I will say it again. There is NO contractual guarantee as to the condition, quality, or type of contents in a storage unit unless you get an itemized inventory in writing from the facility, and that dosen't happen!
This is not necessarily true - depending on the state you live in... If the advertisement for the auction states that it is for deliquency and the auctioneer states the same (or something to that affect), they have now just represented what they are attempting to sell. IF you can prove that it was staged or they have gone through the unit you bought, you would have standing in court to claim fraud, false advertising, and breach of contract (most states consider oral contracts as binding). The same reason your bid is "legally binding" means that their representations are just as legally binding... An auction, in most states, is nothing more than competing verbal contracts between the auctioneer and the highest bidder. I can tell you if I ever bid on a unit and found out while paying it was staged; I would not complete the transaction. If I found out (meaning have proof) after I paid, I would request my money back. If after 7 days I didn't have my money, I would file in small claims court.
Sam