Sunrise Estate Services was founded by Becky Oxton with the intention of being a full-service estate services firm and a one-stop shop for customers in need of services. They also provide direction to clients to assist them with the steps to undertake and choices that can be made. She claims that while many firms provide some of the services offered by Sunrise Estate Services, only a handful are willing, ready, and able to provide all of the services that consumers may demand when needed. In talks with coworkers, Becky saw that there was a niche market where services could be supplied to assist people and customers in stressful situations, as well as to fill a hole in the industry where services are not widely available.
Before launching Sunrise Estate Services in 2015, Becky worked in law enforcement for 7 years as a community peace officer in several locations across Alberta. As a peace officer, she was in charge of enforcing traffic regulations, local ordinances, and some provincial statutes. As a Community Peace Officer, she administered and instructed the D.A.R.E. program in all of the municipality’s schools as well as developed and instructed education programs for youth, students, and citizens. Becky assisted in forming groups and committees with a focus on community building and networking.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
I am someone who wants to make a difference; I want to make a difference with individuals, with businesses and with communities. I am a person who aims to reach my full potential, I am a person who knows what I am capable of, and I want my light to shine.
Tell us more about the company.
Having to dispose of a loved one’s estate can be emotionally stressful and painful. Sunrise Estate Services is here to help families and personal representatives liquidate the estate quickly and efficiently, while respecting the needs of the family in a compassionate manner. Sunrise Estate Services is committed to providing a variety of services to best meet the unique needs of each client and their property. We value that each client, and their family have spent a lifetime collecting treasures, and we strive to ensure they are treated in a respectful, honest, and compassionate manner.
Sunrise Estate Services assists families and personal representatives by liquidating estates through online auctions, estate sales, disposal, and donations. We are the step before hiring a realtor and putting the property on the market. We aim to achieve the highest value by selling personal content and are committed to keeping the maximum amount of content out of landfills by selling and donating content. We ensure that all content is gone through, and personal documents and photos are returned to the family. We sort, organize, inventory, and appraise the content and host online auctions to sell the content of the estate.
We are a full-service estate sale company and provide property management services, lawn care, snow removal, minor repairs, coordination for repairs and demolition. As we strive to be a one stop shop, I have become a certified appraiser, a certified move coordinator, a licensed auctioneer, and am proficient at problem solving to ensure that the client’s needs are met. Sunrise Estate Services will take care of any job big or small.
Who is your target audience? How do you help them as a professional?
Our clients are individuals who require assistance in liquidating the content of estates as well as personal representatives of estates and wealth management companies. As a professional we can do as much or as little as a client requires and will ensure that the wishes of the deceased are met in a respectful and courteous manner.
What gets you up in the morning? What are your responsibilities as the founder of the company?
Helping people gets me up in the morning. I strive to be a person who can assist others by providing services, coordinating and finding solutions for them to be able to complete the tasks that are required to assist them in moving forward.
The responsibilities as an owner and operator of Sunrise Estate Services are vast. From human resources, estate services specialist, appraiser, move coordinator, auctioneer, technical support, accounting, invoicing, scheduling, consulting, forming relationships and partnerships, coordinating professionals, customer service, providing estimates, setting up auctions, marketing and everything in between.
What is the best way to build a great team?
The best way to build a great team is to find like-minded individuals who are motivated by helping others. In a business that assists individuals and families who are grieving and in high-stress environments, it is imperative to remember that, first and foremost, we are all human and can all work together to make situations better. Finding employees who care about each other and the company is goal number one. We can train, provide educational opportunities, mentor and work with staff to complete the work, but we cannot teach people to care.
What does “performance culture” mean to you?
Performance culture means to me needing workers who are dedicated to getting results and achieving the goals of the client and the company.
What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
You can do and be absolutely anything you want to be. There will always be people who do not value you, your experience or education. Do not let them set your worth. Do not allow others to set expectations or limitations on you. You are enough exactly as you are.
What are your future plans to sustain your and the company’s success?
The future plans to sustain our success are to continue to provide a high level of service to our customers and clients. We will continue to grow our network of partnerships with other local businesses to ensure the needs of the clients are met. We will continue to adapt to changing markets, trends, and technology, using all means to stay relevant and trail blazing in the estate services industry. We will continue to support our community through volunteering and partnerships.
