What do you do once the sheriff has done the lock-out?

[Lauren Ruppert]

Went to court. Tenants were told they had 22 days to vacate the property.  Not sure they have, as we live in another state.  The sheriff is poised to do a lock-out. My question is, what then?  If they still have belongings in the residence do I trash, sell, auction it?  

[Nathan Gesner]

You need to study your state laws. In my state, I am allowed to take possession of whatever was left behind. I can hold it for 15 days and then it's considered abandoned property and I can sell/dispose of it.

They typically only leave junk behind and it's pretty obvious they won't come back for it or sue you to recover it. If that's the case, I take pictures of what was left and how it was left, then I dispose of it. If there's anything of value (almost never happens) then I move it to storage and hold it to see if they will come back for it. If they do want it back, they have to pay what is owed, including moving and storage costs, and then I'll turn it over.