Abandoned storage unit auctions have grown since A&E Network’s Storage Wars hit the airwaves in 2010. A typical abandoned storage unit auction doesn’t have the same kind of drama you see on television, but it can be a lot of fun and lead to some incredible finds if you have a plan when you attend a storage unit auction. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you decide to bid at a storage unit auction.
1. Have a Plan to Deal with Waste
Most (if not all) storage units contain useless trash that must be dealt with. If you win a storage unit auction, the storage unit company typically gives you between 48 and 72 hours to empty and sweep the unit clean. You are not allowed to use the storage company’s dumpster, so you need to have a plan to deal with the unwanted junk. One convenient option is a roll-off dumpster rental. Some storage companies will allow a dumpster rental company to drop off a dumpster right at the storage unit location, making trash removal quick and easy, and you avoid having to transport the trash home with your treasures.
If the storage unit company does not allow you to have a roll-off dumpster dropped at the unit’s location, you can have it delivered to your home, where you can process the merchandise at a more leisurely pace.
2. Have Proper Transportation to Remove Your Purchase
A common newbie mistake is winning a storage unit auction only to discover that the contents are more than your vehicle can handle. You may even find a carefully hidden large piece of furniture or old CRT television, and there is no way that it will fit into your vehicle. Since you cannot dispose of it using the storage company’s dumpsters, you have a problem. A good strategy for bidding in a storage unit auction is to have a pick-up truck with a large bed—a trailer hitch and trailer are not a bad idea either. But if you don’t own a pickup and don’t have a good buddy with one that you can convince to come with you to the auction, there is always renting a U-Haul to bring your winnings home. If the storage company allows a rental dumpster to be delivered for you, you may not need a huge vehicle at all.
3. Get Organized
Winning a storage unit auction can overwhelm you if you are not organized and ready for the amount of stuff coming your way. Most experienced storage unit auction hunters have specific types of merchandise they are looking for when bidding on storage units. This might be precious metals, collectible toys, high-end electronics and furniture, even weapons and firearms. But along with the things that you like, you are going to get a whole lot of items you don’t like, such as old mattresses and box springs, cheap particle-board furniture, broken toys and tools, mounds and mounds of clothing, cleaning supplies, and personal care items.
Dealing with the contents of a storage unit is simply dividing it into four parts
- Items to keep or sell
- Donate
- Recycle
- Throw away
Some abandoned storage unit treasure hunters help build their private collections of vintage toys, baseball cards, comic books, weapons, memorabilia, coins, and much more. Others use them to get tools, clothing, supplies, and other useful equipment at pennies on the dollar. Many others make a living by reselling the goods they discover in abandoned storage units.
Donation is a great way to deal with unwanted clothing, cleaning supplies, and unopened personal care items. Many organizations that provide services to those in need are always looking for personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving kits, deodorant, hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, and much more. You find these items in abundance in most abandoned storage units. The Humane Society and many other organizations that take care of unwanted pets have a constant need for towels, blankets, and cleaning supplies,
Before tossing everything into your dumpster rental, also look at ways to recycle some of the remaining material. The return you get from recycling scrap metal from storage units alone may be enough to pay for the auction itself.
4. Know Where to Get Rid of the Stuff You Don’t Want
There will be a tremendous amount of stuff you don’t want that will take up precious space in your home for all the stuff you want. As a result, you need a plan to get rid of the good things you don’t want or need. There are several different ways to sell that stuff to others who want it.
- eBay – Great for collectibles, clothing, and small unique items.
- Facebook Marketplace – Great for getting rid of furniture or other large items that you don’t want to ship. It is also good for advertising yard sales (another great way to get rid of things you don’t want).
- Craigslist – Also suitable for selling or giving away furniture, home electronics and video games, unusual large items that are not convenient to ship.
- Auction House – There are many auction houses that are out there willing to take your unwanted merchandise and sell it on consignment, with you splitting the earnings.
Are You Bidding in Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions? Give Circle J a Call!
The experts at Circle J can help you figure out the perfect size of roll-off dumpster rental for the abandoned storage unit you win. Get advice from our staff of fast and friendly roll-off dumpster rental experts at Circle J Roll-Offs by completing our online contact form or 334.271.6900 (for Montgomery area customers) or call 251.661.0001 (for Mobile area customers) or send email to sales@circlejroll-offsinc.com