Furniture from foreclosures for sale
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. William “Lucky” Douglas is proof, selling abandoned furniture and other household items left in the wake of Michigan foreclosures for rock-bottom prices at his “part-flea market, part-thrift shop, part-garage sale” shop called “Lucky & Nisan’s Unique Boutique.” Foreclosure cleanout crews are often tasked with “taking out the garbage,” rekeying doors [...]

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

William “Lucky” Douglas is proof, selling abandoned furniture and other household items left in the wake of Michigan foreclosures for rock-bottom prices at his “part-flea market, part-thrift shop, part-garage sale” shop called “Lucky & Nisan’s Unique Boutique.”

Foreclosure cleanout crews are often tasked with “taking out the garbage,” rekeying doors and securing properties that go through the foreclosure process. Banks rely on these companies to clean the slate, so to speak, after the homeowners leave and/or are evicted.

Often, the contents of the homes are hauled straight to the local dump. Douglas realized that a lot of good stuff was going to waste, so he decided to do something about it, according to Monroe News.

Here’s a snip:

“I have a friend who has a business where he goes in and cleans out the foreclosures. He had me come in and get the scrap metal and appliances. Then I started noticing all the good stuff people were leaving behind in these homes. I started storing it – I guess I’m a pack rat – and then we opened up a store and started selling it… Whatever’s left behind that the people either didn’t want or couldn’t take. I felt bad at first, but then I figured it could fill a need for other people.”

Douglas is quick to point out the the items homeowners leave behind are fair game for someone in his position — he’s just taking the time to sell the stuff that others either didn’t want or couldn’t take with them.

And, like the homes from which the items come, he offers the merchandise at “firesale prices.” Air conditioners, power tools, bicycles, clothes glassware, knickknacks, books and other “decorative” items are all featured in his shop, with price tags as low as $1.

The “junk” that doesn’t sell is donated to second-hand and/or charitable stores in the area. It’s recycling at its finest.