Stephen’s Story

There are times in which it is best to document a personal experience so that others may benefit. This is one of those times as liquidating years of possessions and heart-felt memories is a major responsibility for anyone involved in settling an estate.

Being an only Trustee in an estate means that all the responsibility falls on one person. One of the toughest parts of the grieving process is realizing that all the memories from the home and furnishings you find comfort in will all soon be gone. It is this part that ends up being the most critical and the most sensitive.

Stephanie was introduced to me through my chosen real estate agent Lidija Bacelic. I liked the idea that she was local to the San Pedro area. The initial meeting with Stephanie was to lay out general guidelines and for her to access the needed effort in successfully handling all the items within the estate. The home was furnished with many unique pieces of furniture, paintings, and antiques. Of course, a large part of my concern was getting the right attention to those items of both monetary and sentimental value. Stephanie knew exactly how to approach this sale and calmly gave me the confidence I needed to get through this overwhelming part of settling the estate. Noreen, who works with Stephanie, helps to set up and inventory each item. As a team, they both worked quickly and effectively, one room at a time. Within 2 days, the entire home was on display and ready for pricing. They both understood how important and how difficult this was as a customer to see the end of an era, yet their compassion in taking personal interest in the lives lived within the estate showed to a large extent how much they truly cared.

I had interviewed other estate sales personnel, but chose Stephanie also for her ability to make sure that every item was accounted for. Even after the four day sale, she continued to work through in sending the remaining items to auction or as a donation. A person who is going through the loss of a family member already has much weight to shoulder. I am grateful for having Stephanie and her crew handle every aspect of this sale. From setting up and managing the public to even providing security, Stephanie made this difficult part more tolerable to get through.

I would recommend Stephanie anytime someone is faced with the task of liquidating any estate. Her expertise and passion in what she does makes all the difference in the quality she gives to her customers.

-Stephen Binns