I'll have to remember to pull the cords from the units.  Finally got some people on the phone.  One yard will take them but not bulk.  Also only pays .08 per lb.  The big recycle center is paying $13.75 / 100lbs.  I'll just have to see how much crap I have in my sheds / around the yard to see if it's worth my gas money to haul the trailer there.  Since we purchased my place at auction there is still a ton of scrap metal trash I've been cleaning up.

Interesting - I'll have to see if I have the same type of numbers on post where I'm at.  Will keep an eye out after tuesday night's show to see if the web search views at the local paper goes up greatly.

I know the saturday auction I went to had 100+ people at it.  However, I spoke with a number of people and they only knew about the auction due to the big orange neon sign by the road announcing it.  Most people didn't know the rules, how many units were up, etc.

This will depend somewhat on your location.  For high-end name brand cloths in good shape you can sale them on ebay.  For your mid to low upper-scale cloths you can try ebay or craig (this is where region plays into it alot).  The majority of the cloths are going to hit the flea market or yard sale.  Things that only sale for $5 or less, mostly for $1.  Anything else is what you donate for the tax write-off.

I know from talking with my sister-in-law that does yard sales and such for her income.  The baby cloths sell well but only at $1 each and such.

Most of my listings are normally just the last name so hard to do research.  I mostly use the name to check the deceased, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and arrested listings also in the paper.  You can use the area the storage units are in as a small guide also.  Most people don't travel a large distance to a stroage facility.  They try to stay near the home and/or area they are moving to.

I was like OMG saturday when heard 2 ladies talking back and forth about the show.  I so had wanted to do a high pitched "OMG I just loveeeee that show" impersination.

For people like myself I have only invested $40 so far.  Just purchased a set of the nice padlocks and a small flood light I can charge in my car.  I have 2 sheds/barns that I can put stuff in so no need for a storage locker myself.  Also, already have a truck and trailer from when I started hitting estate auctions with my father.  For me this is a hobby, where my dad may hit it fulltime not that he has retired for the second time.  I have $600 in cash and father a few grand.  So we're just learning the ropes for the most part currently.

One thing to think about also is the most important.  How are you going to sale.  A booth at the local flea market cost you X amount per week or month.  Ebay has the final value fees you have to pay along with paypal.

Went to my first auction today with my daughter and father.  While I checked out the unit my daughter would take notes of the winning bids, etc.  I figured with a saturday it would be packed and I was right.  There were 100+ people there and over 60+ registred bidders.  Only about a dozen people actually placed any bids.  I would say there were 5-8 regulars.  One guy bought 6 of the lockers.  He also knew a few of the other guys that were there.

This was the first time this place has had an auction.  It's also the first time the auctioneer had done a storage locker and it showed.  First 4 auctions everyone crowded around the door insted of making a line.  Finally the owner I guess he was told everyone if they don't form a line he wasn't going to open another door.  Things got straightened out little more then.

Here is a picture of part of the crowd.

There were 18 lockers that went up for sale this morning.  A few of the units that were in the paper were paid off and pulled.  Including the one I was really interested in with outdoor equipment and tools.  Here is a look at the first locker B046 a 10x20.



The units went for fair prices I think.  The one pictured above went for $47.

This unit with the boots went for $80.
[img width= height= alt=Locker" width="500" height="375]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/6039626770_081d0176f5.jpg[/img]

The highest priced unit was this packed one near the end of the day.  This unit fetched $310.

[img width= height= alt=Locker" width="500" height="375]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6039629090_f237b12edc.jpg[/img]


Breakdown of all the lockers was like this:
B029 Teeter-W/D, Outdoor Equipment, Tools  ---- paid up and pulled
B046 Morris-Furn., Boxes, Ice Chest, Stuff Animals --- $47
C073 Foster-Boxes, Furniture, Baby Supplies  --- $275
C077 Horsby-Boxes, Furniture  ---- paid up and pulled
E165 Carpenter-Boxes, Furniture, Jewelry  ---- $115  (this one looked staged.  table, few others items up front with a jewelry box and all the costume jewelry laying out.  Empty boxes behind.
F195 Corley-Furniture, Crafts, Books  -- $80
F196 Thomas-Mattresses -- $1  (was twin box spring / matress in bad shape)
F199 Callahan-Clothes, Boxes, Mis. Goods  -- $100
F201 Stannford-Mattress, TV, Boxes, Storage Tub -- $210  - had a 40inch TV, 3 matresses, few totes, and a number of trash bags.
G300 Tony-Boxes, Carpet, Suitcase -- $90
G309 Jones-Clothes, Chairs, Books -- $35  - piled high w/ nothing but cloths that you could see.  One fuse box like for a AC unit in corner.  Think this one was a steal for the regular that got it.
G315 Jones-Clothes, Furniture, Mis. -- $310
H368 Blake-Furniture, Microwave -- $80

The additional units went for 60, 80, 65, 45, 65.  Daughter may of missed one or two I'm not sure.  One unit had a gun case in it but it was cracked open so could see nothing was in it.  Another unit had a blue fire box which I bid up to $60 bucks on but went for like $80.  Didn't really feel like gambling just for a empty fire box and was an hour away from the house.  So would of had to make a return trip to yank all the crap particle board and matress that was also in there.

I know this was my first auction but I had a number of people asking me questions.  It's like none of them did any homework.  They wanted to know why I had a flashlight, how I got the listing of contents, etc.  Was a little strange.  Also, this place would let you leave and hit the ATM if you purchased a unit and was short which I thought was strange.  You had till midnight to settle up your account.

For more pictures you can check out the ones I loaded up to flicr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66332744@N03/