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Storage facilities vary in their auction practices, but generally the process is not complicated and works this way:

Parking

Parking is always a problem at storage auctions. Look for signs or other indications of where parking is permitted and where it is not. In general, take care not to block entrances or doorways.

Registration

Upon arrival at the auction, the facility office or an auctioneer present will advise what pre-registration is required in order to participate in the auction. You must be at least 18 years old to participate.

Inspection

Units are opened for inspection immediately prior to the sale. No advance viewing is permitted. You are not permitted to enter the storage units nor to handle the contents.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted at storage auctions.

Firearms

Firearms are prohibited.

Number of Units

Regardless of the number of units that may have been advertised for sale, the number of units ultimately sold may vary right up to the time of sale as delinquent tenants settle their accounts at the last minute.

Lots

Generally the entire contents of the storage unit are sold as a single lot. Occasionally the contents may be divided and sold in two or more separate lots, in which case an announcement will be made.

Reserve

Most auctions are conducted “without reserve,” i.e., without a minimum floor price that must be reached before a sale is triggered. If a reserve is to apply as to any unit being sold, that will be announced, although the amount of the reserve will not be revealed so as not to influence the bidding.

Bidding

Open bidding is used, never sealed bids. There is no rule-of-thumb as to typical sale prices. Units can sell for as little as $5 and for as much as thousands depending upon the nature of a unit’s contents.

House bids

The storage facility has a legal right to place bids. In order to be fair to bidders however, when the house bids, generally it will only make an opening bid.

Settlement

Settlement, that is, paying the amounts of your winning bid(s), is always due immediately following the close of the auction. Additional time in which to pay is never permitted. By law, payment must be in cash. Some facilities will allow you to settle early, before the close of the entire auction, if you are then through bidding on units.

Sales Tax

All auction sales in Mississippi are subject to sales tax at the regular, local retail rate. Expect the amount of the tax to be added to the amount of your winning bid(s). If you are buying for resale, i.e., claiming exemption from paying sales tax, you must be prepared to present a copy of your sales tax license from the State of Arizona Department of Revenue. The facility will take a photocopy of your license for their records as a condition of not charging you tax.

Clean-out Deposit

You may be required to post a clean-out deposit along with the payment of the amount of your winning bid, which deposit is later refunded to you when the unit has been demonstrated to have been emptied satisfactorily. When such deposits are required, an announcement will be made.

Gurantees

All storage auctions are conducted “as-is-where-is,” without any warranties or representations of any kind. All sales are final.

Locks

Some facilities will allow you to place your own lock on the door of a purchased unit. Some require that payment in full be tendered first. Others prohibit the use of buyer locks. If no announcement is made about use of buyer locks, you should ask before placing your own lock on a purchased unit.

Clean-out

Facilities vary in the amount of time granted to you to remove the purchased contents from the premises, but generally 24 hours is allowed. If no announcement is made as to the time allowed, you should inquire. You must remove all the contents purchased. Do NOT put unwanted contents into the facility’s dumpsters.

Holding Over

The purpose of storage auctions is not merely to collect delinquent rent, but to put the storage units back into production. Failure to remove all of the contents you purchased frustrates that purpose. If the volume of property purchased is unusually large, storage facilities are usually willing to work with you and to extend the time for removal. Often buyers elect to sign leases and rent the spaces they purchased rather than move the contents out.

Motor Vehicles & Boats

Following the sale of a motor vehicle or boat, the facility will provide you with a special document called a “DECLARATION OF SALE.” It is to be signed by both the self-storage operator and you as buyer. The original copy is given to you and is to be presented by you at the Motor Vehicle Department (or the Game & Fish Department in the case of boats) when you apply for a title to the vehicle. By law, that is the only documentation required for a buyer to apply for a title to a vehicle or boat purchased at a storage auction in Arizona. Note: separate Declarations of Sale are required for a boat and for the trailer under it.