| Locating government surplus auctions has never been | | | | for locating auctions nationwide. |
| easier with the number of government seizures on | | | | There are some sites that do allow you to participate |
| the rise. Every day thousands of items such as cars, | | | | in live, streaming auctions though. These kinds of |
| boats, real estate, and other personal property are | | | | sites will often provide a "basic membership" and a |
| seized by the government and resold to all kinds of | | | | "full membership". What that usually means is users |
| buyers. These buyers can range anywhere from | | | | who have the "basic membership" can only bid on |
| used car merchants to everyday people like you and | | | | non-government seized items. These are typically |
| me. | | | | smaller items such as jewelry, sports memorabilia, |
| So how do you find government auctions? It's very | | | | furniture, and other small personal property items. |
| simple actually. There are dozens (if not hundreds) of | | | | Upgrading to the "full membership" will often allow |
| sites on the internet today that claim to have | | | | users to bid on all items, including government seized |
| databases of 4,000+ auction locations, 10,000+ cars, | | | | property. |
| boats, and other property available to bid on, and a | | | | Now, to answer the question that I'm sure all of you |
| whole bunch of other incentives that they use to get | | | | are wondering, "How much is it going to cost me to |
| people to join their site. | | | | join one of these sites?" It's the same question that |
| So how reliable are these sites? Surprisingly, they can | | | | everybody, rightfully so, asks whenever government |
| be extremely helpful. Certain sites develop their | | | | auction sites are brought up. And the answer to the |
| database over several years to make sure that they | | | | question, as you might expect, varies from site to |
| are providing the most up-to-date and relevant | | | | site. Some sites will charge a one time fee and others |
| information for your search. Many of these sites will | | | | will require a monthly membership fee. What's |
| provide a preliminary search option on their home | | | | important to know though, is that all of these sites |
| page so that visitors can do some basic research. | | | | offer virtually the same thing. So take advantage of |
| Once the preliminary search is completed, sites will | | | | any site that only charges a one time fee. You make |
| often require visitors to become a member in order | | | | your small, one-time payment and you now have |
| to see specific federal government auction contact | | | | access to government property auctions for as long |
| information. | | | | as the site stays in business. |
| Once becoming a member, most sites will give you | | | | It boils down to one universal, very simple truth... |
| instant and unlimited access to their entire database. | | | | Do your homework. Don't just Google "government |
| This will allow members to search for a multitude of | | | | auction sites" and join the first one that you see. |
| different items such as cars, boats, real estate, and | | | | Read reviews and blogs, join forums, and ask around. |
| other personal property. | | | | Just make sure that you are seeking advice from a |
| It is very important to note, however, that many of | | | | qualified source. There's a lot of junk out there and |
| these "Government Auction Sites" don't actually allow | | | | you don't want to end up spending money on |
| you to participate in an auction through their site. | | | | something that isn't going to be the best possible |
| These kinds of sites simply act as a "yellow pages" | | | | "bang for your buck". |