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    New Jersey man wins a storage auction and sells valuable antiques, then the former tenant later demands them back, leaving him questioning ownership and responsibility

    Winning a storage unit auction sounds quite thrilling, honestly. It's like the modern version of treasure hunting, just with more dust and paperwork

    Every bidder imagines finding something worth talking about later, maybe even worth selling. But the fine print rarely makes the highlight reel, and this is where things usually get messy. 

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    • Man standing outside a row of storage units, pulling a yellow cargo bicycle with a covered rear compartment out of an open garage unit.
      via Aflo Images

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    • Won Storage Unit Auction - Buyer Demanding Goods Back

      Location: NJI recently won an auction for a storage unit and the tenant never redeemed.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959

    • This time the auction hunter wins a unit in New Jersey fair and square. The previous tenant doesn’t redeem it, so the contents legally pass on through the auction process. Inside are antiques that turn out to have real value, so the buyer sells them. Straightforward, right Until the original tenant appears after everything is gone and demands them back. Suddenly, the excitement of the win feels more like a legal headache than a lucky break.  

    • I cleaned out the unit and found some antiques which were somewhat valuable. Fast forward to today, tenant is now asking I return them but I can't since I already sold them.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • According to the auction rules: 8. The Buyer acknowledges that in certain circumstances, the facility may contact Buyer and request that certain items be purchased back in order to prevent any court action with said tenant, the Buyer also agrees to sell to Extra Space such items for (a) the cost at which Buyer purchased such items plus (b) any reasonable actual costs incurred by Buyer in connection with such items.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
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    • According to the contract, the facility reserves the right to ask the buyer to return certain items if it prevents legal trouble with the tenant. The buyer would then be compensated for the purchase and any related costs. But the key word there is ask. The facility is not handing out orders from a judge, it’s protecting itself in case things escalate. The tenant’s demand on their own carries no authority once notice has been given and the sale is complete.

    • I understand I have an obligation to return legal documents and the alike, but there was nothing like that.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • Person sitting alone in a narrow hallway of indoor storage units, facing away from the camera, surrounded by rows of orange roll-up doors under fluorescent lighting.
      via Harpreet Singh Grewal

      Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    • The buyer’s real obligations end at returning personal documents or sensitive materials, such as IDs or legal papers. Antiques aren’t part of that category. Once the auction is final, ownership transfers unless state law or the storage contract says otherwise, which is rare. The only risk comes if the storage company decides to engage to avoid a legal dispute and compensates the buyer after collecting the goods.  

    • Can the storage facility pursue me for the value of the sold goods if the tenant threatens them? Do I not own the property within the unit after a successful auction, assuming notice and other laws were followed?
      via Prestigious_Okra_959

    • Every storage auction story eventually teaches the same thing. The thrill of the find always comes bundled with rules buried in small print. The moment the lock clicks open, every item has two prices: its resale value and its potential to cause a headache later. In this case, the winner technically owns the stuff, but the peace of mind may already be sold.

    • What is my liability? Thanks in advance. Edits: Sorry, I accidentally said "buyer" instead of "tenant." Slow and groggy morning for me.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
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    • Nemesis651 Tenant isn't the storage facility. Tell them to contact the facility. Not your problem (yet). If and when the facility contacts you, then you may need to engage. That said theres no "date" on this contract part. If youve already sold it, kinda hard to sell it back. Theres no obligation for a chain of buy- backs. If you want to be nice, you can tell them whom you sold them to, and maybe give them a heads up that the original owner is looking for them. If they want to make a deal, thats
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • mistagordeaux I've worked in storage for ten years and can tell you, ignore this person. The tenant didn't pay their bill. We have them call all the time with stories of x, y, and z after the items are sold and it is what it is. If any party messed up, it's the facility if they accepted money from the tenant and then sold the unit. Still that isn't on you. You shouldnt waste your time on a tenant who was behind long enough on their payment to have their unit sold.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • beachbum818 How did the tenant get your information? That's sus. The dispute is between the storage facility and the tenant
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
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    • Mean-Abies3819 I'm wondering how the tenant got your contact information? Did the storage facility attempt to throw you under the bus?
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • Lighthouse_on_Mars I use to be a property manager, I also use to auction off Storage Units. Unless the police contact you, you are completely fine. Ignore this person, or tell them to contact the storage company. Units don't just get auctioned off at the drop if a dime. Depending on the State it's a long drawn out process that requires multiple attempts to reach the owner, positing the units sale schedule in the local newspaper from 2-4 times, depending on how often the paper is released. Any le
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • jwhisen Are the "certain circumstances" never defined elsewhere in the contract? If not, that's a pretty worthless clause because it could mean any circumstances.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
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    • Alternative-Golf8281 The paragraph from the contract you quoted says the facility may contact you. This hasn't happened. Somehow the previous owner of the contents obtained your contact info and tried to get the items back. If this isn't addressed somewhere else in the contract you may want to ask (via text or email) how that person got your contact info. Does the facility not have a requirement to safeguard your information?
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • Edvijuda Storage property manager here. Ignore the person. More concerning is who gave out your contact information. I'd escalate to the stores district manager.
      via Prestigious_Okra_959
    • AmborellaVictoria Can't answer for anyone else, but at the storage facility at which I work, there is a well-documented process for auctions. We call the phone numbers provided. We text. We email. We send certified letters. We reach out at least eight times before sending a unit to auction... and, of course, this outcome is clearly stated in the contract the tenant signed. Our contracts also have specific language precluding the storage of antiques, furs, or other expensive items. Sounds like th
      via Prestigious_Okra_959

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