Jun 02, 2008 -- Living in your storage unit?
There are now 51,000 storage units throughout the country. Unfortunately, a lot of people are now living in their storage units because of economic hardship in the housing market. This is a dangerous and usually illegal practice.
In related news, Clark recently saw a very sad eviction in progress. Someone's possessions were piled up on a side street, and people just came up and took what they wanted. Could you imagine coming home to discover that you're homeless and bereft of your belongings?
Meanwhile, what happens when you stop paying your monthly storage bill? Clark read a New York Times report about a cottage industry springing up around the auction of property that's been seized from negligent accounts.
One storage company near Clark's house prominently posts signs -- illegally, on telephone poles -- when they're getting ready for an auction.
If you do have to put something in storage, know that you must get insurance on your belongings. In his TV work, Clark has done stories about how some people found their belongings damaged by flood or vermin and had no recourse. In fact, a rat jumped out at the camera while they were filming the story!