Post #6: Introduction to Stories. American Storage Bidder.

How it started:

I became interested in buying storage lockers after watching a popular reality show “Storage Wars” during the long months of the Pandemic. My Youtube-educated background as an investor allowed me to look at storage through the prism of an “asset class”. What I saw was an “asset-backed” security with optionality: paying for things that are visible (principle), and the free-option offered by the things that weren’t. There was an element of the treasure hunt, and thus fun. The optionality was magnificent! 

Storage does not have a glamorous reputation. There are dirty mattresses, stored food (and rats), outdated ugly furniture, old appliances, and, of course - dust everywhere. But amid the chaos, there are treasures to be found. Over the years of what I call “storage investing”, I have found anything ranging from first-edition books, gift cards, clothing/ leather goods, antique furniture &  collectibles, and beautiful art worthy of New York auction houses.

As I cleared over 65 lockers, I began to see patterns - not in what people owned, but in what they chose to hold onto. Every locker was a slice of human existence, tucked away for preservation. Every locker held a story, and sometimes a lesson, about the choices we make, our vulnerabilities, and our strength. So I decided to write a blog - to capture not just the finds, but the people behind them, and what their possessions reveal about human nature. What follows are stories, and my observations, to bring to you the true experience of an American Storage Bidder.

All stories, names, and locations mentioned in this blog have been altered to preserve the privacy of owners - but every one of them is 100% real.