Opened storage lockers

I have a couple of more questions....first auction is tomorrow with 5 units. 2 are by the same owner, 1 being sold with conditions. Upon calling the storage facility today, all units are a go and he didn't foresee any of the owners doing a last minute pay. The conditions on the one unit is that she relinquished the unit for auction, but asked that she be able to get photographs and an item given to her by her mother. Now this is the one with both lockers? (both are 10x10)  Do we try to get both units? We do have a limit set of what we are willing to spend. I did research and found all but one owner.  All units are described with household items (4 out 5 lockers are tenants who have multiple evictions).  If we do get the "conditioned" locker, we could just take the items back to the storage facility for the owner to pick up? I don't think I would want them knowing who got the locker.

This auction is about 45 min away from us. This is going to seem like a stupid question, but do people notice what you pull up in? We are currently in a snow storm, so tomorrow we will need the 4x4 truck.  We do have an enclosed trailer, but I don't think its a good idea to show up with it, do you? The storage facility does allow for us to rent the unit as long as we would need to.

Any last minute advice???

Well think you are spending more time than necessary on the tenants of the lockers.

Most of ours have been from people with evictions.

On the condition unit. Do you know what item she wants back? So you are not adding it in with your assessment of value.
Most of the same owner units have things split. Cushions to sofa in one sofa in the other.
 One of our lockers was obvious had two lockers, must have gotten the other one out. It had no sofa, chairs, beds. Had one bed, two dressers, dinning table, tv's and all the clothes. Husband, wife and 4 kids. and only one bed. 

People do pay attention to what you pull up in. With this being your first auction I would just take the truck, because you may surprised at the prices. We have gone with and with out the trailer. Without you spend more gas if you buy and less money if you don't. 
We have a whale we have learned if he comes without help and his trailer he want buy as much. 
Wishing you luck
We went to 4 or 5 auctions before we bought one.

Any last minute advice???

Be prepared for a reality check.  I know the first time I went to one I was shocked at just how different it is from 'as seen on tv'~

Odds are slim you'll land a locker your first time out, so I would not worry about the trailer.  As money mentioned, we went to numerous auctions before we won a locker.  Thought we had a good idea of how it worked.....boy howdy were we wrong!  Of course, our first unit was a 10X20 full to the brim.

We never know about the former tenants.  Guess we do things differently here in the wild west as maybe one out of 20 auctions is 'advertised' in the paper.  And even then......just how much can you 'learn' about the contents? 

Facilities usually list 'household items' as that is what most units are, but occasionally you'll get a tool or office one.

I say this to everyone about to attend their first auction:  Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut (unless of course you're bidding~), you'll learn so much that way.
When the doors rolls up on that first locker, scan quick, step back and figure what you think it will go for.  This helps you gauge what you are seeing and what the crowd is seeing.

Have fun and let us know how it goes~

I would leave the trailer at home if this is your first time out.  You may be very surprised at the units quality, # of people there, and prices.

As for the "condition" unit - that is really up for the facility to decide.  Once you pay for the unit you don't have to give anything back.  It is common courtsy, and in some of the facility rules you sign - to give back personal info.  So pictures, tax returns, check books, etc. should be given back.

That gold ring that her late husband gave her you can keep or "sell back" to her at a cheaper price.

General speaking - if a person has multiple units it is best to try and get both if you get one.  Or you better be very friendly with who ever wins the other unit.  Many times you have items in your unit that they could need for a set and vice versa.  This is when you are dealing with furniture mostly.

Well, went to our first auction. It was 11 below, but sunny and the roads weren't too bad considering the major snow yesterday. About 20-30 people there...mostly couples though. 5 units, 2 locations. We bid on the 2nd locker (10x10) and got it for $425. It was the unit with conditions: she relinquished unit in return for family photos and a ceramic xmas tree given to her by her mother. No big deal.  Full unit, lots and lots of boxes. There is a large anitique dining table with claw feet (that caught my eye, along with an old sled, boxes marked Halloween).  She has been renting the unit since 2002 and hasn't been in it in at least 2 years (talked to the owner before the sale). We haven't cleaned it out yet, only brought a few boxes, etc that would fit inside the truck.  The units weren't outrageous, ours was the highest and had the most interest with different bidders. I think one other unit went for over $300, full, but things marked with rummage stickers, and about 4 mattresses and clothes.  Last unit was pretty much cleaned out except for a/c units, old couch, pallets, etc. Most of us walked away so I don't even know if it sold. I wanted to take pictures before we went into it, but it was an inside unit and was not light enough   I honestly think we will at least break even (albums, vintage crystal set with box, the table, lawn jarts, few boxes of good canning jars with lids, singer sewing machine with case...and that's just what we looked through. Way too cold at that point to do any more!

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice. It was appreciated and very helpful!!!

So much for us doubting you would get one. Oh just leave the trailer at home.. 

Congratulations !!!!!

We have not spent that much on a locker yet, close $390, last month still selling out of it. 

Sounds like you should do ok. Keep us posted.

I hope it turns out great for you.