Estate sales specialist: ‘We put everything into our reputation’

Describe your business.

Silver Lining Estate Sales & Liquidation specializes in conducting professional sales for estate liquidations and household reductions. We conduct professional sales, freeing clients from this often-overwhelming task.

We customize sales to the needs of the homeowner. We also can arrange for a charity donation at no cost to the client, which may include a written itemized tax deduction statement for the client depending on the charity of choice.

We also continue to work for the client after the sale has ended. Trash is disposed of after the sale and we can arrange for a final clean-out and disposal of unwanted items.

We also offer organizing services. Our most popular requests are for closets, garages and children’s rooms.

What is your business philosophy?

Honesty. It’s that simple. When people call us, they need help. This is the time to put potential customers at ease and take at least one thing off their to-do list. We put everything into our reputation and want to be professionals you can trust to do the right thing.

What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas?

When liquidating an estate, we always come across a vast array of items. Since Las Vegas is relatively small compared with cities like New York or Los Angeles, it is not always easy to find a market for some items we need to sell. For this reason, we think outside the box and reach out to many of our contacts.

We are working on “wish lists” from some of our regular buyers, as well as antique and vintage buyers throughout Nevada and surrounding areas. We need to get the right product to the right buyer for the right money.

What inspired you to start this business?

In 2008, I received a phone call that changed me. My somewhat estranged father had suddenly died. Aside from the initial shock and sadness, I learned my father had three homes, and one was in another country. The responsibility of handling his affairs fell entirely on me.

Feeling overwhelmed, but wanting closure, I attempted to go through each of his estates myself, though I had a newborn and a toddler along with a full-time day job.

Emotionally, it was difficult. Some family members made it frustrating, and the physical amount of material possessions was more than I could’ve ever believed. By the third property, I was so drained I decided to hire a professional estate liquidator. I immediately felt a sense of relief and my sanity restored.

Where is the most common place/room (i.e. garage, closets, etc.) in a home that you’re asked to assist with organizing?

The closet. The funny thing is, I think it’s very easy to keep the closet somewhat organized. I know we all have crazy weeks where our items don’t get put away, and sometimes even clean laundry can sit for a while before we put it away. But the trick is to keep every item you own displayed. If you can see it, you wear it and you don’t buy multiples by accident.

What have you learned from the recession?

I’ve learned to make do with what you have. And I really try to carry this philosophy through when we hold our sales. Why buy new all of the time? For many things, it’s just a waste of money. For example, when you dine at a restaurant you aren’t eating off new plates or drinking from a new glass. Why should you pay full price for those things?