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Updated almost 9 years ago, 01/21/2016

User Stats

22
Posts
11
Votes
James Cheung
  • Investor
  • South Pasadena, CA
11
Votes |
22
Posts

how to dispose abandoned personal property of a trustee sales

James Cheung
  • Investor
  • South Pasadena, CA
Posted

This is my first time buying from a trustee sales.  The house is vacant.  But the home owner left with a lot of personal belongings there, mostly clothes and junks.  But there are two cars sitting in the backyard which are not working.  I understand there is a procedure to follow before I can dispose the personal property, especially if I want to claim the two cars with DMV, selling them to recover my storage or hauling away the trash expenses.  can any trustee sales pro in Los Angeles County advise me the steps I need to take?  Thank

User Stats

351
Posts
220
Votes
Jim Keller
  • Investor
  • Riverside, CA
220
Votes |
351
Posts
Jim Keller
  • Investor
  • Riverside, CA
Replied
Originally posted by @James Cheung:

This is my first time buying from a trustee sales.  The house is vacant.  But the home owner left with a lot of personal belongings there, mostly clothes and junks.  But there are two cars sitting in the backyard which are not working.  I understand there is a procedure to follow before I can dispose the personal property, especially if I want to claim the two cars with DMV, selling them to recover my storage or hauling away the trash expenses.  can any trustee sales pro in Los Angeles County advise me the steps I need to take?  Thank

James

The procedure for disposing this type of property is in my opinion no difforent even though the type of sale veries.  Unless you have in writing as to the disposition of the former occupants property you will run the risk of a law suit.  

I understand many people risk it, just be carfull, especially in The Peoples Republic of California.  We had a short sale closing go bad and when the police came out because the seller pulled a gun on the buyer.  The police said "we short sold our own home 2 months ago it's stressful, I can't help you unless I see him point the gun"  If you don't do the right thing with these cars, do it at your own risk.  

User Stats

22
Posts
11
Votes
James Cheung
  • Investor
  • South Pasadena, CA
11
Votes |
22
Posts
James Cheung
  • Investor
  • South Pasadena, CA
Replied
Originally posted by @Jim Keller:

How do you suggest to do the right thing?  that is exactly what my post is.  My original verbiage may lead you to feel that I want the cars.  But those are not working junks sitting in the backyard.  From what I can tell, they have not been turned on for at least a year.  My understanding is that I need to run some publication to find the owners.  How and what are the procedures?  care to advise?  

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Account Closed
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Shelton, WA
639
Votes |
369
Posts
Account Closed
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Shelton, WA
Replied

@James Cheung Id suggest skipping the BP forums on this one and go straight to your county's DMV/licensing office and ask for procedures to remove/claim abandoned vehicles. Every state/county is going to be different, so might as well get it straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. Good luck, and if the cars are anything cool/classic/unique give me a shout!

User Stats

22
Posts
11
Votes
James Cheung
  • Investor
  • South Pasadena, CA
11
Votes |
22
Posts
James Cheung
  • Investor
  • South Pasadena, CA
Replied
Originally posted by @Account Closed:

@James Cheung Id suggest skipping the BP forums on this one and go straight to your county's DMV/licensing office and ask for procedures to remove/claim abandoned vehicles. Every state/county is going to be different, so might as well get it straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. Good luck, and if the cars are anything cool/classic/unique give me a shout!

Good point.  Thank.  What about the rest of junk there?  Like I said, this is my first trustee sales.  I need advice on how to either locate/notify the home owner to come pick up the stuff or dispose of them.  Just want to know the proper procedure. 

User Stats

351
Posts
220
Votes
Jim Keller
  • Investor
  • Riverside, CA
220
Votes |
351
Posts
Jim Keller
  • Investor
  • Riverside, CA
Replied
Originally posted by @James Cheung:
Originally posted by @Account Closed:

@James Cheung Id suggest skipping the BP forums on this one and go straight to your county's DMV/licensing office and ask for procedures to remove/claim abandoned vehicles. Every state/county is going to be different, so might as well get it straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. Good luck, and if the cars are anything cool/classic/unique give me a shout!

Good point.  Thank.  What about the rest of junk there?  Like I said, this is my first trustee sales.  I need advice on how to either locate/notify the home owner to come pick up the stuff or dispose of them.  Just want to know the proper procedure. 

James

California has very spicific laws I would look at California Civil Code 1965, 1980 to 1991 those statues spell out in detail the procedure for disposing abandoned personal property.

My apologies for not being clear in my first post but I went back and read this question from another site I read.  Remember California has very spicific rules you must follow.

Good luck 

Jim 

User Stats

150
Posts
65
Votes
Bill Larsen
  • Investor, Real Estate Agent
  • San Juan Capistrano, CA
65
Votes |
150
Posts
Bill Larsen
  • Investor, Real Estate Agent
  • San Juan Capistrano, CA
Replied

Hi James, we buy a lot at the LA county trustee sale and have encountered this problem post eviction.  Most of the time when we purchase a vacant property with personal belongings we just throw them away (but it's always junk, nothing valuable).  As far as the vehicles, you need to do a lien sale for each one.  We have a guy who does them for us, but I know other investors who have done the lien sales themselves and say it's pretty easy.  

As far as other valuable personal property (furniture, tools, electronics, etc.) there's a similar process for that.  It basically goes to auction, and if no one shows up to bid then title transfers to you.  We have had tenants get evicted and try to set us up by leaving valuables then trying to sue us after so it's worth being very cautions when it comes to documenting everything left behind and taking all the right steps along the way.

If you want to send me an PM i'll forward you over the info for the auctioneer we use