One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is uncovering unexpected surprises in clients’ homes. Recently, I assisted a Kirkland client with a clean-out of a family condo after the sudden passing of his father. Tasked with this emotionally challenging project, the son approached us with limited funds and requested if we could coordinate with the realtor to receive payment from the proceeds of the home sale. We happily agreed.
As part of our clean-out process, we often sell unwanted items to help offset the costs of emptying a home. However, in this particular case, there weren’t many items we could liquidate. On our final day of preparing the home, while I was organizing the office, we encountered a locked file cabinet without a key. We decided to drill out the lock to see what was inside.
To our astonishment, alongside family photos and personal documents, we discovered an envelope stuffed with $100 bills—an incredible total of $10,500! This unexpected windfall not only covered the cost of the clean-out but also allowed us to provide a refund back to the estate.
Moments like this are why I love my job; they remind me that even in financially difficult situations, we can create positive outcomes for families during challenging times.