On A&E‟s “Storage Wars”, some of the greatest finds have been Picasso paintings and a letter written by Abraham Lincoln worth $15,000. What enables new shows like “Storage Wars” and Spike TV‟s “Auction Hunters” to attract viewers with jaw-dropping finds are the lien laws that uphold a legal process followed when a renter doesn‟t pay his bill for a certain amount of time. Because the lien laws are more lax in California and Nevada, many of the shows‟ episodes are filmed there and could be the key to their success.
This past summer, the California Senate Judiciary Committee voted to modify the state's self storage lien law that relaxes notification requirements allowing delivery via Certificate of Mailing rather than the expensive previous method of Certified Mail. The law has saved California self storage operators much money. Also, facility operators have the option of filing in small claims court rather than the more costly superior court system.
Because of this lax system, storage units can be auctioned off faster because of less paperwork and delays in courts. This attracts the storage auction shows looking for fast turnover by shooting in close-by locations, rather than spending extra money on traveling. But to some, the California lien laws are too lax.
Speaking about the TV auction shows, Gina Kudo, general manager of Cochrane Road Self Storage in San Francisco, said “They use the term 'reality TV' and for those of us watching – especially in California – it appears lien laws are being tossed by the wayside.”
With the ease by which California and Nevada can obtain ownership over a storage unit makes other state governments look overbearing. In Connecticut, for instance, part of the process includes the owner of a storage facility notifying the occupant “and any person who has filed a valid security interest in such property” with the Secretary of State of his intention to satisfy the lien with a written notice which shall be delivered in person or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the occupant.
This is a much more involved and expensive notification procedure than found in California and Nevada. It is natural to wonder whether these storage auction shows would be on TV if not for the lax laws of these states. They are certainly proving to be popular and getting much press as a new breed to reality TV shows. Reality TV is the most popular type of network and cable shows. The lien laws from just two states could be supporting the survival of the storage auction shows which are proving to be so popular.
Sources Used:
“Storage Wars: A Manager’s Perspective on Reality TV’s Depiction of Self Storage Auctions.” Inside Self Storage. Dec. 22, 2010.
“Storage War’s Greatest Finds.” TV Guide. Dec. 22, 2010.
“Connecticut Lien Law.” StorageLaws.net. 2010.