property. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a362b629c70e9d0e4f05ef3d8fc65d4e" );document.getElementById("cf4f07224a").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); its the winning bidders responsibility to clean out the unit within 24 to 48 hours. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. What a rude comment. Most self-storage facilities will have a donation center. Answered on Mar 31st, 2014 at 6:45 PM. Their toll-free hotline is 1-888-368-7238. Make an appointment with the daughter to see an attorney. This information is typically entered into a database that is accessible to law enforcement officials. Bidders are typically required to pay with cash or a cashiers check on the day of the auction; no other forms of payment are usually accepted. 1) Sale at public auction 2) Thrown away. I am very disturbed about that loss. The next step after winning a storage auction is transporting those items out of the unit, and if it's a big haul, you may find yourself needing professional help. When Does Public Storage Auction Your Stuff? Mind you, storage facilities dont just up and sell your things. The videos explained how to bid online for the contents, sight unseen. Storage auctions can be a great way to find thrifty items to put in your new home. Answered on May 23rd, 2013 at 2:01 PM. Is it 90 degrees outside? How Storage Unit Auctions Work When storage locker renters fail to pay their monthly rent for a certain period of time, the storage facility will auction off the contents off the box to the highest bidder. These lien sale auctions, however, seldom bring in enough money to cover both the rent due and the cost of holding the sale. Storage unit companies begin the bidding process once all interested parties have had a chance to view the unit. With a little detective work, you should be able to track down the new owner of your storage unit and find out what they paid for it. included were my the only photos of my father in the military. Stick to a budget. What Can (And Cant) I Store in a Storage Unit? With no income, my storage was sold at auction in March of 2018 at U-Haul Moving and Storage located at 169 Meriden Rd. Its hard to feel that way if your work area is messy and unorganized. Maybe one day theyll end up back in your possession after all! It is totally okay if you just want to get rid of everything. We may earn money when you click on our links. I have 3 children, we have been homeless for 6 years. If you win the auction, be prepared to unload the units contents (maybe bring some gloves) and pay on the spot. Second, cutting a lock off is not always an easy task. 671K views 3 years ago This is the second video covering the pair of units we bought at the auction. Redeem your loan. Learn more. 2 - Use the trading post as temporary storage. Can You Cut Someone Else Lock off a Storage Unit? Though most self-storage companies have never participated in that show, many (if not all), do host auctions throughout the year. Sometimes a unit wont get a single bid. Typically, you just need to be at least 18 years old and have legal identification (like a drivers license). For online auctions, you also get the opportunity to see whats inside. There are ways to get your stuff back, even after it's been sold at auction. Kurt Manwaring brings nearly a decades worth of research experience as a business consultant to the Move.org team. The business model is as simple as they come: buy low, sell high. Thats interesting to know that if you do buy a storage unit from an auction that its your responsibility to have it cleared out within the next 24 to 48 hours. Otherwise, important account alerts and notifications will be missed.