Did our First Storage Units Today!

Printable View

07-05-2011, 10:33 AM
Adam

Did our First Storage Units Today!

So me and my brother got hooked up with a few storage units to clean out from a friend of ours who owns a garage and manages the units.

We had 4 total to go through, only catch was we had to pile all the garbage from all 4 into one unit so he could rent the other 3. Not much to ask of us for giving us a whole bunch of free scrap, ect... Also let us clean up a few things around his property.

From the outside, we got:

3 long pieces of Aluminum guttering
1 large piece of stainless
1 Fridge
1 Stove
2 heavy pieces of chain link fencing
1 12ft section of gaurdrail!!!
Misc. small Items

Now on to the inside of the Units:

Just to start, a bunch of misc. metal including frames from 2 couches, 4 Rims, Piece of chain link, ect...
An Antique table saw (very old and very heavy steel)
4 TV's, 3 of which are being broken down and 1 27in in perfect cond. now in my brothers son's room!
A box full of Old tins, many say Limited Editions (Hershey, Planters, ect...)
Antique Glassware Items
Many nice toys for our kids
A ton of appliances, insulated wires, ect...

And the coolest thing i think we found, (may not be worth anything but still cool):

A letter in an envelope in mint condition for "Moth Insurance" for a Cedar Chest from Jan. 1940 to Jan. 1943 from an Insurance Company in Virginia. Envelope is postmarked Jan. 31, 1940 and Postage due then was .03 cents! Pretty neat find if ask me.

And before we got to this job this morning, we took a load of Aluminum, Cans and Batteries to the yard and made $177. Good day with more to come!

Happy Scrapping Everybody!
07-05-2011, 12:37 PM
easyrecycle

Old letters can be worth a very pretty penny...its all about what is the letter about.

Yours is about a insurance...so look into what company it was an see if they are still around or not. Another thing to look into is if the chest was in the unit...if so..sell both the letter an the chest together an you will make more than selling them other wise.
07-05-2011, 03:43 PM
Adam

Unfortunately the Cedar Chest wasnt in any of the units but the letter is in perfect condition. I have to call my buddy who deals with antiques and have him take a look at everything we have piling up. easyrecycle, did you get my PM? If not, would you please message me. I have questions on E Scrap i have. Thank you!
07-05-2011, 05:15 PM
stosborn

very nice...i wish i could get cool stuff...or just stuff period
07-05-2011, 08:56 PM
Dumpster-Dee

Be patient stosborn....your time is coming !
07-05-2011, 09:01 PM
Dixiedeadhead

Quote:

Originally Posted by stosborn

very nice...i wish i could get cool stuff...or just stuff period

Persistence and patience
07-05-2011, 10:04 PM
rca987

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dixiedeadhead

Persistence and patience

Possibly a little perserverance.
07-05-2011, 10:15 PM
TheHoss

Quote:

Originally Posted by rca987

Possibly a little perserverance.

And possibly a little bit of beer.

...C'mon, some body had to say it.
07-05-2011, 11:45 PM
stosborn

hmmm beer? the ones in cans...then i can scrap them!!! lmao
07-06-2011, 02:02 AM
IdahoScrapper

Pretty sure those units were supposed to be sold at public auction. There's protocol to follow and I am pretty certain it doesn't involve giving them to friends.
07-06-2011, 04:55 AM
Adam

I dont own them. I was asked by the manager who was asked by the owner to clear them out. My name isnt on anything. And believe me, it would have been a waste of time to try and sell them. The few things that i listed were the only nice things in them. They would have sold for Zero Dollars. Nothing like you see on TV!
07-06-2011, 05:05 AM
dherik

Quote:

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Pretty sure those units were supposed to be sold at public auction. There's protocol to follow and I am pretty certain it doesn't involve giving them to friends.

It depends on state law, and the state landlord/eviction laws.
07-06-2011, 05:10 AM
Adam

And I have no idea what PA's law is on it.
07-06-2011, 05:13 AM
KzScrapper

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam

I dont own them. I was asked by the manager who was asked by the owner to clear them out. My name isnt on anything. And believe me, it would have been a waste of time to try and sell them. The few things that i listed were the only nice things in them. They would have sold for Zero Dollars. Nothing like you see on TV!

I attend these on a regular basis and you would be amazed what people will pay for trash. Most states, unit owner has to take pics and document at the time the lock is cut, them must have a numbered seal put on them(like on your elec meter) that stays on till it is opened by the auctioneer and sold minutes later. Not saying you did anything wrong Adam but sounds like the owner of storage place may have not followed protocal. If he were to get busted he might try to drag you into it for receiving stolen property. Just be careful, maybe have then sign something to protect yourself.
07-06-2011, 05:47 AM
parrothead

The laws are indeed different from state to state. My parents had them in Illinois and they just assumed ownership when a customer defaulted on payment.
07-06-2011, 09:37 AM
stosborn

actually there is no law aying that they have to be actioned off. they just do that as a quick way to get them empty and make some money. adter a certain amount of time the items become property of the storage company and they are at their discretion as to how to get rid of them.
07-06-2011, 11:50 AM
Mechanic688

Quote:

after a certain amount of time the items become property of the storage company and they are at their discretion as to how to get rid of them.

That's how it is here in Ind.
07-06-2011, 11:57 AM
Saroro

Pretty sure that's how it is here in NY too.
07-06-2011, 03:10 PM
parrothead

Not sure how it is here in Florida, but I do know when they are auctioned off, there are rules that govern it. So maybe there are some choices. Those laws also allow for things such as getting a clear title if you by an item that requires one, as well as protecting the defualtee such as all personal paperwork must be returned to the original owner.
07-06-2011, 04:57 PM
stosborn

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrothead

Not sure how it is here in Florida

i do not know of any states that require the use of auctions. it is pretty much up to the individual storage companies. some of them will just horde the stuff and once or twice a year have a massive sale. (like an estate sale) others will have the auctions and still others will sell as soon as the required hold time (usually 30-45 days to allow the tenant opportunity to pay and claim his belongings) is up.
07-07-2011, 08:23 AM
Steel-toe

I have gone to a few of those storage auctions. They are pretty cool. I have never actually won a unit but came close a couple times before it went a little over my maximum. A few weeks ago there was a unit with a set of oxy/acetylene tanks I didnt see any torch tips but there were some boxes so I was gonna take a chance until some punk kid kept bidding me up and the only other thing in the unit was a cheap first act drum set so I dropped out. I guess its just my gambling nature that makes me keep going back.
07-07-2011, 09:42 AM
CLR Solutions

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steel-toe

I have gone to a few of those storage auctions. They are pretty cool. I have never actually won a unit but came close a couple times before it went a little over my maximum. A few weeks ago there was a unit with a set of oxy/acetylene tanks I didnt see any torch tips but there were some boxes so I was gonna take a chance until some punk kid kept bidding me up and the only other thing in the unit was a cheap first act drum set so I dropped out. I guess its just my gambling nature that makes me keep going back.

Good thing you didnt win that auction. The laws post 9/11 regarding bottle gas tanks have gotten much stricter. You would need actual proof of ownership of those tanks to get them filled at any welding supply. Also if the tanks are older they need to be pressure tested and checked for microscopic cracks. High pressure tanks have a limited service life and need to be swapped out at a maintenance interval.
07-07-2011, 10:04 AM
dherik

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLR Solutions

Good thing you didnt win that auction. The laws post 9/11 regarding bottle gas tanks have gotten much stricter. You would need actual proof of ownership of those tanks to get them filled at any welding supply. Also if the tanks are older they need to be pressure tested and checked for microscopic cracks. High pressure tanks have a limited service life and need to be swapped out at a maintenance interval.

I don't think airgas has EVER asked for proof of ownership when I have taken tanks in to be filled.
07-07-2011, 10:42 AM
CLR Solutions

Quote:

Originally Posted by dherik

I don't think airgas has EVER asked for proof of ownership when I have taken tanks in to be filled.

Maybe its a regional thing. Around here you cant take a tank from airgas to a praxair location to be filled. If the tank is leased you need paperwork showing that you are the lessee. If you cant provide proof of ownership they assume the tank is stolen and try to report you.
07-07-2011, 11:28 AM
dherik

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLR Solutions

Maybe its a regional thing. Around here you cant take a tank from airgas to a praxair location to be filled. If the tank is leased you need paperwork showing that you are the lessee. If you cant provide proof of ownership they assume the tank is stolen and try to report you.

It must be a regional thing. That's just silly if you ask me. They have leak checked a couple of my tanks before, but never anything like that. hell I think I've got tanks with other companies stickers on them.
07-07-2011, 01:25 PM
CLR Solutions

Quote:

Originally Posted by dherik

It must be a regional thing. That's just silly if you ask me. They have leak checked a couple of my tanks before, but never anything like that. hell I think I've got tanks with other companies stickers on them.

I agree. It is just what I have encountered in the past. I now just have leased tanks from one company that they switch out every 3 years and there is no issue.