Does anyone call storage facilities asking about sales/auctions? What do you say and what is the response?

I kept seeing legal notices for one facility. The notice said the property would go for public sale on such and such a date. There were at least 4 to 5 different lockers at each date.  BUT..the number to the facility was disconnected.  I didn't want to miss this sale (if there was one) because all of them did have descriptions of what was inside (from what the lkr owners put on the paperwork).  I even had my son drive past and try to find a number (he was right in the area). No luck. So I called the newspaper and explained that I was looking for a number. She asked a lot of questions....kinda caught me off guard.  So I told her I might know one of the lkr owners that was out of state but couldn't contact the facility. Within 5 min I had a call back from the facility owner.  She was very nice and said most people pay and it doesn't go any further, but she took my name and number in case one would come up.  Not sure if she will call or not but its better than doing nothing. Auctions are really scarce here, with the exception of gun or dairy farm/equipment ones 

So I just got done going through everything out of the unit we bought.  Its a given that I am going to return all the pictures (ended up being a large suitcase, and 5 boxes full), college degrees, baby books, etc.

Here is my dilemma: How much do you really need to give back? I went through about 30 boxes of personal crap. These boxes looked as though they were damaged in a basement and then taken to storage. All the boxes were junk (and the smell was horrendous).  This lady had this storage locker since 2002. She relinquished the locker to the storage facility. conditions were pictures, personal items and some ceramic tree be returned. Found the tree (of course broken because it was just thrown into the locker, found it in the back under a bunch of crap) but it will be returned.

Personal items included all of her kids homework, artwork, etc. Mostly ruined. Receipts dating back to 1990.  I am going to burn all papers that have any SS#, and real personal info.  If I return ALL of the personal item, I pretty much paid for her back rent, cleaned out the locker and put all her crap in new boxes. To me, that is too much. I would need the truck to take it all back. The storage manager is pissed that the owner agreed to give back anything at all as the woman hasn't been in there in at least 2-3 years.

I think after all is said and done we will at least break even. Of course all those water damaged, disgusting boxes were first in the locker, so no way to see them on bidding. That's the chance you take.

There are taxes and stuff in there, ruined and stinking...but none later than 2001. So its beyond the 7 years you need to keep something. I think if the stuff meant that much, she wouldve come up with the money to get it out.

Am I wrong about not returning EVERYTHING personal? Most of the photo albums are junk because of water damage, but I am still returning them and the broken tree 

Wow....look at all this stuff I have to go through!

Wow....I can't believe people keep this stuff!

Wow...this sure takes a lot of time and work to make a profit!