Reality shows often get the rap for not being real or even anything remotely resembling real life. People don’t lose weight like the contestants of the Biggest Loser; you can’t find anything but a love of the camera on the Bachelor/Bachelorette. Even shows like Storage Wars that are focused on something simple like auctions at self storage facilities have come under question.
Many wonder about the treasures that have been supposedly found inside self storage units purchased at auctions. Of course the majority of self storage auctions are not going to be high dollar events with Spanish doubloons, priceless artwork, or Civil War artifacts inside.
"If you have a Rembrandt, I don't think you would put it in a storage unit," Jason Spada, owner of AAAA West Ridge Self Storage said. The shows do tend to purchase units ahead of time for their purposes so they likely make sure that they present those with items of value first and foremost.
Spada believes there is a huge gap between reality and what the shows portray. Whether his opinion is right or not, the reality is that thanks to shows like Storage Wars and Auction Hunters the self storage industry is doing better than ever. A recent Wall Street Journal report put the average occupancy for a self storage facility at 90 percent; rents have gone up anywhere from three to 10 percent in the last year as well.
The shows have definitely helped give rise to an industry within an industry—self storage auctions. Prior to the creation of the reality shows it was not uncommon for there to be a handful of people at auctions. Now that number has grown tremendously.
“I was very surprised by the turnout,” auctioneer Dan Kooser said at a recent Topeka-area auction. “I anticipated about 30 people, and we had probably 200.”
All the reality shows have encouraged people to turnout like never before. Some people are there just to look, but others have been inspired by what they watched and have decided to give it a try themselves. They often quickly find out that the reality of it is not too similar to what they see on television, but with the right mindset they can turn a profit just like Dave Hester, Barry Weiss, or Darrell Sheets.
A pair of city councilmen in Southern California has been bitten by the ‘bug,’ and were recently bidding on units at an auction at A-1 Self Storage in Lake Forest, California.
“We paid $275 for it,” Denis Bilodeau said. “There were 35 boxes filled with paper, receipts, bank statements, and checkbooks that went right into the recycle bin.”
There was also a box with gold jewelry and designer purses that insured they would at least get their money back.
“It was kind of a rush to get the stuff,” said Bilodeau. “My wife doesn’t mind, because we haven’t lost money.”
Sources Used:
“Councilmen catch fever, buying storage units.” The Orange County Register; 05 January 2012.
“Storage industry grows along with public interest.” GoErie.com; 05 January 2012.
“Topeka gets own version of 'Storage Wars'.” CJOnline.com; 04 January 2012.