FAQS - Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Professional Organizer?

In general, a professional organizer, (also known as a personal organizer or home organizer) is someone who helps you get and stay organized by providing information, recommendations, resource referrals, products and services.

Professional Organizers provide hands-on organizing. Combined with lifestyle and skill coaching to help you change the habits that lead to disorganization, you can truly transform your life forever.

What is NAPO?

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) is recognized as the leading association for professional organizers. NAPO offers organizers opportunities to sharpen their skills through ongoing education and professional development. NAPO has a Code of Ethics by which all members are expected to abide.

We are deeply committed to the Code of Ethics as well as to continuous learning and skills development in order to provide our clients with the best possible service.

What are the benefits of working with Professional Organizers?

Organizing is not just getting rid of stuff and making everything look neat. Quality professional organizers will help you discover the cause of disorganization, as well as provide solutions to create a lasting change in your environment and your organizational habits. In addition, professional organizers make it their job to learn about the latest processes, resources and products to make organizing easier. You will get access to many ideas and solutions that you would never have the time to research and try out on your own.

What factors should I consider in hiring a Professional Organizer?

In deciding to work with a professional organizer, realize that we are not a cleaning service, nor are we simply hired hands to assist you in rearranging stuff. You are hiring an organizer for expertise, recommendations, and to teach you new ways of doing things. A good professional organizer focuses more on helping you change your habits, and achieve a lifetime of staying better organized, than on your stuff.

Working with a professional organizer is an investment in yourself similar to investing in a private nutritionist. Hiring the least expensive organizer or coach may not provide the results you are looking for if you are seeking long term solutions to overcome disorganization. In selecting an organizer, you are selecting someone that you will work closely with and who will be learning many of your intimate habits. Look for someone who is educated, respectful, communicates articulately, listens, is compassionate, non-judgmental, flexible, and yet will be strong enough to keep you focused and on task.

I need help, but I don't want anyone to see my space.

I totally understand - I've been there myself. Sometimes, when things have gotten out of control, it's embarrassing to even think about letting someone you don't know into your home. Rest assured though, you are your toughest critic.

If you are ashamed of your home, and feeling stressed by the thought of having someone in your home, I strongly recommend consulting with me by phone and perhaps sending pictures BEFORE thinking about having someone come to your home. I've had tremendous results with this approach.

When you are truly ready to release your shame and stress, you will be ready for in-home help.

Before Neat & Simple - Junk Room


After Neat & Simple - Organized and Inviting Guest Room!

How long does organizing usually take?

Many smaller organizing projects such as a closet, playroom or kitchen may be completed in a single session of 3 - 6 hours.

Complete home reorganizing projects can take from 3 - 10 sessions or more depending on how big your home is, how much clutter you have, how many people you have on the team, and how ready you are to let go!

I once organized a small two-bedroom home with very light clutter in one 8 hour day (with an assistant). But this is very unusual. Here are some rough estimates to help you gauge how long it will take.

• A small to average room with light clutter can be organized in 3 - 16 hours (not including closets) depending on how much stuff there is, how quickly you make decisions, and how much effort you put into it between sessions.
• Closets may require 3 - 12 hours or more depending on the size.
• Entire homes with multiple bedrooms and lots of clutter may take as many as 40 - 80 hours. In cases of very high volume of cluttering, it can take much longer.
• Offices with lots of paper and clutter average anywhere from 6 - 80 hours or more, depending on the size and volume of paper.

How can I reduce the cost of working with a
professional organizer?

When you work with professional organizers, the cost of organizing is under your control. Getting family members or friends to help can also help you reduce the costs AND get the job done faster.

Your willingness and ability to do "homework" between sessions, along with your readiness to let go of clutter are the biggest factors in how many hours you will need from a professional organizer.

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