Diana Wright is in the business of estate liquidation, a profession you might figure to be fairly mundane, or even depressing. However, even after 20 years, Wright swears she loves it now more than ever.

Diana Wright

"Sure, in some cases, like bankruptcy or estate reasons and those sorts of things, it is difficult," Wright said. "But I prefer to think that I’m providing a service in those situations — helping people out of a bind they’re in. And most of the situations that I come into, like downsizing for a move or redecoration, are totally positive."

Unlike most of the people in her business (and there aren’t many), Wright has two generations of experience. Her mother was a liquidator in her hometown of Pittsburgh, and handled some of the most prestigious estates in that city.

"I like to say that I grew up in other people’s attics," she said.

Wright has lived in Miami since 1981— mostly in the Pinecrest area — and has handled a client list that reads like a who’s who of South Florida’s most respected public figures. Her company, Antique and Estate Liquidators, is fully licensed for appraisal and has an almost unequaled reputation for professionalism. She is extremely popular not only with private individuals, but attorneys, banks, and real estate firms.

Wright literally facilitates the entire process, including the planning, organization, sale and wrap-up. First, she markets and promotes the sale through a variety of media, including classified ads. Then Wright participates in the clean-up/clean-out stage, which includes fair and accurate valuation and pricing of the various items up for sale. Finally, after conducting the sale itself, she sees to the disposition of those items that went unsold, as well as packing and mailing remaining belongings and personal effects if so desired.

Wright’s company’s outstanding reputation means that her sales are uniformly well attended.

"One of the benefits of being in the business for so long, particularly in one market, is that the serious collectors get to know you. They know if ‘definitely fantastic’ is in a newspaper ad, it means its one of my sales. So in addition to the usual weekend sale seekers, my sales are also packed with ‘regulars.’ Not surprisingly, there are usually lines around the block to get into one of my sales well before they start," she said.

Part of the reason for this is her skill at, and dedication to, research in order to accurately price those items that she is selling. Wright attends seminars in New York on appraisal in order to stay current with the field. She also is a member of the International and American Societies of Appraisers, the two most highly regarded appraisal organizations.

It is clear that first and foremost Wright loves her job because she loves "stuff."

"To find something that seems worthless and discover that it is very valuable is the best part about the job. For instance, there is a tremendous market for antique fishbowls, of all things. I’m constantly looking into whether something is special for someone or some group of people, and the connections that I make allow me to get the best prices for my clients," she said.