Surplus, seized, foreclosed: we’ve got some options on your auctions

Looking for the perfect gift for someone who wants something … unique?

Collin County’s online auction site of surplus and seized items might be the place to look, if you’re bored with sorting through clearance bins at the “big-box” stores.

Frankly, there’s no telling what may show up in one of a handful of our auction and sale offerings. Naturally, the items up for sale change constantly, so it’s a good idea to check back in to see what’s on the lists.

From our Purchasing Department’s Surplus page, it could be a used car, scrap metal, some used office equipment, a collection of culverts, maybe a cattle chute or two -- all viewable and searchable online.

How about a sporty little 1995 International Harvester 4900 Oil Tanker Truck, or 450 gently used padded folding chairs (carts not included). Those are just a few recent offerings in mid-December’s surplus sale.

Not your thing, eh?

How about livestock? The County’s Animal Services folks occasionally sell unclaimed livestock. As of this writing, we have five donkeys with relatively low mileage on them, waiting for greener pastures. The sales can also include horses, cattle and sheep.

We also have Constable Sales once a month that have included things like jewelry and furniture in the past, and Sheriff’s sales that include auctions and sales of struck-off properties in the county.

For the big-ticket items, there are the Foreclosure sales that occur on the first Tuesday of each month. While the county doesn’t actually conduct these auctions (trustees appointed by the mortgage holders do), they do happen on our doorstep at 2300 Bloomdale Rd., in McKinney. We can’t advise you on how to bid on or buy these properties, but these so-called “First-Tuesdays” draw a good crowd.

Can’t keep track of all this? Just go to our Online Services section for a listing and summary under “Sales & Auctions.”

View Past Features