On August 10th, a new Self Storage Lien statute took effect in Colorado. The old statute, which was passed in the 70's, had become obsolete and needed updating.
The Colorado Self Storage Association (COSSA), in conjunction with the National Self Storage Association (SSA), proposed an update to the statute. Schur Success Auction & Appraisal appeared before both the Colorado House and Senate to testify on behalf of COSSA. After a little tweaking, the bill received full support from both houses. The bill was passed, and became effective last week.
The changes are significant for owners/operators, but have little impact on storage buyers. Nonetheless, you need to know about them. There are 4 key changes.
1) Sheriff notification
2) Legal Notice - publication
3) Default notification / email & verified mail
4) Vehicles and Personal watercraft.
The first has little impact on anyone.
1) Sheriff Notification:
The old law required that a duplicate copy of the lien notices be sent to the Sheriff for the county where the facility is located. The Sheriff's have been asking operators for years to stop sending the notices, but the statute required this notice. No longer!
2) Legal Notice / Publication:
The most significant change is the posting of legal notices in the local newspaper. When the law was passed, there was no such thing as the internet,, Facebook, or Google. Newspaper legal notices were necessary to both a) notify the renter of a default) and b) notify the public of a pending auction. Clearly, technology has surpassed the statute.
Although some bidders use the legal notices to learn about the auctions, the vast majority of bidders use the internet to locate sales. Of those bidders that still use legal notices, most do so to see the inventory, not the details of the sale. Legal notices can cost hundreds of dollars for each posting and did little to resolve the problem.
The new statute changes the legal notice from a requirement to an option in most cases. The law now requires that the operators must advertise in a "commercially viable manner" that draws at least 3 independent bidders. If they can bring three bidders, they do NOT need to publish. In rural areas, that may be difficult, but clearly it's not an issue in metro areas. So, no more legal notices in the City.
3) Default Notification:
The next significant change is in HOW owners notify renters that they are in default and that they are risking an auction. The revised statute allows for e-mail notifications and no longer requires "certified" mail. There are some contractual requirements between the renter and the owner to meet this new standard.
4) Vehicles and Personal Watercraft:
The last significant change has to do with vehicles, motorcycles, boats, personal watercraft, and other such things that have titles. Previously, owner/operators had to go through a very lengthy process to conduct vin verifications, tile searches, post bonds, etc., just to sell a vehicle.
The new provisions allow an operator to simply have the vehicle removed by a licensed tow company after 60 days. This means storage auctioneers are not likely to be selling these vehicles. If found inside a unit, we'll sell everything EXCEPT the vehicle.
These changes have little impact on buyers, but really streamline the process for the operators. None are designed to make any more money for the operators, but rather are designed to make it easier to recover their losses and to bring the statute current with technology:
Summary:
The information above serves only to highlight some of the significant changes in the statute, and are not intended to be relied upon as legal advice. You are encouraged to study the statute yourself, and contact competent legal counsel prior to acting on this information.
REFERENCE: Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) 38-21.5-101 to 38-21.5-105. The statute specifically states that operators who fail to follow the statute may be subject to liability.
For additional information, contact Rich at Success Auction & Appraisal, Inc.
Check out our article on "How to buy at auction without losing your shirt!" Click here
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Some thoughts on Independence Day
Tomorrow is Independence Day... Not just the 4th of July, not just a day of parades and hot dogs, but a day to remember our will, strength, and courage to defy a government that was not of, by, and for the people. It was a day we said that we would no longer submit to a tyrannical government. It was a day that forever changed history and set us on a path to be the greatest nation in the world.
It was not an easy day I assure you. The men who made the decision to defy a king knew the road ahead would be dangerous. They knew there would be risks and substantial costs. But they felt the cause of freedom was both just and necessary.
Since that day, our nation has worked hard to continuously advance the cause of freedom and individual liberty. To work hard to prevent governments from controlling the lives of people. To make sure oppression disappears from the planet. There are great lengths yet to go.
This weekend of celebration should be enjoyed, no, relished. Your right to BBQ, have parades, and take a leave from work has been hard fought by patriots, in and out of uniform, for more 235 years.
As you reflect on the joy of the weekend, reflect also on the reason and the cause which forms the basis for this holiday.
I personally want to thank all of the men and women who have fought for our cause of freedom. Fought on our soil and in foreign lands. Fought and served in the halls of our senate and congress, regardless of which party. Those who fought and will continue to fight to make sure our goal of Freedom is achieved.
I wish you all a safe, happy, and reflective Independence Day. May you think of those who have served, are serving, and will continue to serve us in the future.
It was not an easy day I assure you. The men who made the decision to defy a king knew the road ahead would be dangerous. They knew there would be risks and substantial costs. But they felt the cause of freedom was both just and necessary.
Since that day, our nation has worked hard to continuously advance the cause of freedom and individual liberty. To work hard to prevent governments from controlling the lives of people. To make sure oppression disappears from the planet. There are great lengths yet to go.
This weekend of celebration should be enjoyed, no, relished. Your right to BBQ, have parades, and take a leave from work has been hard fought by patriots, in and out of uniform, for more 235 years.
As you reflect on the joy of the weekend, reflect also on the reason and the cause which forms the basis for this holiday.
I personally want to thank all of the men and women who have fought for our cause of freedom. Fought on our soil and in foreign lands. Fought and served in the halls of our senate and congress, regardless of which party. Those who fought and will continue to fight to make sure our goal of Freedom is achieved.
I wish you all a safe, happy, and reflective Independence Day. May you think of those who have served, are serving, and will continue to serve us in the future.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Dax Gillium: Auctioneer, Appraiser, Pole-sitter
We think it's important to know who we are, and sometimes the "about us" button on our web page just doesn't give you as much information as you would like. Today, we're going to talk about our good friend Dax Gillium, the man with the golden voice.
Rich and Dax were classmates at the Worldwide College of Auctioneering, and Dax has been working with us since they graduated. Dax is a successful auctioneer and appraiser in his own right, and we're happy to have him affiliated with us.
I asked Dax for a brief bio so that we could feature him. My intent was to use his information and create my own story about Dax, but after reading what he sent me, I've decided to leave it just as he wrote it. Here's Dax's story about his favorite subject, Dax:
"Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, auctioneer and appraiser Dax Gillium is a former professional pianist and broadcaster. After studying for a degree in journalism, Mr. Gillium promptly forgot all about it and, in 1975, turned his attention toward a career in music. He has performed internationally with a host of well known pop and country artists including Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Gary Puckett (and the Union Gap), John Davidson and Jack Green. In 1988, Dax went on-the-air in western North Dakota. He began as a broadcaster on both radio and TV, but it soon became evident that Dax was a lot taller and better looking on radio, and became well known as a newscaster, morning-drive DJ and talk-show host. It was during this time that Dax took part in a publicity stunt for an auto dealership, sitting on an eight-by-eight-foot platform perched atop a 55-foot telephone pole for 13 days.
Arriving in Denver in 2001, Dax found that nobody was looking for a telephone pole sitter, and focused his sights on the auction profession. He is a graduate of the World Wide College of Auctioneering, and holds an appraiser’s certification from the Certified Appraiser’s Guild of America (CAGA). He has achieved the prestigious Certified Estate Specialist (CES) and Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designations from the National Auctioneers Association, and currently serves on the Colorado Auctioneers Association board of directors as a vice president. Dax also placed as a top-five finalist in the 2007 Colorado Auctioneers Association bid-calling contest. Along with raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for various non-profit and charitable organizations, Dax serves an associate auctioneer, appraiser and highest-ranking telephone pole sitter with the firm of Schur Success Auction and Appraisal."
Keep reading our blogs and checking our website for information and stories about the rest of our team. You can always reach us at www.SuccessAuctions.com, or check us our on Facebook Page.
Rich and Dax were classmates at the Worldwide College of Auctioneering, and Dax has been working with us since they graduated. Dax is a successful auctioneer and appraiser in his own right, and we're happy to have him affiliated with us.
I asked Dax for a brief bio so that we could feature him. My intent was to use his information and create my own story about Dax, but after reading what he sent me, I've decided to leave it just as he wrote it. Here's Dax's story about his favorite subject, Dax:
"Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, auctioneer and appraiser Dax Gillium is a former professional pianist and broadcaster. After studying for a degree in journalism, Mr. Gillium promptly forgot all about it and, in 1975, turned his attention toward a career in music. He has performed internationally with a host of well known pop and country artists including Charlie Pride, Loretta Lynn, Gary Puckett (and the Union Gap), John Davidson and Jack Green. In 1988, Dax went on-the-air in western North Dakota. He began as a broadcaster on both radio and TV, but it soon became evident that Dax was a lot taller and better looking on radio, and became well known as a newscaster, morning-drive DJ and talk-show host. It was during this time that Dax took part in a publicity stunt for an auto dealership, sitting on an eight-by-eight-foot platform perched atop a 55-foot telephone pole for 13 days.
Arriving in Denver in 2001, Dax found that nobody was looking for a telephone pole sitter, and focused his sights on the auction profession. He is a graduate of the World Wide College of Auctioneering, and holds an appraiser’s certification from the Certified Appraiser’s Guild of America (CAGA). He has achieved the prestigious Certified Estate Specialist (CES) and Benefit Auction Specialist (BAS) designations from the National Auctioneers Association, and currently serves on the Colorado Auctioneers Association board of directors as a vice president. Dax also placed as a top-five finalist in the 2007 Colorado Auctioneers Association bid-calling contest. Along with raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for various non-profit and charitable organizations, Dax serves an associate auctioneer, appraiser and highest-ranking telephone pole sitter with the firm of Schur Success Auction and Appraisal."
Keep reading our blogs and checking our website for information and stories about the rest of our team. You can always reach us at www.SuccessAuctions.com, or check us our on Facebook Page.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Don't lose your Shirt! Avoiding disaster when buying storage units.
Don't get me wrong, we WANT you to spend money. We WANT you to bid big. We get paid on a commission. The more you spend the happier we are.
However, we want you to come back, and to become a regular buyer. You won't do that if you lose your shirt buying poorly. This short little blog is about making some good buying decisions. Hopefully you'll make some good purchases and decide you want to come again and again.
First rule... Set a limit! It's so very easy to get caught up in the bidding. It's exciting. It's competitive, and its very fast. It doesn't take much to be bidding well beyond what you want to spend. Look at the unit, decide what you are willing to spend, and stick to it. If you surpass your limit by one bid, no big deal. If you zoom past your limit by 50%, you'll likely be sorry.
When the bidding passes your limit, let it go. We'll have another 1600 units to sell you in the next year. Don't worry, there are others.
Next... look carefully, but look quickly. Look for the things that WON'T make you any money. Things like old mattresses that you will have to pay to dump. Look for food and trash that YOU will have to clean up. Remember that not everything will make you money. Some things will cost you money. Factor that information into your "bid limit".
Then, look at what you SEE not at what you DON'T see. If there's a tool box, don't assume it's filled with tools. In fact, assume it is empty. That way, you'll be sure to get a return on your investment. If it IS filled with tools, then you get a bonus. It's poor practice to bid on what you don't see.
Once you are an experienced buyer, you'll start to see certain clues and indicators of what MAY be in the unit, even if you don't see it. But even very experienced bidders get burned doing this. Guessing can make it more exciting and more rewarding, but it is risky.
Last tip for today: Don't bid on emotion. You may have loved that toy when you were a kid, or may think that headboard is a beautiful piece, but that doesn't matter. Bid on what you can SELL IT FOR! This is a business. Period. Make money or go home. Of course, we want you to make money. If you make money, you will buy more. If you buy more, we sell more, and that's how we pay the bills.
That's all for now, more to follow in future blogs. We're sorry it's been a while, and we have finally worked out some of the bugs that slowed us down.
As always, we're here to answer questions. We love to talk auctions and would be happy to spend a few minutes on the phone with you. You can check out our webpage or you can check out our Facebook page.
Our phone number is (866) 290-2243.
Happy Bidding!
However, we want you to come back, and to become a regular buyer. You won't do that if you lose your shirt buying poorly. This short little blog is about making some good buying decisions. Hopefully you'll make some good purchases and decide you want to come again and again.
First rule... Set a limit! It's so very easy to get caught up in the bidding. It's exciting. It's competitive, and its very fast. It doesn't take much to be bidding well beyond what you want to spend. Look at the unit, decide what you are willing to spend, and stick to it. If you surpass your limit by one bid, no big deal. If you zoom past your limit by 50%, you'll likely be sorry.
When the bidding passes your limit, let it go. We'll have another 1600 units to sell you in the next year. Don't worry, there are others.
Next... look carefully, but look quickly. Look for the things that WON'T make you any money. Things like old mattresses that you will have to pay to dump. Look for food and trash that YOU will have to clean up. Remember that not everything will make you money. Some things will cost you money. Factor that information into your "bid limit".
Then, look at what you SEE not at what you DON'T see. If there's a tool box, don't assume it's filled with tools. In fact, assume it is empty. That way, you'll be sure to get a return on your investment. If it IS filled with tools, then you get a bonus. It's poor practice to bid on what you don't see.
Once you are an experienced buyer, you'll start to see certain clues and indicators of what MAY be in the unit, even if you don't see it. But even very experienced bidders get burned doing this. Guessing can make it more exciting and more rewarding, but it is risky.
Last tip for today: Don't bid on emotion. You may have loved that toy when you were a kid, or may think that headboard is a beautiful piece, but that doesn't matter. Bid on what you can SELL IT FOR! This is a business. Period. Make money or go home. Of course, we want you to make money. If you make money, you will buy more. If you buy more, we sell more, and that's how we pay the bills.
That's all for now, more to follow in future blogs. We're sorry it's been a while, and we have finally worked out some of the bugs that slowed us down.
As always, we're here to answer questions. We love to talk auctions and would be happy to spend a few minutes on the phone with you. You can check out our webpage or you can check out our Facebook page.
Our phone number is (866) 290-2243.
Happy Bidding!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Being a Champion - Why it Matters
Being a Champion - Why it Matters
This past Friday night, the Colorado Auctioneer Association named the 2011 Colorado State Champion Auctioneer, Mr. Adam Kevil. Adam is a phenomenal auctioneer and a true gentlemen. We have the honor of Adam working for us at the Denver Impound Auction. I also have the personal privilege of Adam being one of my mentors. He must be good, as I won the Championship last year.
So, now, we’re both champions, so what. Well for one, it shows the world that we are at the top of our game. But it’s what makes us champions that is important. To be a champion means hard work, practice, determination, perseverance, and the willingness to accept that sometimes, we’re just not champion material.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a champion skier, pilot, race car driver, or auctioneer. They all have the same roots.
First, you have to be doing something you love. Your passion for your trade is essential, and no matter how good you are, you can’t ever be a champion without it. Passion is the driving force behind everything you do.
Second, you had better learn, and keep learning. Being a champion means being a master, knowing as much as possible about your skills, your competition, your environment, and yourself. You have to study, evaluate, change, modify, and try again. And then do that again, and again. Because your competition is doing that, and you need to be one step ahead.
Third, you have to be willing to make mistakes. Try something new. Change something. Then practice that, and try again, because you know it will be a while before you get it right. And once you have practiced, you need to keep practicing because you have to be great, not just good.
Fourth, you have to be willing to accept defeat. It will happen. Sometimes, others have worked just a little harder, or learned just a little more, or got just a little bit luckier. Regardless, you won’t always win. And there are few champions in any field that haven’t experienced defeat - some of them many, many times.
Lastly, you need strength - strength to keep trying, strength to push just a little more, strength when you have been defeated and still need to hold your head up high. You need the strength to fight your self-doubts, and your inner demons. You need strength to try, and try again. You need strength to practice and push.
Then, if the stars are aligned, you’ll be a champion.
So what? So, that means when you practice your trade, in our case being Auctioneers, you’ll have the confidence that you are doing your best and that you’re a winner. Your clients, customers, friends, colleagues and everyone else will know you’re a champion. You’ll do better, and will continue to do better.
That’s what it’s all about - constant improvement. Being a champion means that you keep raising the bar and challenging yourself to continue to be a champion. There doesn’t have to be a title or a trophy involved, just the desire to be a winner.
I’d like to think that the championships and awards we have won at Schur Success Auction & Appraisal are just the beginning of us being champions. We’ll continue to love what we’re doing, learn more about our profession, try new things, accept that we will sometimes lose, and find the strength to keep moving forward. That’s what makes us champions.
Come see us in action... Adam is the main auctioneer for our Denver Sheriff's Impound Auction. You don't need to buy a car to enjoy his work (but we sure would appreciate if you did).
This past Friday night, the Colorado Auctioneer Association named the 2011 Colorado State Champion Auctioneer, Mr. Adam Kevil. Adam is a phenomenal auctioneer and a true gentlemen. We have the honor of Adam working for us at the Denver Impound Auction. I also have the personal privilege of Adam being one of my mentors. He must be good, as I won the Championship last year.
So, now, we’re both champions, so what. Well for one, it shows the world that we are at the top of our game. But it’s what makes us champions that is important. To be a champion means hard work, practice, determination, perseverance, and the willingness to accept that sometimes, we’re just not champion material.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a champion skier, pilot, race car driver, or auctioneer. They all have the same roots.
First, you have to be doing something you love. Your passion for your trade is essential, and no matter how good you are, you can’t ever be a champion without it. Passion is the driving force behind everything you do.
Second, you had better learn, and keep learning. Being a champion means being a master, knowing as much as possible about your skills, your competition, your environment, and yourself. You have to study, evaluate, change, modify, and try again. And then do that again, and again. Because your competition is doing that, and you need to be one step ahead.
Third, you have to be willing to make mistakes. Try something new. Change something. Then practice that, and try again, because you know it will be a while before you get it right. And once you have practiced, you need to keep practicing because you have to be great, not just good.
Fourth, you have to be willing to accept defeat. It will happen. Sometimes, others have worked just a little harder, or learned just a little more, or got just a little bit luckier. Regardless, you won’t always win. And there are few champions in any field that haven’t experienced defeat - some of them many, many times.
Lastly, you need strength - strength to keep trying, strength to push just a little more, strength when you have been defeated and still need to hold your head up high. You need the strength to fight your self-doubts, and your inner demons. You need strength to try, and try again. You need strength to practice and push.
Then, if the stars are aligned, you’ll be a champion.
So what? So, that means when you practice your trade, in our case being Auctioneers, you’ll have the confidence that you are doing your best and that you’re a winner. Your clients, customers, friends, colleagues and everyone else will know you’re a champion. You’ll do better, and will continue to do better.
That’s what it’s all about - constant improvement. Being a champion means that you keep raising the bar and challenging yourself to continue to be a champion. There doesn’t have to be a title or a trophy involved, just the desire to be a winner.
I’d like to think that the championships and awards we have won at Schur Success Auction & Appraisal are just the beginning of us being champions. We’ll continue to love what we’re doing, learn more about our profession, try new things, accept that we will sometimes lose, and find the strength to keep moving forward. That’s what makes us champions.
Come see us in action... Adam is the main auctioneer for our Denver Sheriff's Impound Auction. You don't need to buy a car to enjoy his work (but we sure would appreciate if you did).
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