Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Abandoned Self Storage Units Can Be Sold Or Auctioned

By Adriana Noton


Self storage units are a popular way for people to store items. They can be useful when between homes while moving and can also be used when there is not enough storage space in a home or business. They come in many sizes from small lockers to large units.

Units are sometimes abandoned. This can happen when a tenant dies. Or, if a tenant has not paid the rental fees for a period of time, the unit is made inaccessible to them. When this happens, the storage company has the right to sell or auction or sell the unit in order to recover the unpaid fees. The increasing popularity of these auctions can be partly attributed to recent television shows, although it has been going on for far longer then they have been aired.

People attending one of these auctions do not know what the locker holds. While there may be a general listing of the type of contents, only the highest bidder will be able to explore the entire contents. When the locker is sold, the buyer assumes responsibility for the locker, and must empty it of all contents.

There are many different sizes of storage units. Some are small and hold a few items. Others are quite large and can hold the contents of an entire home. Larger lockers that have many items inside are generally more popular at auction and usually garner a higher price.

The lockers are not opened until the auction begins. Those interested may look at the contents, but most places will not allow them to step inside or touch anything. There is generally a short time limit to peruse what is inside before the bidding begins. Once bidding begins, it is like any other auction, and the person who bids the highest amount will win possession of the contents.

One the auction is over, the new owners can begin looking through the contents. They may be required to put their own lock on the locker if they are not going to empty it immediately, or if they are going to continue bidding on other units. Most often, contents must be removed within a time limit, usually 24 hours. Everything, including items that the buyer does not want must be removed. Many companies will not permit their refuse containers to be used for auctioned units, so even refuse must be hauled away.

Items that may be found that are of a personal nature must be relinquished to the storage company. These can include identification and paperwork that personally pertains to the prior owner. If boxes and containers are moved to a different location to be sorted and emptied, and things of this nature are found, they should be brought back as soon as possible.

Self storage auctions can be a fun experience. Many people make a living doing this, and sell their winnings in second hand stores or online. While rare, there can sometimes be items of great value, which can make this a lucrative hobby. Either way, there is a lot of work involved, and it can be very time consuming and perhaps a loss of money if there is nothing of value inside.




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