Jross - Massachusetts, about 20 miles west of Boston. We chatting on another thread about your desire to move to New Bedford in a few years.

I was laid off last September. I worked in benefits consulting and administration for 25 years. I'm trying to retire as I can't imagine ever working a 9-5 (or, in reality, 7-6) job again. Looking to build a small, ongoing business in storage lockers to supplement my retirement income.

I'm working most aggressively now on finding the best mix of outlets for selling goods. I've got a booth at a multi-dealer shop connected to a flea market (primarily for small stuff), Craigslist and a local consignment shop for furniture and eBay for good quality clothes and collectibles. I've also started using a local live auction house for collectibles, especially those that I can assemble into lots. I think they'll be a good, steady source of income.

One thing I'd like to cultivate in the coming months is a network of individuals who will buy items from me to recondition and resell (or just resell in general). The pure dollar value of each sale will be lower but there'll be less time invested in making the sale. And, no fees paid to eBay, the consignment shop or the auction house.

Texas Storage Law
TX Self and Mini Storage Lien Laws

TEXAS PROPERTY CODE
TITLE 5. EXEMPT PROPERTY AND LIENS
SUBTITLE B. LIENS
CHAPTER 59. SELF-SERVICE STORAGE FACILITY LIENS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
 

Sec. 59.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
(1)  "Lessor" means an owner, lessor, sublessor, or managing agent of a self-service storage facility.
(2)  "Rental agreement" means a written or oral agreement that establishes or modifies the terms of use of a self-service storage facility.
(3)  "Self-service storage facility" means real property that is rented to be used exclusively for storage of property and is cared for and controlled by the tenant.
(4)  "Tenant" means a person entitled under a rental agreement to the exclusive use of storage space at a self-service storage facility.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3574, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.002.  APPLICABILITY.  This chapter applies to a self-service storage facility rental agreement that is entered into, extended, or renewed after September 1, 1981.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3574, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.003.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER STATUTES.  (a)  Subchapter B, Chapter 54, does not apply to a self-service storage facility.
(b)  Unless a lessor issues a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title relating to property stored at the facility, the following statutes do not apply to a self-service storage facility:
(1)  Chapter 7, Business & Commerce Code, as amended; and
(2)  Chapter 14, Agriculture Code.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3575, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1124, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.


Sec. 59.004.  VARIATION BY AGREEMENT AND WAIVER.  Except as expressly provided by this chapter, a lessor or tenant may not vary the provisions of this chapter by agreement or waive rights conferred by this chapter.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3575, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.005.  DAMAGES FOR VIOLATION.  A person injured by a violation of this chapter may sue for damages under the Deceptive Trade Practices--Consumer Protection Act (Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business & Commerce Code).
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3575, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.006.  ATTACHMENT AND PRIORITY OF LIEN.  A lien under this chapter attaches on the date the tenant places the property at the self-service storage facility. The lien takes priority over all other liens on the same property.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3575, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.007.  PURCHASE OF PROPERTY.  A good faith purchaser of property sold to satisfy a lien under this chapter takes the property free of a claim by a person against whom the lien was valid, regardless of whether the lessor has complied with this chapter.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3575, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.008.  REDEMPTION.  A tenant may redeem property seized under a judicial order or a contractual landlord's lien prior to its sale or other disposition by paying the lessor the amount of the lien and the lessor's reasonable expenses incurred under this chapter.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3575, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.009.  RESIDENTIAL USE.  A tenant may not use or allow the use of a self-service storage facility as a residence.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3576, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


SUBCHAPTER B. LIEN
Sec. 59.021.  LIEN; PROPERTY ATTACHED.  A lessor has a lien on all property in a self-service storage facility for the payment of charges that are due and unpaid by the tenant.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3576, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 117, Sec. 12(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1985.

SUBCHAPTER C. ENFORCEMENT OF LIEN

Sec. 59.041.  ENFORCEMENT OF LIEN.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, a lessor may enforce a lien under this chapter only under a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that forecloses the lien and orders the sale of the property to which it is attached.
(b)  A lessor may enforce a lien under this chapter by seizing and selling the property to which the lien is attached if:
(1)  the seizure and sale are made under the terms of a contractual landlord's lien as underlined or printed in conspicuous bold print in a written rental agreement between the lessor and tenant; and
(2)  the seizure and sale are made in accordance with this chapter.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3576, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 117, Sec. 12(c), eff. Sept. 1, 1985.


Sec. 59.042.  PROCEDURE FOR SEIZURE AND SALE.  (a)  A lessor who wishes to enforce a contractual landlord's lien by seizing and selling or otherwise disposing of the property to which it is attached must deliver written notice of the claim to the tenant.
(b)  If the tenant fails to satisfy the claim before the 15th day after the day that the notice is delivered, the lessor must publish or post notices advertising the sale as provided by this subchapter.
(c)  If notice is by publication, the lessor may not sell the property until the 15th day after the day that the first notice is published. If notice is by posting, the lessor may sell the property after the 10th day after the day that the notices are posted.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3576, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1984, 68th Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 18, Sec. 5, eff. Oct. 2, 1984; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 117, Sec. 12(d), eff. Sept. 1, 1985.


Sec. 59.043.  CONTENTS AND DELIVERY OF NOTICE OF CLAIM.  (a)  The lessor's notice to the tenant of the claim must contain:
(1)  an itemized account of the claim;
(2)  the name, address, and telephone number of the lessor or the lessor's agent;
(3)  a statement that the contents of the self-service storage facility have been seized under the contractual landlord's lien; and
(4)  a statement that if the claim is not satisfied before the 15th day after the day that the notice is delivered, the property may be sold at public auction.
(b)  The lessor must deliver the notice in person or by certified mail to the tenant's last known address as stated in the rental agreement or in a written notice from the tenant to the lessor furnished after the execution of the rental agreement. Notice by mail is considered delivered when the notice, properly addressed with postage prepaid, is deposited with the United States Postal Service.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3577, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.044.  NOTICE OF SALE.  (a)  The notice advertising the sale must contain:
(1)  a general description of the property;
(2)  a statement that the property is being sold to satisfy a landlord's lien;
(3)  the tenant's name;
(4)  the address of the self-service storage facility; and
(5)  the time, place, and terms of the sale.
(b)  The lessor must publish the notice once in each of two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the self-service storage facility is located. If there is not a newspaper of general circulation in the county, the lessor may instead post a copy of the notice at the self-service storage facility and at least five other conspicuous locations near the facility.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3577, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.045.  CONDUCT OF SALE.  A sale under this subchapter must be a public sale at the self-service storage facility or a reasonably near public place. The lessor must conduct the sale according to the terms specified in the notice advertising the sale and sell the property to the highest bidder.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3578, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.046.  EXCESS PROCEEDS OF SALE.  If the proceeds of a sale under this subchapter are greater than the amount of the lien and the reasonable expenses of the sale, the lessor shall deliver written notice of the excess to the tenant's last known address as stated in the rental agreement or in a written notice from the tenant to the lessor furnished after the execution of the rental agreement. The lessor shall retain the excess and deliver it to the tenant if the tenant requests it before two years after the date of the sale. If the tenant does not request the excess before two years after the date of the sale, the lessor owns the excess.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3578, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.


Sec. 59.047.  ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES FOR SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTY.  A holder of a lien under this chapter on a motor vehicle subject to Chapter 501, Transportation Code, or on a motorboat, vessel, or outboard motor for which a certificate of title is required under Subchapter B, Chapter 31, Parks and Wildlife Code, may follow the procedures prescribed by Section 70.006 in addition to the procedures prescribed by this chapter.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 70, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 08 April 2011 20:12 )

You guys make a good point about pricing. Lots of Mexicans come to my garage sales so price tags will help with any language barrier but more importantly like you said some people are shy or for whatever reason just wont ask.

Also when you see a cheap price it makes you buy crap you dont need. I can't walk through the dollar store without loading up a cart with a bunch of crap I totally dont need but when its only a buck you just tend to buy. Maybe I'll do like a few of you have suggested and set up tables this table is $1, this is $5, this is 0.50 etc.

Just wanted to ***** a little about Amazon.  I started selling just last night.  I wanted to move some books for cheap, so I put them for sale cheap.  sold one for 1.50 and amazon took 2.57. WHAT?
they actually took money out of my shipping fund to pay themselves.  here is a copy and paste from my email.

Listing ID: 0822I74E8PJ
SKU: H1-SLP9-P6P3
Quantity: 1
Order date: 08/22/2011
Buyer's price: $1.50
Amazon commission: -$2.57
Shipping credit: $3.99
Your earnings: $2.92


There were 4 others like this.  Anyway, I will not be using amazon in the future.