He Found a NASA Rocket in a Storage Unit

Professional storage unit hunting is really quite a gig these days! It has drawn a lot of attention from people all around the world, too, since there are many TV shows focused on it. But it’s not just storage hunters that can hit the jackpot with their findings.

One couple from Arizona simply wanted a couch. But they weren’t willing to buy a new one or pay a lot of money for it. So they participated in an auction, where they made a $10 offer for an old couch.

Since that piece of furniture wasn’t in the best shape, they ended up purchasing the couch and the container it came in. When going through the storage unit, they had the best surprise. They found an old teddy bear filled with cash! That little toy ended up bringing them about $300,000.

In 2011, another man came across an interesting discovery of his own after he examined the contents of a storage locker in the San Fernando Valley. What he stumbled upon was a special comic book called Action Comics No. 1. The man didn’t really know how valuable this finding was until he took it to an expert for further evaluation. Turned out the comic book was actually the first one featuring Superman!

But as much as he wanted to profit from it, the man had to give it back to the previous owner. The story goes that the comic book was stolen from a famous actor, who was himself really passionate about comics and Superman in particular. The actor had reported the book as missing to his insurance company and authorities, but it couldn’t be found. The comic book, estimated to be worth somewhere around $1 million, reunited with its rightful owner 11 years after it had been stolen.

Another incredible vintage object was found in a storage unit in Melbourne, Australia. It was a 1927 Harley-Davidson 8-valve racer with a sidecar. Based on experts’ opinions, this fascinating vehicle had been sitting there for over half a century before resurfacing in 2015!

It went for sale pretty soon afterward and was purchased for a whopping $470,000. Some auctions for abandoned storage units are fun just because you have no idea what you’re going to find in there. And that’s regardless of how much profit you’ll end up making. It’s the story of a couple from Long Island that spent only $100 on the best thing they’d ever purchased.

Hidden inside their mystery unit was a custom 1976 Lotus Esprit sports. Not only was this car special because of its design, but it was also the car that was used in the 1977 James Bond movie “The Spy Who Loved Me.” At first, the couple had no idea the car was a famous one. So, they just looked at how they could fix it so that they could continue using it. I mean, it did look pretty cool! After they took it to a repair shop, they found out that there was something special about the vehicle.

Soon enough, they discovered where it came from and ended up selling it at an auction in 2013. The price? A mind-boggling $997,000! Another person from Southern California found something incredible in an abandoned storage unit back in 2017. His locker ended up filled with vintage videos, game hardware, and game cartridges. After he took them for evaluation, he found out his findings were worth over $50,000!

In 2010, another person paid just $275 for a large storage unit that seemed to be filled with simple salon supplies. But after looking closely, the person discovered a hidden object that ended up being worth a lot: a 1928 Marshall and Wendell Salesman piano. After further evaluation, the price of the musical instrument was estimated somewhere between $10,000 and $12,000.

Space technology in a forgotten storage unit? This unit was auctioned off in Florida. After inspecting it, the owner realized it contained a NASA rocket and a countdown clock. Apparently, those were put into storage after the program they were supposed to be used in had been discontinued. The finding became so famous that it even made it on TV.

Fans of famous singers may get some surprises in abandoned storage units, too. Here’s a story about a unit containing Aretha Franklin’s personal belongings. Most of her things were transported there after an incident at her house. She ended up abandoning those items. Later, she admitted she had forgotten about them. At the auction, things like bags, articles of clothing, and even receipts in her name were presented to the public.

Similarly, tucked away in a locker that used to be the property of Michael Jackson’s dad, there were over 250 undiscovered and unreleased recordings! During the time the King of Pop wrote and produced those songs, he was between contracts. So, technically, there was no legal ownership of the songs.

More so, the locker contained a huge number of photos of the famous singer and personal objects belonging to the Jackson family. Some of these items were auctioned off, while some others were acquired back by the family — at great expense. It goes to show that missing a payment on your storage unit can be detrimental to everyone, regardless of how famous you are.

Not every item found in storage units is inanimate, as weird as that may sound. One story has it that a man kept stumbling upon a cat while regularly visiting his storage unit. He couldn’t really figure out how she got in there and why she kept coming back to visit, so he decided to take her home. Never thought you’d find a new furry friend in a storage unit, right?

Other storage locker stories are less fortunate. Like this one that happened in 2011, when a man thought he would hit the jackpot pretty easily if he could steal some valuables from an abandoned locker. But as he was filling his bags with the stuff he’d managed to get his hands on, a security guard saw that the door to the particular locker was open.

Since he didn’t hear any noise coming from inside, the guard decided to simply close the door. He thought that the owner had mistakenly left it open. Needless to say, the thief got stuck inside and was eventually caught and handed over to the police after he tried to escape.

Keeping items in storage units may seem like a great idea when you need some space in your house but don’t want to get rid of them just yet. However, you do need to know that there are a couple of rules you need to follow because not every item is safe — or legal — to keep in storage.

Take vehicles, for instance. In the US, most storage room suppliers only accept them if they are fully registered, insured, and in operable condition. And this doesn’t just apply to cars. I’m also talking about trailers, boats, and even trucks. So you need to be prepared to offer all sorts of supporting documentation before you can move such an item into a storage facility.

For obvious reasons, perishable items are a no-no. It includes food that needs to be refrigerated, food that is not kept in airtight containers, and even dry pet food in some cases. Most companies that offer storage space stay away from such items because they can attract bugs and rodents or might encourage bacteria and mold to develop inside.

You might think canned food is good to go, but in most places, it’s not allowed either. That’s because the standard storage unit does not have a specific way in which you can control the temperature inside, and some food cans can burst in high-heat environments.

Plants aren’t allowed in storage containers either. Not only do they need sunlight to thrive, but they can be a source of bugs and pests, too.

More so, some plants can cause weird smells if not treated properly, so it’s best if you plant them outside or give them away if you can’t fit them inside your house anymore.