Forage For Storage: What's Inside

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Is there something valuable behind the door a storage unit, just waiting to be discovered? That's what dozens of people are wondering as the popularity of storage unit auctions grows.

Just like in the TV show storage wars, these auction-goers have just five minutes to look over the contents of the storage unit before they begin placing their bids.

It doesn't look like there's much in this unit; just a few boxes. And for $50 it goes to Greg Munster who's been buying and reselling stuff from storage unit auctions for five years.

"Odds and ends, tables, chairs, video games; odds and ends. Good garage sale stuff," Auction Goer Greg Munster said.

Munster resells the items not only at garage sales, but on sites like eBay and Craigslist.

"Are you going to get your $50 back? Look around here," Angela asks. "Ahhhh sure, I'll get my $50 back. I'm not worried about that. I'll probably fill up the garbage can a few times, we'll see," Munster said.

And that golf bag that looked so promising?

"No golf clubs," Munster said.

But there may be more than meets the eye to this unit.

"What's this? Some DVDs," Munster said.

"You never know what you're going to find," Self-proclaimed "hoarder" Rick Kucera of Winner said.

Kucera was the winner of the other unit. The bidding went as high as $450. But Kucera says he got a deal.

"We got a lot down at the river we need a lawn mower for--here's a lawn mower. My wife wants something to drive to work. I don't know if she's going to be too thrilled with it," Kucera said.

Because owners have gone months without paying for storage units, the people that own the facility usually lose money on the deal when it is auctioned off. But on this day, making 450 dollars on one unit means the owner actually made some money.

And with furniture, lawn care items, and even Christmas collectibles in these units both Kucera and Munster say they'll be making some money out of the deal too.

"I just like the thrill of the hunt. I like auctions and stuff like that. You're probably never going to get rich out of this. It's just a little side hobby I play around with," Munster said.

So did Munster or Kucera dig up any hidden treasures? Kucera says we saw pretty much everything of value in the unit he bought. But Munster says when he went through the boxes he found a camcorder, gold and silver dollars, a state's quarter collection, unopened Microsoft software and other collectibles. He figures he'll get at least $300 for his $50 dollar investment.