4 Things You Need to Know about Storage Auctions

StorageArea Self Storage

Share The Article

Storage auctions are a real thing and not simply something that happens only on the television. In fact, storage auctions occur when tenants stop making payments on their storage unit. The storage facility is able to lock the tenant’s unit once they miss a single month of payment. If the tenant does not pay the amount due within a certain amount of time, usually 90 days, the unit will go up for auction. If you plan to attend an auction, there are some things you need to know before you just show up and expect to win a bid. Below, we will go over the most important things to know because we believe these tips will help you.

  1. Bring the Required Items with You

You do need to bring some items along with you and these items are required to be able to even bid on any of the units. Each facility may have their own set of requirements and paperwork that you need to show, so it helps to call the facility you plan to attend an auction at.

Generally, the items that you need to bring with you are a picture ID that is valid, any resale certificates or tax licenses, a credit card, check, or some form of accepted payment.

  1. Have Supplies to Explore the Unit

In addition to the paperwork you need to bring with you, you also need to make sure that you have supplies on you to help you investigate the unit for auction. Some of the items you should have on you include a flashlight, a truck to move items you win, help to lift heavy items, a padlock to lock the unit if you are allowed to return, gloves to rummage through the content, and snacks to keep you full throughout the day.

  1. You Must Register and Show Up Early

While you may think that you are the only one heading to the auction, it is unlikely that you are. You need to make sure that you show up early AND register at the front office. If you forget to register, you will not be able to bid on the unit and your day will be wasted.

  1. Know How Long You Have and Go Through the Unit

Some storage facilities only allow you until the end of the night to clean out the unit you won while others will allow you up to 48 hours. It helps to know how much time you have, that way, you can rent a moving truck as needed to clear out the unit.

One thing you need to be prepared to do is go through the unit. You should throw away any items you do not want and load up any items you plan to take along with you and let the facility’s manager know you are done.

Storage auctions are fun and you can find a lot of great items, but you must know how to bid, when to bid, and to get the storage unit cleaned out in time.


Share The Article