Storage auction rules and laws vary by state, by storage facility, and by auctioneer. Please consult with a professional in your area before relying on the following information.
The official rules will usually be provided in the storage facility’s description. It is the buyer’s obligation to familiarize themselves with federal, state and local laws relating to the purchase, transportation and possession of their merchandise.
- Bidder registration. Before you can bid, you’ll need to register with OnlineStorageAuctions.com. There is no fee to register. Please provide your name, address, e-mail address and phone number. Your information is kept private and will only be seen by our staff and the seller. Once registered, you are free to buy and sell. If you choose to sell, your contact information will be made available to the winning bidder.
- Payment. If you win a storage unit, please contact the storage facility as soon as possible. Full payment must be made at the storage facility within the time specified in the auction description. If no time is specified, please make payment within 48 hours. If you fail to make payment, the seller reserves the right to cancel your bid and sell the unit to the next highest bidder.
If you win a unit being sold by a storage facility, please note you will be required to pay the bid amount, sales tax (unless exempt), and the security deposit. Unlike our competitors, we do not charge any additional fees. Our site is completely free for buyers and sellers. Cash is the primary method of payment, although some storage facilities do accept debit and credit cards. Please contact the storage facility (in advance) regarding their preferred method of payment. Checks are not accepted.
Failure to pay within the specified time frame could result in your IP address being blocked where you can no longer use OnlineStorageAuctions.com.
Some storage facilities will have an online and in-person auction on the same day. The online auction will usually end one hour before the in-person auction begins. At the live auction, the bidding will start at the amount of the highest online bid. If no one at the in-person auction bids, the online bidder wins the unit. The storage facility will then contact the winning bidder to make payment arrangements.
- Sales tax. Must be paid unless no tax is due. If you have a lawful exemption, a valid resale tax number; the unit is located in a state that doesn’t have sales tax or if you are purchasing a vehicle, trailer, recreational vehicle or boat; sales tax will not be charged. If you are tax exempt the storage facility will need to make a copy of your resale tax permit and will have you fill out a tax exempt form. All other buyers must pay sales tax on the amount of each winning bid. Once they accept your payment, you will be issued a receipt by the storage facility.
- Announcements. Made the day of the sale, prior to or during the online or in-person sale, which will then supersede any other announcement or advertising. OnlineStorageAuctions.com, storage facilities, private sellers, and auctioneers reserve the right to reject any bid, place a minimum bid, remove items from the sale, revoke bidding privileges, or cancel the sale completely.
- Age minimum. Buyers must be over the age of 18 to bid.
- All items are sold – “As Is.” Please examine the photos of the storage unit and read the seller’s description thoroughly before placing a bid. Once you have placed a bid, you have entered into a binding contract with the seller in which you agree to purchase the unit if you are the highest bidder. All storage units are sold “as is” and without warranties, representations or guarantees. All sales are final. If, during inspection of your purchase, you determine that the unit was blatantly misrepresented, or that items seen in the photos have been removed from the unit, you may refuse payment.
- Cleaning out the unit. Most storage facilities allow you 24-48 hours to remove all of the contents and sweep the unit clean. Every now and then, you will come across a facility that requires the winning bidder to remove the contents on the same day, although this is rare. The seller will notify you of how much time you have to clean out the unit in the auction listing. If you need additional time, most storage facility managers are willing to work with you as long as you keep them informed. You also have the option of renting the unit, which allows you to take your time. If you fail to clean out a unit, it can have severe consequences like losing your security deposit, receiving negative feedback or being banned from future auctions at that storage facility.
The storage facility’s dumpster may not be used by buyers without the permission of the facility manager.
If you purchase a unit from a private seller, you will need to coordinate a time to meet at the storage facility in order to clean out the unit or transfer the unit into your name. When meeting a private seller, please be cautious. We recommend that you bring someone along with you and that you only meet during the storage facility’s business hours.
- Cleaning deposit. Most storage facilities require you to pay a cleaning deposit on every unit you purchase. These deposits usually range from $20-100 and are fully refundable if the unit is cleaned properly within the designated time. The purpose of the cleaning deposit is to prevent people from purchasing a unit, removing all of the valuables, then leaving the unwanted items and trash behind.
Once you are finished cleaning out the unit, please stop by the rental office and let the employee on duty know. The employee will inspect the unit to verify that all of the contents have been removed and that it has been swept out. If the unit was cleaned properly, the employee will return your security deposit.
- Personal items. Please leave any personal items with the property manager so they can return them to the tenant. These items would include photographs, identification, tax and legal documents, birth, death and marriage certificates, diplomas, passports, and items with sentimental value.
- Leave Feedback. Be sure to leave accurate feedback on every transaction. Doing so will help our community be safer and more productive for everyone.
Jeff Gilman
April 14, 2018 at 4:27 PM
Interested in bidding on some units in the future let me know how to get started