A self storage auction is the public sale of a delinquent tenant's stored belongings, held to pay off unpaid rent under your state's lien law. You get there by sending a written notice, waiting out the payment period, advertising the sale, selling to the highest bidder and handling the proceeds. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Have an attorney review your documents before your first sale.
The earliest legal sale date comes from your state's statute, not from a rule of thumb. In Texas it is about 26 to 30 days after the lien notice is delivered. In Georgia it is about 59 days after default. Look up your state on the lien laws by state page before you send anything.
The seven steps in order
Almost every state follows the same sequence. The days and wording change.
- Check your lease. The lien starts with the signed rental agreement. In Texas, you can sell without a court only if the lease has the lien clause in underlined or bold print (Tex. Prop. Code 59.041-59.042).
- Confirm the default. Rent is unpaid, any grace period has run and any waiting period in your statute has passed.
- Send the lien notice. A written notice with an itemized claim, a payment deadline and a statement that the property may be sold. See the lien notice template.
- Wait out the payment period. Usually at least 14 days from delivery.
- Advertise the sale. Newspaper, website or posting, as your statute says. See the auction advertisement template.
- Hold the sale. A public sale, on site or online, to the highest bidder.
- Handle the proceeds. Apply them to the lien and costs, then hold any surplus. See what happens to surplus proceeds.
The pre-lien and lien timeline guide shows how these steps stack up day by day.
Step 1 and 2: lease and default
Your lease is the foundation. Pull the signed copy and look for the lien clause, the late fee, the notice methods and the alternate contact. If the lease is missing a required clause, stop and talk to your attorney.
Then confirm the default. Some statutes set waiting periods:
| State | Wait before enforcement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | None. The lien notice is the first formal step. | ch. 59 |
| Florida | None stated. | 83.806 |
| Georgia | 30 days of continuous default | 10-4-213 |
| Pennsylvania | 30 days of continuous default | 12 Pa.C.S. 5606 |
| California | Preliminary notice after 14 consecutive days unpaid | B&P 21703 |
Step 3: the lien notice
The notice has to reach the tenant by a method your statute allows. Texas lists in person, email (if the lease allows it) and verified mail. Illinois lists in person, verified mail and email. The notice itemizes the claim, gives your contact information and warns of sale. Many states add a military service statement. Mail it to the last known address and any alternate contact on the lease.
Keep proof. A certificate of mailing, an email record or a signed delivery note is your evidence.
Step 4 and 5: the payment period and the ad
The payment period is counted from delivery. After it expires, the ad runs. Advertising rules vary a lot:
| State | Advertising rule | Earliest sale rule |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Newspaper once in each of two consecutive weeks, or post if no county paper exists | Not before the 15th day after first publication (10th day after posting) |
| Florida | Newspaper once a week for 2 consecutive weeks | At least 15 days after first publication |
| Georgia | County legal organ once a week for 2 consecutive weeks | Not sooner than 15 days after first publication |
| Illinois | Newspaper once a week for 2 consecutive weeks | At least 15 days after first publication |
| Pennsylvania | Two newspaper runs, or one newspaper plus one website posting | At least 10 days after first publication |
| Arizona | No advertisement requirement found in the statute | After both notices and the demand period, with default over 30 days |
An online-only ad is allowed in some states and not in others. Never assume.
Worked example: Texas
Say a tenant in Texas owes $330, three months at $110, and your lease has the bold lien clause.
- Monday, March 2. You deliver the lien notice by verified mail. Mailing counts as delivery when deposited with USPS.
- Monday, March 16. The 14th day. The tenant has until then to pay.
- Tuesday, March 17. Day 15. You place the ad in the county newspaper.
- Tuesday, March 24. The ad runs a second week.
- Wednesday, April 1. The 15th day after first publication. This is the earliest sale date.
That is 30 days from delivery. If the county has no newspaper and you post the notice on day 15 instead, the earliest sale is the 10th day after posting, about day 26 (Texas rules). The statute is the authority; confirm dates with your attorney.
Worked example: Florida
Say rent of $95 is unpaid and you deliver the lien notice in person and also post it on the unit on January 10. You give the minimum 14 days, so the tenant has until January 24. You publish January 25 and February 1. Sale cannot be earlier than 15 days after January 25, which is February 9 (Fla. Stat. 83.806). Our research counts the earliest sale about 29 days after delivery if the first ad runs on day 14; use the conservative count unless your attorney agrees.
Step 6: the sale
The sale must be public and commercially reasonable. Common rules:
- Where. At the facility, at the nearest suitable place, or on a public auction website where your statute allows it. Texas allows a publicly accessible internet website.
- How. To the highest bidder, on the terms in the notice and ad. Sell exactly as advertised.
- Who. Keep staff and affiliates out of the bidding. Vermont says the owner may not buy.
- Bidders. Colorado, Georgia and Mississippi deem a sale reasonable when enough independent bidders attend (3 or more in Georgia and Colorado). Arizona uses five or more.
- Protected property. Several states bar selling personal papers, medications, alcohol or firearms. Arizona and Nevada are examples. Set these aside.
- Redemption. The tenant can pay up to the moment of sale. Accept the payment and pull the unit.
- Vehicles. Titled vehicles and boats often need extra notice. Texas adds a verified-mail notice to the owner and recorded lienholders.
Take photos of the unit before and during the sale. Keep a bill of sale, the bidder list, and proof of the ad.
Step 7: proceeds and surplus
Apply proceeds first to the sale costs and the lien. The rest is surplus, which belongs to the tenant. Holding periods run from 90 days (Arizona, Iowa, Oklahoma) to two years (Texas, Georgia, Florida). Some states send unclaimed money to the state or county. The surplus guide has the full table.
Pre-sale checklist
- Signed lease with the correct lien clause.
- Ledger showing the balance to the dollar.
- Lien notice sent by an allowed method, with proof.
- Alternate contact and lienholders notified where required.
- Military service check done.
- Payment period fully expired.
- Ad run on the right dates, with proof.
- Sale time and place match the ad.
- Protected property pulled.
- Bill of sale ready.
Common mistakes
- Starting before the waiting period ends.
- Counting from the wrong day.
- An inflated balance in the notice.
- Selling at a different time or place than advertised.
- Skipping the lienholder notice.
- Holding surplus without a record.
- Doing it all by hand with no calendar.
A tool that tracks the dates helps. The lien timeline calculator gives you a starting calendar, and Stitch lien and auction management keeps each unit's timeline in one place. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Review every notice and sale with your attorney.