Storage doors that won't open.

I'm sure we've all come across a storage unit door that the auctioneer or facility manager couldn't get open. If this has happened in your area, did they sell the unit sight unseen?

Would you bid on a unit sight unseen and if so how much would you risk?

This thread was disappointing. I thought it was going to be about those storage doors that wont stay open on their own, hang to the left, or are falling apart completely. What a pain in the ass when you have a half working door and a whole room to clean.

This thread was disappointing. I thought it was going to be about those storage doors that wont stay open on their own, hang to the left, or are falling apart completely. What a pain in the ass when you have a half working door and a whole room to clean.

Well, we can always add that in. The last couple of units I have bought had some really dangerous looking doors. One looked like it was about to fall at any minute. Both of them were difficult to open and came crashing down when you tried to close them.

I'm assuming the storage facility is liable if you are injured by a door.

Went to one that wouldn't open, at least not easily. Large facility, an outside unit that is accessible 24/7. First problem was it had a lock on it that wasn't put on by the facility. Auctioneer got power tool and cut lock off. Latch won't move. More tools and lots of brute force (several buyers joined in) and finally managed to get it open. Destroyed the latch in the process. On the inside a clamp was attached to the inside of the latch to prevent it from opening. Further back there was a big board on the wall covering a big hole that led to the unit next door. Still lots of stuff in the unit but obviously they had been removing stuff through the hole. Owners of the neighboring unit were there the whole time and had been moving stuff from their unit into yet another unit when we arrived. They were actually making a scene and yelling at the auctioneer and some of the buyers during the whole process. We were out of our usual area so we didn't know anybody but these people seemed to all know each other. Once the unit was opened and breach to the next unit discovered the people yelling seemed to disappear. It was all pretty entertaining. The auctioneer did not sell the unit. 

It was all pretty entertaining.

As was your telling of the incident. That ranks number one in the efforts someone would go to get around not paying for their unit and recruiting others to do some REAL dirty work to save their crap.

I can only imagine what will happen to the next door renters for cutting through the wall, putting lock on inside, moving stuff to a THIRD locker. 

This is a real mess for the facility mgrs to sort out.

I have never seen one not open. Not close yes. Seems like a lot of them once opened will not close again. I avoid most of those kind.

I've been to plenty where they partially open, some only up to the knees. Most of the partial opens are to about half way or so, I'd say. I've never seen one not be offered up for sale. I love picking up these units because they go ultra cheap! They are typically very poorly packed and have some damaged stuff, but the cost of the investment is so low, you can always make money!

I saw one ofthese the other day. They never did get it open and said it would be next time. 

Just give them a big kick