What You Need to Know About Public Storage-Unit Auctions
If you have been thinking about attending a public storage-unit auction but have never been to one in the past, there are some things that you will want to know about. This way, you will have an easy time getting ready for and understanding the auction rules, which will ensure that you will have a much more enjoyable experience.
Sign Up Ahead of Time
Depending on the storage-unit company you are going to be bidding at, you will need to check to see whether you need to apply for a bidders' card before the date of the auction. Some companies just require you to sign up on the same day, but it is best to verify what your options are for signing up so you will not miss out on the chance to participate.
Know What You Are Bidding On
Here is the tricky part. What you are bidding on is technically nothing more than whatever the contents of the shed happen to be. The contents could be forty empty boxes, although that is unlikely. Then again, those boxes and bins could be full of extremely valuable antiques. The only hint you will receive in terms of what is in the storage unit will be when the company first opens the door. The auctioneer will usually break the lock in front of everyone, lift the door, and allow a few minutes for people to look inside before the bidding begins for that particular storage unit. You are not allowed in the unit. You are not allowed to touch anything, even if it is right on the edge and you can reach it without going in.
Be Prepared to Move Everything
If you bid on a storage unit, and you happen to win, you will need to be prepared to move everything in that unit out and off of the property. The exact rules will vary from one storage-unit company to the next, so it is vital that you call to clarify the requirements. For example, some storage-unit companies will give you until the end of the business day to have everything removed. Others may give you only a few hours to get everything out—and they do mean everything. You have to take everything out of the unit, even the things you do not want or that are obviously garbage. Therefore, you will want to make sure that you come prepared with a proper way to move everything, such as a trailer attached to the back of your vehicle, a long-bed truck, or a moving truck.
Before you know it, you will be a pro at this, and you will be anxious to attend as many storage-unit auctions as possible.
Visit sites such as http://www.fortknoxstorageaz.com to find storage facilities that hold auctions in your area.