It wasn't so long ago that cell phones were big, bulky things that were only good for making calls. Thanks to improvements in technology over the past few years, though, smart phones have become one of the most valuable and useful items that most people own.
From playing games to surfing the web, Androids and iPhones perform a lot of functions in our day-to-day lives, and they can even help you gain an edge when bidding at a storage auction. Here are five ways that you can use your smart phone to help with auction hunting:
- Use it to map out your schedule. If you visit a lot of auctions throughout the month, you'll want to keep track of what events are happening when. Using your smart phone as a day planner, you can mark the date and times of auctions as you learn about them. You can also store important information like phone numbers and addresses. If you wish, you can set your phone to send you reminders before certain events so that you're sure to make it on time.
- Use the navigation function to help you find the storage facility or other auction location. If you don't know where a facility is or are unfamiliar with the neighborhood, you may have a hard time making it to auctions. By using your smart phone to navigate, it will be easier to find your way without getting lost or wasting time. This can also make you more bold as you head out into parts of town you don't normally explore, which will give you more auction opportunities to attend.
- Check prices of items at an auction. You don't have much time to examine the unit before bidding starts, but you might be able to catch a glimpse of a few interesting-looking items. Then you can use the Internet function of your phone to check eBay, Craigslist or other sites to determine how much the item could resell for. This won't always work, but it's a good tool to have in your arsenal to help you make pricing decisions when considering a unit. If the item happens to be in its original package, you can scan its bar code with your phone for the most accurate price estimate. No matter what, try to be the first person in line to look at the unit as it's opened; this will buy you a few minutes that you can use on research.
- Use the camera. Cell phones often come with very nice camera and video capabilities. You can snap a few photos of items and post them for sale almost immediately after buying them. You can also email or text message the photo to potential interested buyers to pique their interests once you've obtained the item. You can also send a photo of an item you obtain to a knowledgeable friend. You may not be able to get a response in time to decide whether to bid, but you can certainly get a second opinion on whether it's worth trying to sell or if you should scrap it or send it to the dump. This sort of feedback can be extremely helpful when cleaning out a unit.
- Stay in touch with your business. Many resellers like to use the Internet to communicate with clients, whether through email or a dedicated website. By using your smart phone, you can access your email, eBay shop, Etsy shop, personal website and more to check for comments, respond to questions and make sure everything is running smoothly. Since you'll be in touch with your business wherever you go, you don't need to worry about your auction-hunting taking way from the sales side of the business; you can manage both at the same time.
These are just a few of the ways that smart phones can increase your efficiency and profit at a storage auction. You can use all of these same techniques on other types of sales as well, from flea markets to garage sales, to research your purchases and communicate with buyers. By utilizing this technology, you can make the most of every auction you visit.