storage auction tips

Wait Before Throwing Away These Items!

During your time participating in storage auctions, you are bound to come across some “junk” items. Not every storage unit contains valuables, with many containing nothing more than old furniture and empty boxes. But just because an item is old and obsolete doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s worthless. On the contrary, some items that are often viewed as a junk can be resold for a profit. Old Televisions With the advent of high-definition flat-screen TVs, the old cathode-ray TVs have …

Why Storage Auctions are a Good Investment

Participating in storage auctions is a smart investment that will almost certainly pay off in the long run. Whether you’re looking to start a new career or just earn some extra cash on the side, it will help you achieve these goals and more. How Storage Auctions Work Storage auctions work on the principle of auctioning off the contents of abandoned, delinquent self-storage units. When you rent a storage unit, you typically sign a contract in which you agree to …

Things To Consider When Bidding on Storage Units

Thinking about starting a buy-sell storage auction business? Doing so can be a fun and financially rewarding venture, but you need to have a general understanding of how the bidding system works. Far too many people are drawn to the allure of making quick money, but they ultimately fail to succeed because they don’t understanding the bidding process. In today’s blog post, we’re going to reveal some of the things you should consider when bidding on storage units. What’s Your …

Wait…. That Junk Might Be Worth Something

Tired of winning storage units at auction only to discover they contain nothing more than old electronics, worn-down boxes and other items of little-to-no value? There’s no guarantee that each and every unit will be profitable. If there was, you would probably see more people entering this business. However, what you “think” is junk might actually be worth something, so use caution when throwing away items acquired through storage auctions. Scrap Metal It’s not uncommon for auction hunters to come …

Top Tips To Maximize Your Storage Auction Profits

The business of buying and selling the contents of abandoned self-storage units can be incredibly lucrative and self-rewarding. But like most businesses, there’s no guarantee of success, which is why it’s important for newcomers to familiarize themselves with the ins and outs of this trade. Following the tips listed below will help you maximize your profits while increasing your chances of establishing a successful, long-lasting business. Diversify Your Business Don’t place all of your eggs in a single basket. To …

What Should I Wear to a Storage Auction?

Newcomers to the storage auction business often wonder what they should wear. While there’s no dress code — not at any of the auctions I’ve attended at least — there are a few basic rules you’ll want to follow when choosing your clothes. Familiarizing yourself with these rules will give you the upper hand, streamlining the process of bidding on abandoned auctions, cleaning them out, and reselling the valuables. Comfortable Shoes A good pair of shoes will go a long …

Dealing With Competition at Storage Auctions

Storage auctions have become increasingly popular in the wake of hit reality TV shows like Storage Hunters. And when people show up to these auctions, it leads to more competition. But competition isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you know how to deal with it. Like all markets, storage auctions will balance out, with some of the competition going away. However, you can further increase your chances of success by following the tips outlined below. Don’t Get Into Bidding …

Defining a ‘Niche’ For Your Storage Auction Biz

Still struggling to turn a profit from buying and selling the contents of abandoned storage units? TV shows like Auction Hunters can make this industry seem like a profit-making machine. But like any job, it requires hard work, experience and dedication to succeed. However, one helpful tip to increase your chances of success is to define a niche. If you’re scratching your head trying to understand what exactly this means, keep reading to learn more about the different niches in …

Should I Open a Retail Store For My Business?

If you’re in the business of buying and selling the contents of abandoned storage auctions, you might be wondering whether or not it’s beneficial to open your own brick-and-mortar retail store. Having a store will provide you with a convenient location from which to sell your recently acquired products. At the same time, however, it’s also an extra expense, and some people may not have the extra cash to afford it. To better answer this question, we’re going to take …

How Storage Auctions Work

The advent of popular cable TV shows like Storage Wars and Auction Hunters has spurred a newfound popularity for the storage auction business. This once quiet industry now receives thousands of more active participants, all of whom are eager to strike it rich by bidding on storage units. As a beginner, though, you may feel confuse regarding the process. The self-storage facilities rarely provide any information on how it works, adding further confusion for newcomers. Why Storage Units Go Up …

Planning Ahead For Storage Auctions

One of the biggest mistakes newcomers to the storage auction business make is failing to plan ahead. Showing up to an auction with no clear plan of action will place you miles behind the rest. However, you can make the process easier (and more lucrative) by taking the time to plan your course of action. For some helpful tips on how to plan your storage auction strategy, keep reading. Create a Schedule It’s recommended that you create a schedule of …

Obvious and Not-So-Obvious Benefits of Storage Auctions

With popular cable TV shows like Storage Wars and Auction Hunters bringing storage auctions into the limelight, more and more people are jumping into this business in hopes of striking it big. There’s a certain allure to bidding on units without knowing what exactly it contains, which is another reason why this industry continues to grow larger with each passing year. This week, we’re going to reveal some of the obvious and not-so-obvious benefits of storage auctions. Potential To Strike …

How To Spot Valuable Collectables at Storage Auctions

Wouldn’t it be great if each and every storage unit auction contained a treasure trove of valuable items? If this were the case, you would probably see more people entering this business. While some storage units contain jewelry, firearms and other high-dollar items, others contain few items of any real value. The good news, however, is that you can often identify valuable storage units by looking for certain types of collectables. Autographed Memorabilia If you see an autographed item in …

Storage Auctions: How To Get Started as a Buyer

Whether you’re looking to start a full-time business, or if you just want to earn some extra cash on the side, the storage auction business is a fun and financially rewarding venture that won’t disappoint. You can set your own hours, attend the auctions that YOU want to attend, and discover treasure troves of hidden valuables. But how do you get started in this business? Scout Out Self-Storage Facilities First and foremost, you’ll need to scout out self-storage facilities in …

Storage Auction Etiquette: What You Should Know

Attending a storage unit auction for the first time can be daunting, and oftentimes confusing, experience. You must know the written rules, as well as the unwritten rules, to succeed in this competitive business. The written rules are relatively easy to obtain and can be usually be acquired through the self-storage facility’s front office; it’s the unwritten rules that typically go unnoticed. This week, we’re going to dive into this subject by revealing the unwritten etiquette of storage auctions. Only …

Did You Know? Storage Auction Tricks of The Trade

Arrive Early Whether this is your first storage auction or your hundredth, you should make it a point to arrive early. If the auction is scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM, for instance, arrive no later than 10:45 AM. This will give you plenty of time to complete any necessary paperwork (usually required for first-time bidders), and you can get a feel for the storage units and other bidders. The bottom line is that you should arrive early to all …

Storage Auction Myths and Misconceptions

Every Unit Is Valuable If this were the case, you’d see a lot more people bidding on storage units. The fact is that some units contain valuables, and others don’t. It’s up to you to determine whether or not a unit is valuable, and if so, how much to bid. Performing a visual valuation on a unit isn’t an easy task, but you’ll eventually learn which items to look for. You can check out some of our previous blog posts …

I Won My First Storage Auction. What Happens Next?

This is a question many new storage hunters ask themselves. It may not happen on your first trip, or even your second, but you will eventually win a storage unit at auction. As the winning bidder, you’re responsible for completing several tasks, some of which you may already know but others you may not. While the rules regarding storage auctions vary depending on the facility, most require the winning bidder to remove all contents from the unit within 24-72 hours. …

Don’t Get Blacklisted at Storage Auctions

When a self-storage facility blacklists you from participating in future auctions, it can spell disaster for your business. Granted, you’ll still be able to participate in auctions hosted by other facilities, but these facilities may be farther away, have more competition, and yield less valuable items. The bottom line is that you should take certain precautions to ensure you remain in good standing with all self-storage facilities that you do business with. What Is Blacklisting? Blacklisting is another term for …

Storage Auction Tips For The Winter Season

Some storage unit hunters automatically throw in the towel and call it quits during the winter season. The cold temperatures and unpredictable climate add a new dynamic to this competitive business. However, this can actually prove beneficial, as it discourages newcomers from attending auctions. If you’re willing to put forth the effort, you’ll find the winter months are a lucrative time for storage auctions. Yes, you’ll have to endure cold weather and potentially even snow, sleet and rain when attending …

What Should I Bring To a Storage Unit Auction?

Pen/Pencil and Notepad From the moment the auctioneer breaks the lock and opens the unit, you should immediately begin writing down items of potential value. If you notice an item that you believe is of value, make a note of it on your notepad. You can even write an estimated dollar value next to the name. Doing so will give you a better idea of whether or not a unit is worth bidding on. You don’t need to any fancy …

Pricing For Resale

Pricing Your Stuff: from garage sales to brick-and-mortar stores to online sales. When setting a price for an item, you must consider exactly where that item is going to be sold. Will it be sold at a Garage Sale? Will it be sold On Line? Will it be sold at a shop? So many things to consider when setting a price! I chose 10 items from around my home and I went to my handy websites to estimate how much I could ask …

Amy “The Junker”

Hi! My name is Amy Lake and I am Storage Unit Auction List’s newest Blogger!!!! But…I am also a Junker, a Collector, an antique Hunter, and an Auction Seeker, Craft maker, Artist, Decorator and an all-around Humorous Person!!! I started “Collecting” “Junk” when I was 13. As a Birthday gift, my best friend gave me a pair of WWII Hand Painted Wooden Philippino Shoes. I fell in Love with those shoes!!!! From that moment forward, I was on the “Hunt” for the Unique, the Unusual …

Stay In The Loop And Watch This Week’s Webinar On Income Demographics Now!

Weren’t able to attend the live recording of our weekly webinar session? Visit this link to hear a review a recording of the live webinar session: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4125850664166806528 This week we discussed how to determine income demographics in specific geographic locations to help improve your chances of a successful day of auction hunting! Want to get registered early for next week’s webinar? Each week we host a live webinar that lasts no longer than an hour. We pick new topics each week, provide a slide show on …

Weekly Webinar Recap!

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the live recording of this week’s webinar! We discussed how to spot various auction participants, including the collectors and gamblers, how to choose your bidding strategy and how to keep yourself in the green and a few helpful tips and hints for determining the value of of a storage unit. We hoped if you are new to the world of auction hunting that you learned a lot and that if you …

Weekly Webinar Topic:Discovering the Competition, Developing Bidding Strategies, & Determining Unit Worth

So far, the webinars have been a huge success! In our debut webinar, I teamed up with Ryan Beierlein, Vice President of Operations to review Storage Unit Auction List Features and Tools and how to best use these for finding auctions and improving your resale business. Last week, Sarah Swan, our Operations Manager took a turn in the big black webinar recording swivel chair and we brought you information on auction basics. We covered information for new comers such as …

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to Sell Your Holiday Decorations!

Sorting Your Decorations Tis the season to divest yourself of all the holiday décor you’ve amassed over the year with each storage locker you’ve purchased! Christmas decorations are one of the most commonly found items in storage lockers, and the best time to sell these items is the months leading up to Christmas when these items are in high demand. While selling these items can be time consuming, the payoff can be worth the extra effort. Before selling your décor, …

Turning Auction Finds into Christmas Presents

Stuck in A Christmas Shopping Rut? Shopping for your loved one during the holidays can be difficult. The thought of the dreaded holiday mall traffic is enough to cause nightmares. Not to mention the stress of finding the perfect gift for everybody in your life. What do you get for the friend that has everything? And does your dad really need another tie? Storage units can be a great place to find gently used or even brand new goods that …

5 Simple Steps to a Cleaner Space and a Happier Storage Hunter

Junk and storage auctions kind of go hand in hand—practically any storage auction you win, no matter how profitable, is bound to have some junk. So where does that junk end up? Some people throw it away. Some people donate it to thrift stores…and others collect it in their garage until there’s no room for a car, or even a bicycle, for that matter. Although you might just have a bicycle somewhere in that mountain of stuff…but you wouldn’t know that unless …

How to Make Enemies at a Storage Auction: Now With More Cats!

Yesterday I wrote an article about how to make friends at a storage auction….but I know what you’re really thinking. You know what Val, forget friends! I want everyone to hate me at storage auctions! I don’t want anyone to talk to me or help me out ever. Yeah, I want to be a jerk! Well, you’re in luck, because I’ve just composed a list of some helpful tips that will make you even more despicable than Dave Hester. And …

10 Creative Ways to Upcycle Storage Auction Junk: Part 1

Buying from storage auctions is a great way to recycle used goods in your community around you. Keeping usable goods out of landfills greatly helps reduce our impact on the environment and the wonderful world we live in. For the environmentally conscious folks among us, you might be wondering what the heck you can do with that stuff you end up with that you just can’t sell. Well…why not upcycle it?! Upcycling is all about thinking outside of the box…and …

The Common Junk and How to Get Rid of it

While we must always remain hopeful that we’ll someday find that proverbial pot of gold at a storage unit auction, we must also come to terms with the fact that there will be a lot of common, everyday junk in the storage units that we buy. This junk, however, will most likely be the bulk of what you sell, so it’s best to get used to it and learn how to profit off of it. Here are few of the …

Fees, Fees, and More Fees!

So you’ve decided that your limit at today’s storage auction is to spend $400 on a locker. Okay, sounds reasonable. Naturally, you go to the bank and withdraw $400 from your savings account. Stop right there! You’re going to need more than just $400! I know, you’re probably confused because you just said your limit was $400…so what’s the deal? Well, did you take into consideration any of the fees you’ll have to pay at the auction? If you want …

Don’t Base Your Bid On…

When it comes down to it, making money off of storage auctions is a huge gamble. You never really know what you’ll find in a storage unit until you’ve won it and you’re picking through it. So does that mean you have to blindly throw your money down on a unit and hope for the best? Of course not! Here at Storage Unit Auction List, we’re all about giving you the best advice on being an educated buyer, so when you take …

Guest Blog: Organizing Your Winnings

Winning a storage auction is awesome, especially when there are a lot of valuable items inside, but the subsequent organization process that follows can be trying at times. Personally, I recommend creating three piles – one for items I intend to sell immediately, another for things I intend to keep in my home, and a third for the items I will place in storage for the time being. Although it’s somewhat ironic that some of the treasures that you’ve …

The Art of Valuating Art in Storage Auctions

Artists have been around for as long as humans have had the motor skills to pick of a piece of charcoal. Through the years, society has used art to show devotion, to express feeling, and to convey messages. Really, as much as we might overlook it in our day to day lives, it’s incredibly important. As an artist myself, it’s something I hold very dear. But let me tell you—us artists can be a confusing group of people, and at …

The ABC’s of Storage Auctions: Part 2

And now for the final chapter of The ABC’s of Storage Auctions! New blood – A newbie; a person who is new to bidding. Don’t underestimate the new blood or confuse them for a looky-loo; they can be just as fierce as the seasoned pros as they’re trying to prove their worth amongst the other bidders and carve out a place in the business. Open bid auction – Open bid auctions, also known as English auctions, are arguably the most common type. …

The ABC’s of Storage Auctions: Part 1

No, these aren’t your Grandma’s ABCs. We’ve compiled a list from A-Z of helpful terms and tips that will help you become a more informed (if not better) storage hunter. Who knows, maybe you can even share the list with your aspiring little storage hunting tots. Auctioneer – The man or woman responsible for running the storage auction, popularly known for the “auctioneer’s chant”. Some facility owners will hold the auctions themselves in order to cut the cost of hiring a licensed auctioneer. …

The Gentleman & Gentlewoman’s Guide to Proper Craigslist Etiquette: for the Buyer

And now it’s time for part 2 of our Gentleman and Gentlewoman’s Guide to Craigslist Etiquette! Last time we showed you how to be a polite seller, and today we will show you the most courteous and proper techniques for buying items on Craigslist. Many storage hunters use Craigslist in conjunction with storage auctions, and will buy items at discounted prices in order to resell and to supplement their inventory. Indeed, there are some manners you’ll have to remember before …

The Gentleman & Gentlewoman’s Guide to Proper Craigslist Etiquette: for the Seller

For some storage auction hunters, Craigslist is an essential facet to their selling strategy. With good reason; Craigslist is completely free and it’s by far one of the easiest ways to reach out and connect with potential buyers and sellers in your area. However, since it’s so easily accessible, and you don’t need to worry about a seller’s rating or positive feedback…people seem to immediately forget about etiquette. Yes, there is a certain etiquette involved in all aspects of …

Organizing: Your First Step to Continued Success

Once you become more invested in the storage auction industry, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of information you obtain: inventory, phone numbers of contacts, information about antiques and collectibles, and lots more. Don’t stress out, and definitely don’t stuff all of your info in a junk drawer and hope it organizes itself. Here’s some helpful tips instead. Before you Begin… Even if this is just a part time deal for you, it’s really in your best interest …

The Fashion Wars of Storage Wars

When attending a storage auction, it’s in your best interest to dress appropriately comfortably. But what exactly should you wear? Do you need some fashion inspiration? You can take some inspiration from the storage hunters on TV, but do so with caution…or you’ll be making a total fashion flub. Today, I’m playing the role of fashion police as we take a look at two of TV’s most stylish storage hunters from A&E’s incomparable hit series, Storage Wars. So…who will win today’s fashion …

Storage Auctions and the Art of Bartering

Good old fashioned bartering: the art of trading your goods for another person’s goods is a time honored tradition that’s older than America itself. As a storage hunter, this skill can be very useful to you. So how exactly do you make it work for your storage hunting life style? Keep Your Friends Close Before you even leave the storage auction, you can do some serious bartering right at the facility. This is where having connections and knowledge of your …

If at First You Don’t Succeed at a Swap Meet…

Something similar has probably happened to everyone. You just scored a great unit at one of your local storage auctions. Maybe you found five boxes filled to the brim with CDs, or a ton of tools, or maybe some collectible Hot Wheels cars. You’re probably thinking that these things are going to sell like crazy at your next swap meet, right? Well, what happens if you don’t sell a single one of these items? Does this mean they’re worthless and …

Customer Profile: LadyLocks58

Today I had a nice chat with one of our subscribers, a woman named Fran Kass—also known as Ladylocks58. I discovered Fran after she left us a great comment on Storage Unit Auction List’s Facebook. With a name as cool as LadyLocks58, I knew I had to find out more about her. I’m glad I did! Fran is part blogger, part storage hunter, and all kinds of awesome. She’s bold, quick witted, and has a great sense of humor—three things …

Guest Blog: 6 Things to Watch Out for During a Storage Auction

I’m very excited to introduce John Donegan, the content writer for our friends at www.sparefoot.com. John will be joining us once a month with his unique insights, and I’ll be doing the same over at Spare Foot–so make sure you head over there too for more great blog posts! But right now, I’m gonna kick back, relax, and let John do the writing! Despite all the stories you’ve heard of people striking it rich at storage auctions, unfortunately there are …

Storage Unit Auction List’s New and Improved Account Area!

If you’re not a subscriber to our website yet, boy oh boy, now is the best time ever to sign up. First we introduced our $1.99 week long trial subscription….and now, we’re happy to share with you the amazing, new, easy to use account area for subscribers! What’s not to love?! Not only does the new account area look a lot nicer, there’s some cool new features as well as great improvements on features you’ve grown to know and love. Let me give you …

How to Find the Best Local Storage Auctions

If you’re new to the storage auction business, it’s a very good idea to stay local when searching for auctions. But how exactly do you find the best local storage auctions? With a little help from StorageUnitAuctionList.com, as well as some pro tips that will put you ahead of the game, you’ll be bidding at local auctions in no time! Storage Unit Auction List is Your Friend! First and foremost, the easiest way to start tracking down local auctions is …

How Far Should You Travel for a Storage Auction?

Imagine it: The thrill of the open road, the wind in your hair, the prospect of hitting the jackpot in the big city—no, you’re not going to Vegas—but to a newbie, the idea of traveling across state to a storage auction can seem just as appealing. While road trips are always fun, is it really in your best interest to travel 4 hours to the closest city, just for a storage auction? Especially if you’re new to the business and …

$1.99 Week Long Trial from StorageUnitAuctionList.com

In case you haven’t heard the news already, everyone’s favorite storage auction website is offering an incredible deal… We are now proud to present the $1.99 week long trial! With this offer, we’re hoping to convert the non-believers into…well, believers. For only two bucks (about 29 cents per day!), you get to use all of the features of our website for an entire week. This is just enough time to get you hooked. Trust me, after your trial ends, you’re going …

Why Now is a Better Time Than Ever to Become a Storage Hunter

There are plenty of good reasons to get started in the storage auction business. The allure of finding priceless treasures, the prospect of making a living off of something you love doing, being able to learn new things and become an expert—sure, those are all awesome and valid reasons. But what would you say if I told you I have actual statistical data that proves this industry is booming, right this very instant? The Cold Hard Facts According to the …

Interview with an Auctioneer: Daryl Bagwell

I had the opportunity to chat with a real live, 100% genuine auctioneer who lives and plays at The Bagwell & Associates Auction Company in Fletcher, North Carolina–just 20 minutes shy of the Storage Unit Auction List headquarters in Asheville. Meet Daryl Bagwell—everything you’d expect from an auctioneer—friendly, talkative, and a great sense of humor. Mr. Bagwell was kind enough to give me a behind the scenes look of what it’s really like to be an auctioneer. The Beginning of …

The Storage Buyer’s Guide to Using Etsy.com: Part 1

No, I’m not suggesting you should give up the storage auction biz and become a full time arts-n-crafter on Etsy. Believe it or not, everyone’s favorite craft website can be used to the storage buyer’s advantage, too! Put away the glitter glue and knitting needles for now though–you might already have a unit filled with things you can sell on Etsy. An Introduction: Etsy? Huh, What’s That? Etsy.com has boomed in popularity since it first launched in 2005 as a …

Meet James “Griff” Griffith: Storage Warrior, Desert Prowler, California Swap Meet King

StorageUnitAuctionList.com provides storage auction attending information to thousands of subscribers in every state in the country. However, sheer numbers don’t tell the whole story. Of those thousands, there are elite veteran storage hunters who subscribe to us on a yearly basis. I’ve been scouring the country for full-time practitioners who know this business inside and out, who can tell us what it’s like out there for an authentic storage flipper. I knew that if I kept digging, I would find …

Guide to Tripling Your Storage Auction Investment: Part Three

We’ve reached it. The final installment in the storage auction resale trilogy. We’re going to talk about the final blows you are going to make to the inventory you won a three weeks ago inside two types of units: a cheaper, promising unit, and a monstrously packed, sure-shot unit. By the end of this process, you will only have a few pieces remaining, selling themselves on Craig’s List and eBay. As you go forward, realize that this is a blueprint …

Guide to Tripling your Storage Unit Investment: Part Two

Welcome back. If you read the last blog post, “Guide to Tripling your Storage Unit Investment,” we began crafting a strategy guide for you to make the most of your time after winning at the storage auctions and tripling your investment. Here’s Part 2 of our trilogy detailing what steps you should be taking, in what order, and with what little touches of care to guarantee that you’re chipping away at your storage inventory in big chunks. The Next Work …

Guide to Tripling Your Storage Unit Investment: Part One

In the storage auction buying business, it is difficult to calculate a monthly income to exactitude. This is the primary reason why people shy away from doing it full time until they can compose a multifaceted resale plan, usually based on a few months of trial and error. As you first embark in your treasure trove hunting, or are getting in over your head a little bit already, you should really focus on making “tripling your locker investment” a good …

Braving Bad Weather Storage Auctions

Did a little rain keep Captain Ahab from pursuing Moby Dick miles off shore? What about Columbus, De Gama, and Ponce De Leon? Because no one else was willing to do it, sailing and overcoming miles of mysterious ocean eventually made them all quite famous (not to mention wealthy). Want a modern day example? How career defining was Adam Vinatieri’s 2001 AFC Division Game winning overtime field goal boot in a foot of snow? Could anybody have done that? Only …

Storage Auctions Secrets: Mystery Units and the Fifty Dollar Rule

Sadly, many neophytes to self-storage auction hunting will go bidding berserk their first week of auctions and retire early. So anxious to get the ball rolling on their inventory boosting, they get swept up in a throng of experienced bidders and “win” a unit for twice as much as it is worth. Doing so could easily exhaust a beginner’s auction start up capital and compel them to write the whole thing off, simply because they thought it was so …

The Republican Storage Hunter-in-Chief Race (Part 1 of 2)

One great thing about getting involved in storage auctions on a regular basis is becoming a notable figure in the bidding crowd. When you become part of the “in-circle,” the main advantage is you can form a network of cooperation with your colleagues and meet at least some folks in the middle about lockers you desire and ones they desire. “Reaching across the aisle,” as they say. Maybe modern politicians could benefit from such an ideal. While the Republican Party …

E-Bay Revisited: Policies and Fees for Storage Hunters to Consider

Because of the holy host of random goods that will turn up in your storage unit winning escapades, it is very important to have a firm grasp on what is even possible for you to post on EBay. Also, to understand how much fees play a role in your projected sales with this world-dominating web market. There are three categories of red-flag items in the eyes of EBay: Prohibited Items, Restricted Items, and Potentially Infringing Items. Restricted Items are really …

Getting a Head Start with EBay, Storage Unit Auction List Style

Although E-Bay has been around since 1994 and has slowly risen to be as much of a household name as Pop-Tarts, resellers should never underestimate just what an amazing resource for independent sales the site has become. E-Bay has its own system of building report with customers that is paramount for brand new E-Bay users to get a grasp on. It is never what you are selling, but how you are selling it which guarantees profits over time for the …

Cautious Generosity: Returning Select Keepsakes to Previous Owners

Here at storageunitauctionlist.com, we do have a heart. Sure, there are a million reasons why people’s storage lockers get left behind: some justifiable, some just lazy. A lot of the time, however, the tenant simply does not care enough to come back and reclaim their belongings. Or similarly, they did care, but have moved on in life and need the money they would have paid in delinquent rent for more immediate life expenses. A karmic rule that is thrown around …

How Does Auction Hunters Measure Up?

If we’ve said it once we’ve said it a million times: storage auction shows are addictive, to a lot of different demographics. Sure, we’ve speculated as to why—the surge of reality TV meets the downfall of the traditional game show, meets the desire to restore the American Dream, where the streets are paved with gold and everyone is making their own way. And Boom! Now people want to watch something simple yet complex, something that fuels the imagination while simultaneously informing …

Interpreting Auctioneer Chant and Using it to Your Benefit

The chant of an auctioneer is one of the most oft-parodied strains of the English language. “can-I-get-a-two, got two here, two thousand, your outbid, how about fifty, can I get-a-two- fifty?” However, as you get started in the auction game, you are going to start getting very up close and personal with this rapid fire delivery, need to understand why it exists, and be able to decipher it so you don’t get caught up in the hubbub and overbid on …

Whad-ya Store That For? Top 6 Befuddling Storage Unit Finds

If you’ve ever pilfered through your own storage or belongings, then you know that you can find yourself perched by a box, reading a book from childhood or playing with an old hand held game while the hours slip by unnoticed. Now, imagine getting the luxury of handling and analysing each and every item from another person’s past without feeling the personal guilt of disposing of anything. That’s the thrill of storage auctions in a nutshell. And, to prove it, …

Dennis's Consignment Shop on "Central Avenue" in Osakis, Minnesota

Meet Dennis Kostrzewski: Former Number Cruncher, Foolproof Storage Hunter

As the storage auction hunting market continues to attract newcomers, a lot of the faithful have fallen off due to increasingly large bidding crowds. Maybe they were too stubborn to adjust to the throng of “Lookey Loos,” who usually turn out to be as harmless as a swarm of flies. Maybe they mistakenly saw the new market as a sinking ship, so they walked away with their pride intact, cursing Storage Wars and everything else that made storage auctions go …

This is the Story of a (Resale) Girl

What were you doing at fourteen to enhance your savings account? How much was your allowance and what did you spend it on? Myself? Ten dollars a week, predominantly saved, with the occasional outing to the movie theater with a young honey. I recently ran across a story of a girl who, by her own hand, could have take my entire grade of boys to the movies. The resourcefulness, precocious foresight, and knack for the resale industry of fourteen year old …

Lien With It, Rock With It: Idaho Storage Lien Laws

Whether you are a storage tenant or an auction hunter, you’re world is going to revolve around the storage lien laws of your particular state. Self-storage lien laws are the legislation that has been put in place to ensure a facility owner rights and privileges to be compensated for the back rent owed by a tenant who has gone completely missing, like Kevin McCallister. We have been posting to our Facebook asking followers to tell us what topics they …

Recruiting Storage Hunters for All-New Personal Profile Feature!

If you have been with storageunitauctionlist.com for a solid while and have since become (or already were) a storage unit flipping mastermind, we would like to personally showcase you on our website, a website that gets several hundred blog reads and thousands of visits per day! Since storageunitauctionlist.com’s recent birth in late 2010, we have experienced a pleasant amount of success and risen to prominence very quickly. Good for us, right? Well, we know full well that that success is …

StorageUnitAuctionList Tips: A Concise Guide to Self-Appraising Gold

What does Ron Paul mean when he talks about “getting back to the gold standard?” Well, other than being a cute, elfish little idealist at times, gold and other metals used to be the objective standard by which to measure an economies wealth. This is mostly due to the fact that coins in Europe and early America were actually minted from gold and silver. Although this is no longer the case, because it is a useful, rare substance, gold still …

Storage Auction Tips: If You Have Time to Dream, You Have Time to Clean

The most lenient policy on excavating and evacuating a won unit is 48 hours total time. We often talk about preparation in this blog, so today, storageunitauctionlist.com wants to hammer home that two days is not a very long time when faced with an indefinite amount of goods and garbage to remove from a unit. Will you score a 5×5 unit or a 10×30? Will you need helping hands, a rental truck, or a trailer? Here’s a great middle path …

6 Reasons Why Storage Hunting is Like Breaking Bad

The moment I happened to flip to AMC and see a red-headed, bespectacled forty-five year old man prancing around the desert in a dress shirt and whitey-tighties, my living room conversation, by degrees, came to a complete standstill as I made my first acquaintances with the Emmy Winning series, Breaking Bad. The quasi-realistic show engulfs the viewer as they watch a terminally ill chemistry teacher at the end of his rope enter into an underworld of methamphetamine manufacturing in order …

Treasure Hunter or Pack Rat?

There is a fine line between treasure hunter and packrat. And what trade is out there that grinds at this line more so than ours? Probably not many. “Compulsive hoarding” is defined as “a pattern of behavior that is characterized by the excessive acquisition and inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects that would seemingly qualify as useless or without value.” Such a transformation can take place unbeknownst to the avid storage auction goer, so we are here …

It’s the Little Lockers in Life

As the modern spiritualist Wayne Dyer proclaims, “when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Too often, people are peeking around storage auctions looking for the Hope Diamond or mint-condition porcelain bird fountains, hoping they will stumble on them after spending exorbitant amounts of money on a hard-to-read unit. If a real life storage hunter can simply ingest the classical discipline of always “buying low and selling high,” then all of the sudden, …

The CraigsList Resale List of 6

Craigslist.com may seem like a disorganized circus sometimes, but it can be an invaluable marketplace for reselling inventory you have gathered from storage auctions, and thus build a great local customer base. People do look for steals on this master list all of the time, but you just have to know how hit every major selling step along the way and how to avoid the common pitfalls associated with the site. We’re here to help you out with that. Let …

Swimming the Flooded Market With Storageunitauctionlist.com

Maybe bigger is better when it comes to your personal office. Maybe it’s better to get a bigger mini-van when your “nest” is growing, or a bigger computer screen when your vision is getting poor. But as far as storage auctioning is concerned, bigger crowds do not bode well for a person looking to enjoy the most success they can in this business. Most news stories being run lately about storage auctions share a common theme: because of reality TV, …

2 Uplifting Storage Units Chocked with German Gear

If you read yesterday’s blog, you would have read a deconstruction of a “Storage Wars: Texas” episode, where seemingly out of place items were magically discovered in all three hunter’s newly acquired units. Hopefully, you learned a few things in the process of reading my intentionally caustic episode review, and maybe even gotten a few laughs. Yet, I can’t help but have the wool plucked from my eyes after reading so many up to date, interesting treasure stories today. Stories …

4 Venues for Maximum Value

Let’s face it. The units you win at storage auctions are not going to resemble ancient tombs excavated by Dr. Jones, with rows and hallways riddled with ancient artifacts, piles of cast-off gold coins to stroll across while looking for the real treasure. Depending on what you happen to discover in your legal lootings, you need to develop a consistent strategy in how you market most, if not all, of the things you find. Let’s look at a typical formula for unloading …

9 Strategies for Private Unit Investigation (Part 2 of 2)

Welcome back, storage warriors. Yesterday’s blog was the first five items on a list about honing your methods during your precious preliminary moments of viewing a unit up for auction. In the spirit of the NCAA Tournament, let’s “march” on to the Final Four. 4. Does the Rubbermaid Meet the Road? If the owner’s carriage is visible, of what class is it? Rubbermaid containers are built for durability and protection against the elements. Boxes from the liquor store usually suggest …

Don’t Be a Special Victim: 9 Strategies for Private Unit Investigation (Part 1 of 2)

Although we’ve all heard horror stories of storage units being used as meth labs or for storing body parts, most of us will never get to experience the dangerous euphoria of hunting down a psycho-criminal like Hannibal Lector, or a real one, like Jeffrey Dommer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a super sleuth. Using your well-honed powers of deduction gleaned from college and a lifetime of watching crime thrillers, you can easily become a formidable private eye of the …

Get from Starstruck to Gold Struck: Win the Private Battles

Winning a war is really achieved by winning a series of battles. The sum of its parts is always greater than the whole. The ever entertaining A&E reality show “Storage Wars” deliberately hypes up the theatrical element to make going to storage auctions look like a daily epic war among kingpins, and of course we love it. But just as your tactics may change in playing a local poker discovered on Craigslist versus being pushed to the limit on every hand at …

Ready, Set, Go!

The doors of the first unit at today’s storage auction go up, and you feel the mob tighten around you. Eyes everywhere go into surveillance mode, scanning the contents of the unit from top to bottom and squinting on tip-toes to inspect the mysteriously shaped object wedged between boxes in the back-left corner. Time is limited – usually no more than five minutes per unit – and as the seconds tick away you can feel mental notes being taken and …

In Plain Sight: The Anti-Strategist’s Strategy

In a time when more and more Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, the initial investment required to break into the storage auction market (albeit relatively small) can be enough to dissuade the average person from taking the leap. For veterans of the auction industry, this is perfectly alright. In the under-capitalized market of storage auctions, reluctance on the part of the American public means open season for storage auction insiders. In truth, the storage auction industry is not the …

Location, Location, Location

This is one principle that has stood the test of time – and not just in real estate. Accessing the lists made available through StorageUnitAuctionList.com will give you an instant leg-up on the competition, but that’s not all you can do to maximize your odds for success on the bidding floor. One of the biggest challenges faced by auction-goers is deciding which auctions to attend and which to skip. So unless you have the ability to be in multiple places …

Glassware, Pottery, and More: Keep Your Eye Out at the Auction!

Anyone who regularly attends storage auctions knows that there’s no shortage of stuff of very little value in storage units. You may be the highest bidder on a unit and only end up being able to sell and make a profit off of one or two things in the whole unit. If you’re new to the storage auction world, it can be difficult to just eyeball a unit and guess how much money you’re going to make off of its …

How to Make Sure You Don’t Overbid at Storage Auctions

One reason storage auctions are so exciting is the risk of bidding. You’re up against a crowd of people (hopefully not too many people) who may or may not know more about what they see in the locker up for auction. It’s easy to get wrapped up in a bidding war with people, driving up the price way too high. This isn’t always a bad thing. You may just win that goldmine of a bin. However, making this a habit …

Where to Sell Items Won at Storage Auctions, Part 1 – Selling Online

The most exciting thing about winning a bin at a storage auction is seeing your return on investment. Once you win your bin, it’s time to dig through everything and find out the best place to sell your items. There are more appropriate places to sell particular items and you’ll learn from experience which platforms suit which type of product. Some products are perfect for selling online, some are only suited for offline sales. Below, you’ll find a list of …

Tips on Making it in The Storage Auction Business

Approaching storage auctions as a business can be an exciting endeavor. It can also be one filled with reluctant doubt. Some go in expecting to make a full-time income without any experience. Of course, going in to anything without experience and expecting immediate success is a great way to set yourself up for failure. The fact that you can make a full-time income from attending storage unit auctions is true, but there are ways you can set yourself up for …

Know How Much to Bid at Storage Facility Auctions

When bidding on storage auctions, you never know what may come of it. While that is part of the excitement of going to a storage unit auction, it can also be pretty frustrating. Reality TV has made it look so easy, but it’s like anything else … you have to practice. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. If you give up, you’ll never know if that next bin could have turned you a big profit. We’ve talked about …

Attend Regular Auctions to Improve Your Storage Auction Skills

One thing you should remember when attending storage auctions that you may not initially think of offhand … a storage auction is an auction. This sounds pretty obvious, but the whole culture of storage auctions has been pretty overwhelmed with hype due to the popularity of reality TV shows like Storage Wars and Storage Hunters. While it’s a different type of auction, it’s still an auction. So, naturally, attending regular auctions at auction houses will help you improve your skills …

Strange but Important things to Look For When the Locker Door Goes Up

You’re standing in a crowd of people with your flashlight ready and cash in hand. The unit door rolls open and the crowd leans forward, flashlights flashing, looking for buried treasure among brown cardboard and lawn chairs. The auctioneer starts the auction and the bidding commences. The excitement builds within you and you’re fighting with yourself on whether you should just wait this one out or take a chance and bid. Storage auctions are risky. That’s part of the excitement. …

Never Give Up!

If you’re just starting out with storage auctions, it may seem impossible that this business model could make you a full-time income. In fact, you may have been at it for a while now and you’re thinking about giving up. While that may seem like a feasible option, StorageUnitAuctionList.com would like to give you a better one. Don’t. There is but one strategy that will transform the fun hobby of being a storage auction hunter into a full-time income and …

The Little Things Before the Auction

One of our most frequently asked questions is if anyone can attend a storage auction, and the answer is yes (however, some age restrictions apply on who can bid–18 is the magic number)! You don’t have to be a licensed and certified storage auction specialist (because those doesn’t even exist), but there are some things you will need to do before the auction. They’re pretty important, so listen up! It has been repeated here and throughout the site that it is …

Heavy Lifting at Storage Auctions

In this industry you see a lot of picking up, a lot of moving and a lot of stuff. All together; a perfect recipe for a back injury. Lift with your knees! Check out these helpful tips for lifting heavy objects properly, as seen on our Hubpages article “How to Move the Contents of Your Storage Unit Without Mortally Wounding Yourself”. The More the Merrier First and foremost, you should always have a helper on the day of the storage …

Just to Remind Everyone …

We’ve probably told you this a million times, and expect to hear it a million more times: Always, always always call the storage facility right before you head out to a scheduled storage auction to confirm it hasn’t been cancelled. It’s safe to say that this has become our mantra–but with good reason! Storage tenants are allowed to pay their debts and reclaim their property at any point prior to the auction. Thusly, it’s not unlikely for an auction to be …

Don’t Quit Your Day Job … Yet!

As with any profit venture, it takes money to make money. And the worst thing an inexperienced storage auction bidder can do is expect to get rich quick their first time. Be reasonable! When you’re just starting out in the storage auction industry it is best to treat it as a hobby until you become comfortable with the whole process and develop a sense for the business. Of course, there are entire companies that base their inventory on storage auction …

Read MoreDon’t Quit Your Day Job … Yet!

Charitable Donations

Not everything you win at your storage auctions will be worth reselling. Often times, winners will find themselves with a lots of clothes, outdated electronics and overly worn household products. The single most responsible thing to do with usable but unsalable goods found at auction is to donate them. The easiest way to donate is to drop off your items at a local thrift shop. Organizations like Goodwill Industries not only clothe thousands of Americans throughout the year, they also use profits …

Become Tax Exempt

If your state charges sales tax and you are attending storage auctions in order to resell goods for profit, you may want to consider applying for a Resale License/Certificate. You will have to go to your state’s tax department to get a sales tax ID number and application form, or you can usually fill one out online. Make sure you read the requirements and procedures for obtaining a tax ID in your state. Most states vary, but usually you are …

You’ve Just Won a Storage Auction! Now What?

So you just won a unit at your very first storage auction, you look inside and immediately you’re overwhelmed. They say that 2/3rds of every unit you win is probably going to be trash. Things like old clothes, newspapers, documents, and a lot of unsalable junk will be piled up in boxes or trash bags and the first thing you’ll need to do is sort through what is profitable and which losses to cut. Remember to take repairs into account–sometimes a …

Cash is King

Most storage facilities will only accept cash paid on the spot for won units, so make sure you remember to hit an ATM before you arrive at the facility. Storage units can start as low as $1 but those prices will usually increase rapidly, so the general consensus is to bring a minimum of $500. If you don’t have have the cash on hand for a unit you won, some facilities may allow you to leave a deposit with them …

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

If you ask a facility owner when their next storage auction will take place, in the event that they have an answer for you, the first thing they will tell you is the date and time. The second thing you will hear is, “but make sure to be early, these things start right on time.” Punctuality is a virtue, even when it comes to storage auctions, and it’s for a good reason. Before a self storage auction can begin all …

Storage Auction “Caravans”

No, it’s not this kind of caravan. Although that would be pretty cool! As you may have noticed, there are some storage auctions listed on Storage Unit Auction List–the ones listed in blue–that are very closely grouped in both time and vicinity to one another. This is no coincidence. Many of the larger storage auctions will begin at a time like 10:00 AM. Once the bidding is complete the auctioneer and bidders all go to the next auction that (usually …

Strange Findings at Storage Auctions

Sometimes you’re going to find strange things in storage units that you’re not going to know what to do with. More often, you’ll also find very sensitive or personal documents that belonged to the last tenant. What do you do with all of this stuff? Many units you win at storage auctions will contain family photos and other memories that seem to be lost forever once the auction has ended. Some storage facilities offer a place to drop off pictures, …

The Importance of Calling Ahead

One issue with storage auctions is that they can be canceled with little or no notice to the bidders. This happens for several different reasons, and can cause problems for every bidder. One of the biggest rookie mistakes is to not call the storage facility before heading out. This is something that we stress to all of our subscribers! Storage auctions happen when a person fails to pay the rent on their unit, but that person has until the day of …

The 4 Types of Bidders You’ll Meet at Storage Auctions

It is important to know your competition if you plan on profiting in storage auctions. There are several types of bidders, and most of them can be aggressively competitive. Many times when seasoned bidders bid higher and higher for a unit, it can signify that there may be something in there that they see and you don’t. They could also be bluffing to make you bid more. As you can see, there’s many nuances to the way people bid and …

Urban vs Rural Storage Auctions

Although there are few businesses that use self storage facilities, there will be a higher concentration of commercially owned storage units in larger cities. This makes sense because houses and apartments in larger urban areas tend to be much smaller, allowing less room for extra things. Remember that storage units utilize less expensive real estate, so instead of being right in the middle of a metropolitan area, they will be located right off of major roads, and many are out …

Essential Equipment for Storage Auctions

There are several tools that will prove to be very useful at your next storage auction. Definitely the most important tool to bring is a good flashlight. Many people keep their most valuable possessions in the back of the storage units, and since most of the units do not have lighting inside of them, you should have a flashlight that is reliable and bright enough to illuminate the back of the unit. Get a rechargable flashlight or bring extra batteries–there’s …

Making Your Venture Profitable

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What are Buyer’s Premiums?

A buyer’s premium is a fee added to the total cost of an item or unit auctioned. It is generally around 10%, and is added to the final bid price at the end of the auction. This normally covers the auctioneer’s expenses such as cataloging and inventory of items auctioned. Lucky for you, buyer’s premiums are not normally utilized at storage auctions. Most professional storage auction bidders will refuse to participate in a bin auction that has a buyer’s premium, …

Bin Auctions Versus Piece Auctions

Bin auctions, are the bread and butter for professional storage bin buyers. The word “bin” refers to the actual storage unit itself, including everything inside of it. Bin auctions are generally more common than piece-by-piece auctions. The bin auctions are the type seen on A&Es show Storage Wars—you know the deal: the doors go up, you take a peek inside, and the winner gets all. There is an element of mystery when you buy a unit, because you’re not allowed …

Using Income Demographics to Locate Profitable Storage Auctions

Finding storage auctions is the easy part. StorageUnitAuctionList.com has thousands of listings in your area … but how do you know which auctions will be more likely to yield high-value items and which ones are likely to yield bags of garbage? There are a few great ways to get a general idea of where and how to pick the location of your next local storage auction. One great way to find profitable storage auctions is to use the income demographic heat map …