Watch Out for Rocks

When taking that two or three minutes to look at a storage unit and decide whether or not you want to bid on it, there are several things for which to watch. Neatly stacked boxes that are labeled usually mean that at one time someone valued this stuff. Then if the boxes are stacked in an orderly fashion from floor to ceiling, chances are you will find good items for resale.

Now about those boxes. If they are labeled, read the label. If this looks like a great unit and none of the other regulars at the auction are being a little slow in their bidding, before you jump in and shout out that highest bid, read the labels AGAIN! If the boxes are labeled "agates," etc. you had better be a rock hound. Those boxes have the strong probabilty that they will be full of ROCKS. Rocks are VERY heavy -- even if they are small boxes. Then if by chance you are having to clear out this unit and while you are loading your trailer with these back breaking boxes and it starts to rain..... well, you know what happens to cardboard when it gets wet. It has a tendency to disinegrate. Then instead of boxes of rocks you now have PILES or rocks.

Yes, this actually happened. Thankfully I was not the one who was excited to get the bid, but I did know the person who did. Now the rest of the story is..... rocks are worth money if you happen to know the right people. Don't just offer them to the first person who comes along for $100.

Next time the rest of the rock story.

Don't Be Greedy

Now if one storage unit is good and is profitable, doesn't it make sense to buy more. Well, yes, it does --- as long as you don't become too greedy all at one time. First, do you have enough room to store and sort through more than one unit.



Now I have access to a really BIG area, but i learned the hard way, Do NOT buy eight units all at one time -- especially if you are eight hours from home and have to rent a U-Haul truck to get them home. But if you are brave and do something like that there are some tips that might help. I'll get to that on the next post.



Sharon