Auction dilemma

[helenatim]

So the unit goes to auction online, gets viewed 90 times, and the winning bidder pays $80 for it. And then she can't pay the auction house because her card is denied. And the second place bidder doesn't want it.
Legally, it's been auctioned. I don't care about the $80, I just want the unit rented out and don't want to wait another two weeks for another auction.
I think I can just toss the contents in the trash and get the unit filled back up. What do you think and what would you do?

[lady5563]

Legally, the unit does now belong to you.
You can try and post it again....maybe just extend it over the weekend and have the new sale end in 2-3 days.
I would probably list it again and attempt to sell it......

Good luck and keep us posted.
Post the pics of the unit in question.
Do you feel it has ANY value?

[helenatim]

I'm sure it has some value and it will cost me 2 hours and a trip to the dump. So I might post it again. But, my understanding of Lien Law is that I now own this wonderful pile of junk and can do what I want with it

[BusyProperties]

Yes, empty it out & get it rented again!

[lady5563]

OH NO!
A cherry picked unit!
UGH
Yeah.......I am now gonna say that unit will NOT sell.
It may behoove you to hire a dumpster and have it dropped off directly in front of this unit and then of course they can haul it away.
If this is a good option- keep in mind you can add it to the bad tenants delinquent account IF you send to the collection department!

I don't think it will sell.
Cut your losses now.

I would look in to having a dumpster brought to me then I would only have to "touch" the trash ONE TIME!

[MamaDuke]

I'd try a Craigslist FREE posting. They have to take it all. I've had success with doing that with horrible units like this! Worth a try!

[Leftope]

I have a couple local people that bid on a lot of units. When this happens, or a unit doesn't sell, we call them and ask if they'd like it for free.

[helenatim]

5 minutes before the deadline, the winning bidder paid the auction company then paid me. Now let's see if she empties it.
We had 7 auctions and they all went for far more than I thought they would, so that's good.
Still only got about 20 cents on each dollar owed.
I had a good chat with a couple who bought two units and showed up with a huge enclosed trailer and took everything in one trip. They bring it all home, process it, and she sells it all on FB Marketplace. This is their side hustle!
They said they MUCH prefer online auctions to live because it's a much smoother process and they can show up with their trailer in one trip and get it done.

[PeekingDuck]

I have a couple local people that bid on a lot of units. When this happens, or a unit doesn't sell, we call them and ask if they'd like it for free.

Same here. Very reliable. Talk to your "regular" auction bidders that are prompt and clean up after themselves.
I've even given their contact info out to friends that have rental houses that need to be cleaned out of a lot of left behind items. Helps everyone.

[KrisinCali]

I'm sure it has some value and it will cost me 2 hours and a trip to the dump. So I might post it again. But, my understanding of Lien Law is that I now own this wonderful pile of junk and can do what I want with it

It looks like the stuff is melting....how do people think they're items will stay in good condition like that?

[RHS_TX]

Hoarders, Buried Alive

[Exit82thifter]

So the unit goes to auction online, gets viewed 90 times, and the winning bidder pays $80 for it. And then she can't pay the auction house because her card is denied. And the second place bidder doesn't want it.
Legally, it's been auctioned. I don't care about the $80, I just want the unit rented out and don't want to wait another two weeks for another auction.
I think I can just toss the contents in the trash and get the unit filled back up. What do you think and what would you do?

I buy units all the time, if legal in your area auction the unit again starting at $0 + cleaning deposit equal to the cost of a roll off. You should get someone take you up on this you may have to offer a longer clean out time, unit like this need to be processed on site and would take 5 days. If they take it all you have the dumpster paid for. If there are no takers pay for the dumpster and offer it for free but must clean out. Any unit buyer with free time would grab the unit in a second. As a unit buyer large items like those stinky matress' cost about $50 in gas time and disposal (my dump is 15 minutes away) when I buy a unit I subtract that from the value I see. storage centers do not let you there bins normally, but if you really need to clear out a garbage can unit you could offer the bin the day before it gets picked up.

[Willar]

I have a couple local people that bid on a lot of units. When this happens, or a unit doesn't sell, we call them and ask if they'd like it for free.

This is what we do. If it has some value I'll offer it at a discount price to one of my good buyers. If it's mostly junk I'll give it to them for free hoiping they can make a profit to pay for their time and effort of cleaning it out.

[LoisG]

Good Grief, Charlie Brown!

I had one that was auctioned back in July. I had just gotten an external fixator the weight of a cinder block on my foot.

The guy comes by, pays, etc. Then About an hour & a half after the transaction, he came to the office to complain about how the unit had a bunch of junk & that he is only going to take a few things he thinks he can make money off of. He was a bit belligerent & using the "F" word several times.

He also said, "You guys should've never put this up for auction." I advised him when a customer is in default we do what the state lien laws allow us to do & cut the lock then take photos of the unit & post it online.

He said he was thinking about giving up the $100 deposit but wanted to use our dumpster & if he wasn't able to use it he may leave the things behind.

He drove off with some of the items in his trailer & left behind the rest outside of the unit with the unit door open all night. He never called or came back to clean up.

After contacting Storage Treasures they banned him from all of our properties.

The pictures below are what was sent to Storage Treasures.

Then there was another cherry picker last month. They purchased a lock & said they'll be back before cleanout time. Well Monday rolls around, I call & they said,"My car got stolen, my van's axle broke & someone did fraud on my credit card stealing $5,000." Ok, not my problem but I'll give you one more day. I called twice & no answer. What is the matter with these people?!

[lady5563]

Good Grief, Charlie Brown!

I had one that was auctioned back in July. I had just gotten an external fixator the weight of a cinder block on my foot.

The guy comes by, pays, etc. Then About an hour & a half after the transaction, he came to the office to complain about how the unit had a bunch of junk & that he is only going to take a few things he thinks he can make money off of. He was a bit belligerent & using the "F" word several times.

He also said, "You guys should've never put this up for auction." I advised him when a customer is in default we do what the state lien laws allow us to do & cut the lock then take photos of the unit & post it online.

He said he was thinking about giving up the $100 deposit but wanted to use our dumpster & if he wasn't able to use it he may leave the things behind.

He drove off with some of the items in his trailer & left behind the rest outside of the unit with the unit door open all night. He never called or came back to clean up.

After contacting Storage Treasures they banned him from all of our properties.

The pictures below are what was sent to Storage Treasures.

Then there was another cherry picker last month. They purchased a lock & said they'll be back before cleanout time. Well Monday rolls around, I call & they said,"My car got stolen, my van's axle broke & someone did fraud on my credit card stealing $5,000." Ok, not my problem but I'll give you one more day. I called twice & no answer. What is the matter with these people?!

What a complete JERK!