Back To Index

Have you thought about bidding on storage auctions in the hopes of scoring something big, hidden in the boxes someone left behind? It can be an exciting opportunity to find a hidden treasure, but not every auction is going to go your way. There are a few simple things you may be able to do to actually have a bit more success (and walk away with something impressive without a high cost attached to it).

How to Bid on Storage Units

Once you learn that a storage facility is going to have an auction on abandoned storage units, the next step is to prepare to bid. Make sure you understand any rules about the process, such as what you can and cannot do (such as stepping into the unit to see what’s present). You also want to be sure you register the day before the auction so there are no hold-ups when the auction begins. It’s also necessary to be ready to pay when you win. Before the auction gets started, you’ll want to know what type of payments the location accepts, the overall fees involved, if there are any above and beyond the cost you pay, and when payment is due. Some storage auctions happen only online, while others are in-person. No matter how they are set up, you need to know what to expect. Ask questions beforehand to be sure you are ready.

Keep Calm While Inspecting Units

Typically, you’ll get to look into the storage unit to determine if you want to bid on it. There are often rules to this process, including not actually touching or opening anything. Take your time and look around. Don’t just see the boxes that are obvious, but try to see what’s behind the obvious. You may be able to tell what’s in a box by the label or by scanning a barcode on the box. As you look around the unit, stay calm. Don’t look too interested in it. Avoid making a big deal about anything you see. That’s only going to encourage others to bid against you even if they don’t see what you do. Stay calm, inspect the units quickly, and move on. Act uninterested.

When to Bid on Storage Units

When the time comes to start bidding, avoid being the first one to bid. Give it some time to see who is interested in the unit. You’ll want to have some idea of what you hope to spend heading into the process, though. If you notice that costs are rising fast, don’t just jump in. If others are bidding quickly and the price is rising, that does not mean there’s something you need or want there. Oftentimes, it takes one person to get others involved! Make a mental note of the maximum amount you want to bid on the unit. Then, stick with it. After the bidding calms down a bit, that’s your opening to place an offer.

Keep Calm While Bidding

It’s critical not to seem overly excited about what’s in the unit. You do not want someone to believe the unit is worth a lot of money and start bidding against you. At the same time, you don’t want to let a good unit slip by because you didn’t bid. Place an offer and wait to see what happens. You often have a few seconds before you have to bid a second time. Give it time. Really contemplate the value of bidding up. By doing this, you’re giving the other person pause, too. You may not be sure the unit’s worth more, or at least that may be the impression you give the other person. That’s a good thing because it makes them think twice about going higher. Stay calm as you are bidding. Keep things slow and steady. Know when to stop when the auction really does not make financial sense to you any longer.

Which Storage Units to Bid On

The big question (and often considered a secret) is which storage units you should bid on. That’s really dependent on the following:

• What you are interested in
• What do you plan to do with the items
• The amount of work involved with the unit
• Your budget
• The fees and other costs involved You may not want to have to deal with moving big furniture items, for example, but for another person, old furniture is an excellent investment if they like to modernize it. You may be looking for items you can purchase and resell. If that’s the case, you’ll want to bid on auctions that have items you know you can sell to your specific audience. When you consider the options, also think about the work and costs involved. A unit that hasn’t been touched in 20 years can be alluring, but you may spend a lot more time cleaning it up and digging through old papers. Also, think about the cost of tossing out the trash that often comes from the process of clearing out a storage unit. Do you have to rent a dumpster? Will it be heavy, hard work? Bidding on a storage unit can be a great way to find something interesting, valuable, and resellable. Yet, you have to bid with both confidence and knowledge about what your goals are, what you need and want, and what your budget is. With those factors considered, find a local storage auction now to get started.

We're Your Storage Solution!

Storage Rentals of America is your convenient self-storage solution. So come into our office or give our storage experts a call at 1-800-457-5678. Our call center is available 7 days a week and can help determine which storage unit size best fits your storage needs.