HOUSTON -- A Houston-area woman has turned other people's junk into a money-making business, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.
Ashley Zarr takes items of all sizes -- from furniture to golf carts and more.
"Is there anything you won't take?" KPRC Local 2 asked.
"Probably live animals and children," she answered.
She then finds the stuff a new home.
"I list on eBay, Craigslist, estate sales," she said.
Four months ago, the former stay-at-home mother started using her eye for bargains and turned it into a business.
"It actually just grew word of mouth and I love doing it and it's fun for me," Zarr said.
A favor for a friend turned into a full-time job.
Zarr started her business in her house, but within weeks, it grew so much that she had to move it into a warehouse.
She credits a lot of her success with good timing.
Many of her clients, such as Carol Cain, are victims of a harsh economic climate.
"All of our retirement was in the stock market," Cain said.
Cain said she knew some personal items had to go, but could not sell them herself.
"It took four years for us to work up the courage to sell them. It would've been very hard," Cain said.
Other clients just don't have the time. Zarr puts in eight hours a day, seven days a week.
"It's too much fun. I'm caught up in the inertia," she said.
Zarr said since a lot of the work is from home, she can still do what she loves while being with her child.
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