An auction advertisement is the public notice that a storage unit's contents will be sold to satisfy a lien. Use the template below, then check your state's required contents and run dates. It is general information, not legal advice, so have your attorney review it for your state.
When to use it
Place the ad only after the lien notice period has expired and the tenant has not paid. Running it early can void the sale. The auction process guide shows the order of steps, and the lien notice template covers the step before this one.
What the law usually requires
Advertising rules are among the most varied parts of storage lien law.
| State | Where and how often | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Newspaper in the county, once in each of two consecutive weeks. No sale before the 15th day after first publication. Posting is allowed only where no county newspaper exists. | Prop. Code ch. 59 |
| Florida | Newspaper once a week for two consecutive weeks. Sale at least 15 days after first publication. | 83.806 |
| Pennsylvania | Two newspaper runs, or one newspaper run plus one website posting. Sale no sooner than 10 days after first publication or posting. | 12 Pa.C.S. 5608 |
| Arizona | No advertisement requirement found in the statute text. | A.R.S. 33-1701 |
Say you run in Florida. The tenant's 14-day notice period ends March 17. You publish March 18 and March 25. The sale can be no earlier than April 2, which is 15 days after March 18. Run your own dates with the lien timeline calculator. In Texas, the same facts give a first ad on day 15 and an earliest sale around day 30 (Texas rules).
How to fill it in
- Tenant name. Use the name on the lease.
- Unit. Add the unit number if your statute asks for it.
- Description. Keep it general. "Household goods" is typical. Do not list items you have not inventoried.
- Facility address. Give the street address.
- Time, place, terms. State the date, the start time and where the sale happens: at the facility or at a website address. Add terms such as cash only.
- Run dates. Match the statute. Keep the tear sheet or website proof.
- Redemption. Say the tenant may pay before the sale if your state allows it.
Common mistakes
- Publishing before the notice period ends.
- Counting the 15 days from the wrong ad.
- Leaving out a required field, such as the tenant name or the terms.
- Running in a paper that does not cover the facility's county.
- Not keeping proof of publication.
- Listing the sale at a time or place that differs from the lien notice.
The template
Template only, general information, not legal advice. Have your attorney review it for your state.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
Notice is given that the personal property described below, stored at
[FACILITY NAME], [FACILITY STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE ZIP], will be sold
to satisfy the owner's lien for unpaid rent and charges, under
[STATE STATUTE CITATION].
Tenant: [TENANT NAME]
Unit: [UNIT NUMBER]
General description of property: [GENERAL DESCRIPTION]
Sale date and time: [SALE DATE] at [TIME]
Place of sale: [FACILITY ADDRESS / WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR ONLINE SALE]
Terms: [CASH ONLY / PAYMENT TERMS]. Sold to the highest bidder. The owner
reserves the right to reject any bid and to withdraw any unit from the
sale before the sale begins.
The tenant may redeem the property by paying all amounts due before the
sale. Contact [OWNER OR AGENT NAME] at [PHONE].
Published: [DATE 1], [DATE 2] in [NEWSPAPER NAME]
[FACILITY NAME] | [PHONE]