storage unit auction business

Time-Saving Tips and Tricks for Storage Auction Bidders

When it comes to storage auctions, time is money. The sooner you are able to clear out the contents from a unit, the sooner you can move on to the next auction. Unfortunately, many first-time bidders spend their entire day at a single auction, without any real drive or determination to speed things up. As a result, they are unable to participate in additional auctions, restricting their profits and lowering their productivity. So, what steps can you take to speed …

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 …

5 Tips For Operating a Successful Jewelry Store

Running your own jewelry store is a fun and rewarding experience that give you the opportunity to help customers find the perfect piece of jewelry. Whether it’s an engagement ring, wedding band, pair of diamond earrings or just a basic chain-link necklace, people are always eager to purchase flashy new pieces of jewelry. But with so many other stores already in business, how do you make yours stand out from the rest? If you are interested in the self-rewarding world …

Prepare Your Resale Business For A Seasonal Switch

The Byrds famously said it best in 1965, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose.” Summer 2013 is winding to a close. The temperatures are slowly started to shift, the sun is settings a bit earlier in the day, the retail stores have started to put out their “Fall” Merchandise, and Halloween pop up shops have already started to dot the landscape. While Summer doesn’t officially come to a close until September 22nd, the official …

The Complete Guide To Refurbishing Found Furniture: Part 3

Put A Bird On It! When I think of DIY and refurbishing, I am always reminded of the popular Portlandia sketch, Put A Bird On It! I’ve watched it dozens of times and somehow it still always makes me laugh. Refurbishing can be as simple as Putting. A. Bird. On. It. But it can also include a thorough process of staining, painting, and more. Either way, you’ll reap the benefits of your elbow grease investment when you are able to …

The Complete Guide To Refurbishing Found Furniture: Part 2

Safety First Kids First thing’s first. Refurbishing dilapidated furniture to sell it for a profit can actually be enjoyable! But you know what’s not fun? Splinters, vapor fumes, chemical burns, and cuts/scrapes. Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That. While the process can be fun, safety is no laughing matter, so keep these tips in mind before you get started. Safety goggles are your friend. Wear them when you’re working with power tools and to help protect your eyes from fumes. …

The Complete Guide To Refurbishing Found Furniture: Part 1

One Man’s Trash… It is no secret that storage lockers are often full of old furniture. Occasionally the furniture is rare or an antique (or both) and can be sold on its own to make a healthy profit. More often than not, the furniture that you find in your units will be inexpensive, run of the mill pieces. These pieces may serve as your bread and butter, but they lack the “wow” factor. You may even find yourself regularly …

Death and Taxes

In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” (Of course this quote originates from a politician!) In 2013 this still remains true. Taxes are a necessary evil if your storage auction hobby has turned into a full time business. Seller’s Permits and Resale Certificates are integral to your business for tax purposes. Here’s where it gets a little tricky. Some states use one term over the other, and some states …

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 …

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 …

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 …

An Interview with John: an Educated Buyer

Here at Storage Unit Auction List, we love talking to our subscribers. Any time we can chat with you and hear about your experiences in the industry, using our services, or anything else storage auction related…we pretty much jump on the opportunity. Trust me, we’re all ears. So when one of my coworkers here in the office passed on John’s contact information to me, I was very excited to have the chance to talk to him. In the 3 years …

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. …

Sealed Bid Storage Auctions are Now Listed at Storage Unit Auction List!

As you might know by now, the staff here at Storage Unit Auction List is intent on being the best. Thus, we’re constantly changing our game plan by updating our website and adding new and exciting things into the fray. Why do we do it? Is it because we’re thrill seekers and we love living on the edge? Is it because we live for delivering exciting news stories all day every day? Is it because we need an excuse to …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …