Ten years ago, when clearing out my parents’ home of 50 years, I had no idea what I was getting into, let alone what I was doing. I had never been to an estate sale, now I was going to have one. I took a week off from my job in Florida, flew to California and dove headfirst into the quicksand, a paralyzing quagmire of family history, memories, sentiment, legend and surprise-filled boxes.
I felt guilty for being so ill-prepared to handle it all. But I couldn’t wallow. Though I had no earthly notion what anything should sell for, I made wild stabs at pricing so I could meet the goal of clearing out the house to get it on the market.
The proceeds would help pay for my elderly parents’ long-term care. I get PTSD just thinking about it. The memories of this life-altering ordeal came flooding back this past week as I talked with Melissa Sullivan, owner of the Posh Peacock, an estate sales company serving greater Orlando.
Where was she when I needed her? Sullivan fell into the world of estate sales four years ago after working in IT for 25 years. Ready for a career change, she started helping a woman who had a small, private estate sale company, but no technical skills. “She didn’t accept credit cards, and didn’t have a website,” said Sullivan, who fixed that.
Shortly after, the woman died of cancer. Sullivan kept the business going and growing. Today, the Posh Peacock handles about 25 sales a year.
Knowing services like hers exist to clear out family homes and turn ma.