Looking to get into the Storage Wars action inspired by the hit A&E TV show? Miami self-storage companies routinely auction the contents of abandoned units, and there are bidders lined up for a chance to go big by finding a priceless antique or other valuable items inside a storage closet.
Self Storage in Miami
The self-storage industry is huge. Driven by the incredible demand for more space to store countless people’s toys, treasures, household items, and old trash, these nondescript, low-rise, low-cost buildings are popping up all over the Miami area. Some of the major players in this industry include:
- Mini storage A +
- Public storage
- StorageMart
- U-Haul Self-Storage
- Value store it
If you are looking for a storage unit for your own valuables, there are likely several within a couple of miles of your residence, wherever you are in the Miami area.
Find storage auctions
Florida law stipulates that owners of self-storage units have a lien on all contents stored within a unit. If the person who rents a storage unit does not pay the rent for an extended period of time, the owner of the unit has the right to auction the contents of the unit to meet the overdue rent amounts. Any money raised from the auction that exceeds the amount owed belongs to the individual who rented the unit.
In practical terms, unit owners typically do not want to hold auctions themselves.
Instead, they hire professional auctioneers who know the rules of liens law and the auction process from the inside out. These professional auctioneers travel the state and sometimes the country, conducting auctions for different storage unit owners.
Following these professional auctioneers is the easiest way to locate storage auctions that take place in the Miami area. Typically, an auctioneer will come to town to auction at least three units at a particular facility. In many cases, they will hold auctions at multiple facilities owned by the same chain during a single trip.
Some of the auctioneers and auction listing sites that you may want to keep an eye on are:
- Hammer Down Auctions
- CubeSmart auction listings
- Storage Treasures Miami Listings
- Storage protection auction services
What to expect at a storage auction
When you arrive at a storage auction, you will be asked to register. Before the auction begins, the auctioneer will brief you on the rules, which generally include:
- Auctions are cash only and you are expected to pay immediately upon auction completion
- When the lock is cut into the unit, you can look inward, but cannot enter the unit or touch any of the contents
- You may have to pay a small cleaning deposit to the unit owner
- You will have a short period of time to empty the unit. If you don’t, the content will be discarded and you will lose your deposit.
Remember, storage auctions aren’t glamorous in real life, and the treasures you see on reality shows probably won’t be in a unit you buy. Warning emptor!
