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U.S. Government Auction Sales: THE MONEY MAKER OF THE 90'S An Insider's Handbook OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS Most people are completely unaware of the bargains that can be found in the most unlikely of places: the government! We're used to reading about the Pentagon paying $59.00 for a wrench, about the national debt rising higher and higher, so it's excusable to not think of government and "sales" in the same sentence. Yet nearly every level of government from city and town on up through county, state and federal, has possession of excess property that must be disposed of. If this can be accomplished and money raised at the same time, why not? We want government to be fiscally responsible, right? The most common method of parting with this overage of property is through auction sales. These affairs offer a unique opportunity to the right person-- purchases at bargain basement prices which you can turn around and sell at a profit! The money to be made staggers the imagination. From property seized by police officers or customs officials to repossessions by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are thousands of items of all types available at rock-bottom prices. Whether you're merely buying for yourself or seeing this as a line of business that could make you a substantial profit, the key is to identify and locate these auctions. You name it! Houses, cars, jewelry, yachts, government farm equipment, computers, firewood-- it's there for the biddingþ and the buying! And, eventually-- the selling for profit! You don't need much experience for this. You are familiar with what many of these items cost today on the open market. If you buy it far enough below market value, you can still sell the property yourself at a discount and make a handsome profit. If you yourself have always wanted to own a luxury yacht, here's your chance. You'll never find your dream purchase at a lower price. You could even start a second-hand store or set up shop at a flea market or swap shop to peddle your merchandise after you've acquired it. Many of these places are havens for shoppers. You've simply gone them one better by obtaining the good(s) at an even lower price than they'll pay-- and they'll be pleased with their "bargain". The purpose of our booklet is to point you in the right direction to find out about the various auctions that are held by virtually all branches of government. The listings in this book are as up to date as possible. Contacting these places listed should give you the information you need to begin your auction attendance. There are open-bidding auctions, where you shout out the dollar value you're willing to pay following a minimum bid requirement called by the auctioneer. There are also sealed-bid auctions where you submit the price you're willing to pay. You get only one shot at that type of bidding. Be careful with the open bid auctions. You can become so focused on a particular piece of property that you end up in a "bidding war" that ends up with your paying more than you should and cutting well into your eventual profit. Be disciplined! Set a dollar limit ahead of time so that you can let certain items go if the bidding goes too high. This is a business now, so common money sense is important. You must now think in terms of expenses vs. revenue. If you have a certain hobby or interest, property in this area may be your natural market. If you specialize, it can help you concentrate on only those items in the large auction areas where there are hundreds of people bidding for thousands of goods. Your focus will be in your area and you'll soon be an expert on costs, prices and resale's of this commodity. Auctions can be hyped up-- to the point of temptation to overbid. Don't do it! Remember your goal, your budget and your knowledge of what things cost and you'll do very well. Through the contacts listed in this booklet, you will find yourself on a regular mailing list of government auctions. Often, with the notice, you'll receive a catalogue of the items to be sold and approximately what time they'll be auctioned. This will allow you to budget your time wisely at these affairs and not get lost in the shuffle. Good luck! STATE GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS These are the state contacts and a brief description of auctions held at this level of government. ALABAMA: Alabama Surplus Property P.O. Box 210487 Montgomery, AL 36121 (205) 277-5866 Alabama auctions offer a variety of goods usually three times a year. Items: office equipment, cars, farm machinery, trucks, boats, tractors and more. There is a mailing list you can be placed on. ALASKA: Surplus Property Management Office 2400 Viking Drive Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 279-0596 It's best to call the Juneau office (907) 465-2172 to be placed on their mailing list. There are weekly auctions of smaller items like furniture and office equipment and spring and fall auctions for larger items like cars. ARIZONA: Office of Surplus Property 1537 W. Jackson Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 542-5701 Auctions held four times per year. Items: computers, cars, furniture and thousands of other pieces. Mailing list is available. ARKANSAS: State Marketing & Redistribution Office 6620 Young Rd. Little Rock, AR 72209 (501) 565-8645 Mailing list available. Both regular and sealed bid auctions are held. Weekly events. CALIFORNIA: Office of Fleet Administration 1416 10th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 657-2318 Open bid auctions once a month of surplus vehicles on Saturdays at Sacramento or Los Angeles. Mailing list. COLORADO: Department of Correctional Industries State Surplus Agency 4200 Garfield Street Denver, CO 80216 (303) 321-2200 Several auctions per year. Mailing list is available. Non-profit organizations have first choice. CONNECTICUT: 60 State St. Rear Wethersfield, CT 06109 (203) 566-7018 (or 7190) Eight to ten auctions per year. Vehicles usually auctioned on the second Saturday of the month. Registration fee. DELAWARE: Division of Purchasing Surplus Property P.O. Box 299 Delaware City, DE 19706 (302) 834-4550 In May and September, there are public auctions of vehicles, office furniture and other surplus property. Mailing list is available. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Department of Public Works 5001 Shepard Parkway Washington, DC 20032 (202) 404-1068 Vehicle auctions held the first and third Tuesday of the month. No mailing list. Registration fee. FLORIDA Department of Management Services 813A Lake Bradford Road Tallahassee, FL 32304 (904) 488-5272 This address is a "retail" store with items available for sale. Motor Vehicle Bureau (904) 488-5178 holds vehicle auctions once a month at various locations throughout the state. GEORGIA: Department of Administrative Services Purchasing Division, Surplus Property 1050 Murphy Avenue, S.W. Atlanta, GA 30310 (404) 756-4800 Several auctions per year, held on the third Wednesday of the month chosen. Mailing list. Items: vehicles, shop equipment, typewriters, computers, copiers and more. HAWAII No state surplus auctions. IDAHO Division of Purchasing (208) 327-7465 Idaho's state agencies hold their own auctions. You must contact the specific state agency directly. Auctions advertised in newspaper. ILLINOIS: Central Management Services Division of Property Control 3550 Great Northern Ave. Springfield, IL 62707 (217) 793-1813 Auctions held at Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield two or three times per year on Saturdays. Mailing list available for $20/year. Items: desks, chairs, calculators, cameras, refrigerators and more. INDIANA: State Surplus Property Section 229 W. New York Street Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-0134 Auctions held as needed each year. No mailing list, but contact this office in May for a schedule. IOWA: Department of Natural Resources Wallace State Office Bldg. Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 281-5121 Auction is second Saturday of May for items such as boats, fishing rods, tackle boxes and hunting equipment. The Vehicle Dispatchers Garage holds vehicle auctions three to four times per year. Call (515) 281-5121. KANSAS: State Surplus Property P.O. Box 19226 Topeka, KS 66619-0226 (913) 296-2334 Many items left over for sale following offering to state agencies. Contact office for information on events. KENTUCKY: Office of Surplus Property 514 Barrett Avenue Frankfurt, KY 40601 (502) 564-4836 Saturday auctions every two to three months as needed. Items: vehicles, desks, chairs, couches, beds, lawnmowers, etc. Mailing list is available. LOUISIANA: Division of Administration Louisiana Property Assistance Agency P.O. Box 94095 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095 (504) 342-6849 Auctions held on the second Saturday of each month at 1502 N. 17th St. Items: medical and office equipment, boats, bicycles, televisions, vehicles and more. MAINE: Office of Surplus Property Station 95 Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 289-5750 Public auctions five to six times per year. Primarily vehicles. No mailing list. MARYLAND: Department for Surplus Property P.O. Box 122 8037 Brock Bridge Rd. Jesup, MD 20794 No public auctions. Address above is a "retail" store for surplus property. MASSACHUSETTS: State Purchasing Agency Department of Procurement & General Services Surplus Property One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 (617) 727-7500 Public auctions six times per year, usually on Saturdays. Vehicles primarily. No mailing list. MICHIGAN: Department of Management & Budget State Surplus Property P.O. Box 30026 Lansing, MI 48913 (517) 335-8444 Mailing list. Several auctions per year. Items: office furniture, household goods, machinery, livestock, vehicles and more. MINNESOTA: Surplus Operations Office 5420 Highway 8 New Brighton, MN 55112 (612) 639-4022 About 15 auctions per year held around the state. Items include vehicles, boats and snowmobiles along with jewelry, furniture, computers, stereos and more. Mailing list. MISSISSIPPI: Bureau of Surplus Property P.O. Box 5778 Jackson, MS 39288 (601) 939-2050 Two to three auctions per year of machinery and vehicles. Mailing list. MISSOURI: Surplus Property Office Materials Management Section P.O. Drawer 1310 Jefferson City, MO 65102 (314) 751-3415 Regular auctions held throughout the year. Items: clothing, office equipment and vehicles. Mailing list. MONTANA: Property and Supply Bureau 930 Lyndale Avenue Helena, MT 59620 (406) 444-4514 One auction a year for vehicles. Mailing list. Other property auctioned the second Friday of each month. NEBRASKA: Office of Administrative Services Material Division, Surplus Property P.O. Box 94901 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 479-4890 Auctions held three to four times per year. Items: office furniture, computers, couches and more. Separate vehicle auctions held. Mailing list. NEVADA: State Purchasing Division Kinkead Bldg. 400 Capitol Complex Carson City, NV 89710 (702) 687-4070 Second Saturday in August at 2250 Barnett Way, Reno, Nevada, 89512. Separate sealed bid auction mailing list is available, too. You must bid at least once over two to three auctions or you'll be dropped from the list. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Office of Surplus Property 78 Regional Drive Building 3 Concord, NH 03301 (603) 271-2126 Two auctions per year of vehicles and other property. Mailing list. NEW JERSEY: Purchase and Property Distribution Center CN-234 Trenton, NJ 08625 (609) 530-3300 State vehicle auctions as needed. Mailing list. NEW MEXICO: Highway & Transportation Department P.O. Box 1149 Santa Fe, NM 87504 Last Saturday in September. Vehicles and office equipment. Mailing list. NEW YORK Office of General Service Bureau of Surplus Property Bldg. #18, Harriman State Office Bldg. Campus Albany, NY 12226 (518) 457-6335 Frequent auctions around the state. Sold by category. Mailing list. NORTH CAROLINA: State Surplus Property P.O. Box 33900 Raleigh, NC 27636 (919) 733-3889 Sealed bid auctions. Mailing list. Warehouse available to inspect items. NORTH DAKOTA: Surplus Property Office P.O. Box 7293 Bismarck, ND 58507 (701) 224-2273 Annual auction each September. Items: vehicles, office furniture and equipment. Auction is advertised two days in advance. OHIO: State and Federal Surplus Property 4200 Surface Road Columbus, OH 43228 (614) 466-5052 Public auctions and sealed bid sales several times per year. Mailing list. Items: vehicles, office machines, furniture and more. OKLAHOMA: Central Purchasing Department Central Services, B-4, State Capitol Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405) 521-3046 Several auctions throughout the year. $10 gets you on a mailing list. OREGON: Department of General Services Surplus Property 1655 Salem Industrial Dr., N.E. Salem, OR 97310 (503) 378-4714 Public auctions held every Friday of items such as vehicles, desks, computers, snow plows, horse trailers and more. PENNSYLVANIA: General Services Department Bureau of Vehicle Management 2221 Forster Street Harrisburg, PA 17105 (717) 783-3132 Vehicle auctions at least ten times per year. Mailing list. Bureau of Supplies (717-787-4083) also auctions numerous items. Mailing list available. RHODE ISLAND: Department of Administration Division of Purchase 1 Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908 Rare public auctions, advertised in local papers. Sealed bids to a list of buyers of vehicles and office equipment. Call to see if you can get on the list. SOUTH CAROLINA: Surplus Property Office Division of General Services 1441 Boston Avenue West Columbia, SC 29170 (803) 822-5490 Warehouse is at above address. Auctions held periodically. No mailing list. Public Transportation Office (803-737-1488) keeps a mailing list for its vehicle auctions held every five to six weeks. SOUTH DAKOTA: Bureau of Administration State Property Management 701 East Sioux Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 (605) 773-4935 Two auctions per year, spring and fall. Vehicles. Mailing list. TENNESSEE: Department of General Services Property Utilization 6500 Centennial Blvd. Nashville, TN 37243 (615) 741-1711 Periodic auctions of vehicles and assorted machinery. Mailing list. TEXAS: State Purchasing & General Services Commission P.O. Box 13047 Capitol Station Austin, TX 78711 (512) 463-3445 Every two months, auction of vehicles, office furniture, machines and highway equipment is held. Mailing list. UTAH: State Surplus Office 522 South 700 West Salt Lake City, UT 84104 (801) 533-5885 Auctions of vehicles, office furniture and heavy equipment are held four or five times per year. Mailing list. VERMONT: Central Surplus Property Agency RD #2 Box 520 Montpelier, VT 05602 (802) 828-3394 Warehouse at Central Garage on Barre Montpelier Street. Items: office furniture and machines. Public auctions for vehicles in May and September. Mailing list. VIRGINIA: State Surplus Property P.O. Box 1199 Richmond, VA 23231 (804) 786-3876 Regular auctions for all types of items including office equipment, computers, tractors, bulldozers and more. Mailing list. Cars auctioned twice a year. WASHINGTON: Office of Commodity Redistribution 2805 C. St. SW Bldg. 5, Door 49 Auburn, WA 98001 (206) 931-3931 Central warehouse open noon to 2:30 PM on Fridays. Cash only. WEST VIRGINIA: State Agency Surplus Property 2700 Charles Avenue Dunbar, WV 25064 (304) 766-2626 Auctions every month. Items: chairs, desks, telephones, computers and more. Mailing list. WISCONSIN: Department of Transportation P.O. Box 7396 Madison, WI 53707 (608) 266-3965 Warehouse at Hill Farm Bldg., 4802 Sheboygan Avenue. Department of Administration (608-266-8024) holds public auctions every month for vehicles. Mailing list. WYOMING: State Motor Pool 723 West 19th St. Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7247 Periodic vehicle auctions. Mailing list. STATE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY There are billions of dollars in this country in unclaimed money sitting in state property offices money from uncashed stock dividends, forgotten bank accounts, insurance proceeds, utility deposits, safe deposit boxes and similar uncollected items. People move, die, lose track of various accounts; it all adds up to huge dollars. After a stipulated period of time that this money goes unclaimed, the state is notified and then tries to track down the rightful owners of the money. How does this affect you? Obviously, if you think you may be the beneficiary of some of that unclaimed money, you can contact your state's department of revenue to find out more. The other possibility is the opportunity to help track down the missing individuals. State resources being slim these days, you may be able to earn a finder's fee by locating the person. Finder's fees can range fairly high depending on the amount you make someone aware that they're entitled to receive. Some states have formal rules on the fee you could be paid. There is a concern on the states' part about overcharging the beneficiary, so keep the fees reasonable. It is a way to earn some money through your ability to track people down and tell them about their unclaimed cash. Contact your state's department of revenue for a lead on this information and about any fee restriction or regulation that may exist. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT The federal government is a regular discount house of values -- if you know where to look. From real estate to cameras to animals to books to vehicles, there are "Blue Light" specials everywhere on Capitol Hill. There's a catch, of course. The government doesn't advertise their sales. The listings that follow, however, are your contact points for information. This will help you identify and make your purchases. This is an ongoing enterprise. Government tentacles reach everywhere and there is a constant flow of materials coming in from many sources, from drug raids to IRS seizures. The Post Office has millions of dollars in unclaimed parcels which are sold. Repossessed homes as a result of government foreclosures can bring you the bargain house of your lifetime. Here are the listings, beginning with the Housing and Urban Development Department. HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT Auctions of foreclosed properties are a regular occurrence. The properties may be houses, apartments or condominiums in various states of repair. They may need fixing up-- in some cases, considerable work-- but you can find that out and decide what the value is to you. The HUD Home Line is 1-800-767-4483. The offices: REGION 1: Boston Room 375 Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Federal Building 10 Causeway St. Boston, MA 02222 (617) 565-5234 Field Offices: Bangor Office Burlington Office Casco Northern Bank Bldg. Room B-2B, Federal Bldg. First Floor 11 Elmwood Ave. 23 Main Street P.O. Box 879 Bangor, ME 04401-6394 Burlington, VT 05402-0879 (207) 945-0467 (802) 951-6290 Hartford Office Manchester Office 330 Main Street Norris Cotton Building First Floor 275 Chestnut Street Hartford, CT 06106-1860 Manchester, NH 03101-2487 (203) 240-4523 (603) 666-7458 Providence Office 330 John O. Pastore Fed. Bldg. U.S. Post Office - Kennedy Plaza Providence, RI 02903-1785 (401) 528-5351 REGION 2: New York 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0068 (212) 264-8053 Field Offices: Albany Office Buffalo Office Fed. Bldg. Leo W. O'Brien Fed. Bldg. North Pearl & Clinton Ave. 5th Floor, Lafayette Court Albany, NY 12207-2395 465 Main Street (518) 472-3567 Buffalo, NY 14203-1780 (716) 846-5755 Camden Office Newark Office The Parkade Building 60 Park Place 519 Federal Street Military Park Bldg. Camden, NJ 08103-9998 Newark, NJ 07102-5504 (609) 757-5081 (201) 877-1686 REGION 3: Philadelphia Liberty Square Bldg. 105 S. 7th St. Philadelphia, PA 19016-3392 (215) 597-2560 Field Offices: Charleston Office Baltimore Office Third Floor, Equitable Bldg. 405 Capitol Street 10 North Calvert St. Suite 708 Charleston, WV 25301-1795 Baltimore, MD 21202 (304) 347-7036 (410) 962-2520 Pittsburgh Office Richmond Office 412 Old Post Office 1st Floor, Federal Bldg. Courthouse 400 North 8th Street 7th Avenue & Grant St. P.O. Box 10170 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1939 Richmond, VA 23240-0170 (412) 644-6388 (804) 771-2575 Washington, DC Office Wilmington Office 820 First Street, NE 824 Market St. Washington, DC 20002-4205 Suite 850 (202) 275-8185 Wilmington, DE 19801-3016 (302) 573-6300 REGION 4: Atlanta Richard B. Russell Federal Bldg., 75 Spring St. Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 331-4739 Field Offices: Birmingham Office Caribbean Office Beacon Ridge Tower, #300 New San Juan Office Bldg. 600 Beacon Parkway West 159 Carlos Chardon Avenue Birmingham, AL 35209-3144 San Juan, PR 00918-1804 (201) 290-7617 (809) 766-6121 Columbia Office Coral Gables Office Strom Thurmond Fed. Bldg. Gables 1 Tower 1835-45 Assembly St. 1320 South Dixie Highway Columbia, SC 29201-2480 Coral Gables, FL 33146 (803) 765-5592 (305) 662-4500 Greensboro Office Jackson Office 415 N. Edgeworth St. Dr. A.H. McCoy Fed. Bldg. Greensboro, NC 27401-2107 100 W. Capitol, Suite 910 (919) 333-5363 Jackson, MS 39269-1096 (601) 965-4738 Jacksonville Office Knoxville Office 325 West Adams Street John J. Duncan Fed. Bldg. Jacksonville, FL 32202-4303 710 Locust St. , 3rd Floor (904) 791-2626 Knoxville, TN 37902-2526 (615) 549-9384 Louisville Office Memphis Office 601 W. Broadway One Memphis Place P.O. Box 1044 200 Jefferson Ave. , #1200 Louisville, KY 40201-1044 Memphis, TN 38103-2335 (502) 582-6255 (901) 544-3367 Nashville Office Orlando Office 251 Cumberland Bend Dr. 3751 Maguire Blvd. #200 #270 Nashville, TN 37228-1803 Orlando, FL 32803-3032 (615) 736-5213 (407) 648-6441 Tampa Office Timberlake Federal Bldg. Annex #700 501 E. Polk St. Tampa, FL 33602-3945 (813) 228-2501 REGION 5: Chicago 547 W. Jackson Blvd. 7th Floor Chicago, IL 60661 (312) 353-5680 Field Offices: Cincinnati Office Cleveland Office Federal Office Bldg. Rm 9002 One Playhouse Square #420 550 Main Street 1375 Euclid Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202-3253 Cleveland, OH 44114-1670 (513) 684-2884 (216) 522-4065 Columbus Office Detroit Office 200 North High St. Patrick V. McNamara Fed Bl Columbus, OH 43215-2499 477 Michigan Avenue (614) 469-7345 Detroit, MI 48226-2592 (313) 226-6280 Flint Office Grand Rapids Office 605 N. Saginaw St. 2922 Fuller Avenue, NE #200 Grand Rapids, MI 49505 Flint, MI 48502-2043 (616) 456-2137 (313) 766-5109 Indianapolis Office Milwaukee Office 151 N. Delaware St. Henry S. Reuss Fed. Plaza Indianapolis, IN 46204-2526 310 W. Wisconsin Av. , #1320 (317) 226-7043 Milwaukee, WI 53203-2289 (414) 297-3214 Minneapolis-St.Paul Office Springfield Office 220 Second Street South 509 W. Capitol St. , #206 Minneapolis, MN 55401-2195 Springfield, IL 62704 (612) 370-3000 (217) 492-4085 REGION 6: Fort Worth 1600 Throckmorton P.O. Box 2905, Ft. Worth, TX 76113 (817) 885-5505 Field Offices: Albuquerque Office Dallas Office 625 Truman St., NE 525 Griffin St. , Room 860 Albuquerque, NM 87110-6472 Dallas, TX 75202-5007 (505) 262-6472 (214) 767-8359 Houston Office Little Rock Office Norfolk Tower, Lafayette Bldg Suite 200 Suite 200 2211 Norfolk 523 Louisiana St. Houston, TX 77098-4096 Little Rock, AR 72201 (713) 653-3274 (501) 378-5931 Lubbock Office New Orleans Office Bldg. 1205 Texas Ave. Fisk Federal Bldg. Lubbock, TX 79401-4093 1661 Canal St. #3100 (806) 743-7276 New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 589-7246 Oklahoma City Office San Antonio Office Murrah Federal Bldg. Washington Square 200 NW 5th Street 800 Dolorosa Oklahoma City, OK 73102-3202 San Antonio, TX 78207 (405) 231-5464 (512) 229-6758 Shreveport Office Tulsa Office Joe D. Waggoner Bldg. Boston Place Suite 110 500 Fannin St. 1516 S. Boston St. Shreveport, LA 71101-3077 Tulsa, OK 74119 (318) 226-5402 (918) 581-7451 REGION 7: Kansas City Gateway Tower II, Rm. 200 400 State Ave. Kansas City, KS 66101-2406 (913) 236-2162 Field Offices: Des Moines Office Omaha Office Room 259, Fed. Bldg. Braiker/Brandeis Bldg. 210 Walnut St. 210 South 16th St. Des Moines, IA 50309-2155 Omaha, NE 68102-1622 (515) 284-4215 (402) 221-3879 St. Louis Office Robert A Young Federal Building, 3rd Fl. 1222 Spruce St. St. Louis, MO 63103-2836 (314) 539-6560 It is of course not full article. You should login first to show full article. If you have not account, please register. It is FREE!!!
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