Decluttering FAQS
Who needs an organizer? Simplify your life. Out of control clutter. Transitions: moving, downsizing, combining households, death, divorce. There are as many reasons as there are people.
Why should I pay anyone to declutter my house when I can do it myself? Lack of time. Not knowing where to start. Being overwhelmed. Inability to stay motivated. Emotional or physical inability. Many people were never taught and simply need to be shown how to declutter and maintain an organized home.
Why do I need to get organized? To save time and money and reduce your stress and frustration levels. It allows you to find the things you need when you need them, reduce duplicate purchases because you can see what you already have, and give you peace of mind.
How do I know if I'm ready? Do you not invite people over your house because you're uncomfortable with the clutter they'll see? Are you embarrassed about the piles of paper and cluttered surfaces? Do you eat out more often than you should because of the chaos in your kitchen? Do you park your car in the driveway because it doesn’t fit in the garage? These are a few signs and I can help you solve these problems.
Can you clear up without me being there? No. I need to ask you questions to help you find answers; I can challenge you and give you a new perspective. I can help you to make decisions about what you love, use and need.
If my entire house is disorganized where should I start? Breathe deeply and realize that you can do this. Just start somewhere to get the momentum going: either the easiest area or the area that bothers you the most.
Do I need to buy anything before you come over? No. I prefer to use organizing supplies that you already own <like boxes, baskets, bins, etc>. I want to save you money and not make you spend more. If it turns out that you end up needing more organizational supplies, we'll discuss and decide together as we are sorting through everything.
Do I need to tidy up before you come over? No. I prefer to see the space as it is used now. I have seen many disorganized living spaces, so there’s no need to be embarrassed. As we work through the decluttering process we'll make things messier at first so there's no use to straighten things up before I come.
You won't leave things a big mess between sessions, will you? No. Things will probably get messier before they get neater while we're decluttering and organizing, but we'll leave things more organized than they were between sessions if multiple sessions are needed. We will always schedule some time between sessions to take care of what gets decluttered.
What kind of clients have you worked with? My clients have included busy parents with children, seniors on their own, small business owners, young professionals, and families caught in the unexpected care of elderly or sick relatives.
Do you have a specialty? Paper clutter is my particular specialty, but I have also helped many clients declutter, organize and move whole houses. I am up for most any kind of clutter challenge.
How do you handle confidentiality and privacy? I am sensitive that this is your space, your personal and professional belongings, and your vital information. I handle it all with discretion.
What is the process? During our initial phone call, we will talk about your needs and expectations, and then set up a time to meet and begin the work. Depending on the scale of the job and your time deadlines, we may only need to meet for a few hours, or schedule further blocks of time to complete the task. During the de-cluttering process, I will need to know the scope of everything you have because it is only when you know what is already there that we can begin to decide how to proceed. We can chunk it down to smaller areas or tackle multiple areas in one session. Usually momentum takes over once my clients see how much they can accomplish with my help, and they want to get done quickly. Diving straight in is often the best way; just be prepared for us to get started! During our initial meeting, I'll make some suggestions about what items that can be disposed of, items that might be used in a different way or location and items you might need to buy (like improved storage units). I will try to guide your decisions about what to throw away, and where to keep what you want.
Will you make me throw things away? No. It is always your choice what items stay or go. I simply ask questions to help you make decisions that are right for you. Do you love it, use it or need it? My effectiveness will be affected by your ability to let things go, but I will never force you to throw anything away.
How long does it take to finish a job? Each client and organizing project is unique and involves varying factors such as project and space size, amount of belongings to sort, and your decision making process as we declutter and organize. Smaller projects can take a couple of hours; larger ones will take longer. My job is to see the possibilities for what you want to accomplish and offer suggestions for the most efficient way of achieving them. A block of time is set up for the first meeting to assess the job and make good headway on it. One or more follow-up visits may be needed to finish. If you are able to "keep up the good work" between sessions it will lower the cost for you.
How much does it cost? The cost is based on an hourly rate and varies depending on the complexity, size and scope of the project. Compare the hidden cost of being disorganized with the time and money you will save working with a professional organizer and the cost becomes very reasonable. Payment is due at each session. Discounts are given for prepaid blocks of time.
What is your cancellation policy? Twenty-four hours notice is required, or you will be charged for the missed session.
How do I maintain the organization after you are gone? I will teach you systems based on your personal style that will enable you to maintain your living or office spaces. For stubborn or chronic organizing issues, standing appointments can be scheduled to keep things under control. I am also available to help you with additional projects as they come up in the future, or just general tweaking as needed. You can also join one of my clutter mastermind groups as well.
Why should I pay anyone to declutter my house when I can do it myself? Lack of time. Not knowing where to start. Being overwhelmed. Inability to stay motivated. Emotional or physical inability. Many people were never taught and simply need to be shown how to declutter and maintain an organized home.
Why do I need to get organized? To save time and money and reduce your stress and frustration levels. It allows you to find the things you need when you need them, reduce duplicate purchases because you can see what you already have, and give you peace of mind.
How do I know if I'm ready? Do you not invite people over your house because you're uncomfortable with the clutter they'll see? Are you embarrassed about the piles of paper and cluttered surfaces? Do you eat out more often than you should because of the chaos in your kitchen? Do you park your car in the driveway because it doesn’t fit in the garage? These are a few signs and I can help you solve these problems.
Can you clear up without me being there? No. I need to ask you questions to help you find answers; I can challenge you and give you a new perspective. I can help you to make decisions about what you love, use and need.
If my entire house is disorganized where should I start? Breathe deeply and realize that you can do this. Just start somewhere to get the momentum going: either the easiest area or the area that bothers you the most.
Do I need to buy anything before you come over? No. I prefer to use organizing supplies that you already own <like boxes, baskets, bins, etc>. I want to save you money and not make you spend more. If it turns out that you end up needing more organizational supplies, we'll discuss and decide together as we are sorting through everything.
Do I need to tidy up before you come over? No. I prefer to see the space as it is used now. I have seen many disorganized living spaces, so there’s no need to be embarrassed. As we work through the decluttering process we'll make things messier at first so there's no use to straighten things up before I come.
You won't leave things a big mess between sessions, will you? No. Things will probably get messier before they get neater while we're decluttering and organizing, but we'll leave things more organized than they were between sessions if multiple sessions are needed. We will always schedule some time between sessions to take care of what gets decluttered.
What kind of clients have you worked with? My clients have included busy parents with children, seniors on their own, small business owners, young professionals, and families caught in the unexpected care of elderly or sick relatives.
Do you have a specialty? Paper clutter is my particular specialty, but I have also helped many clients declutter, organize and move whole houses. I am up for most any kind of clutter challenge.
How do you handle confidentiality and privacy? I am sensitive that this is your space, your personal and professional belongings, and your vital information. I handle it all with discretion.
What is the process? During our initial phone call, we will talk about your needs and expectations, and then set up a time to meet and begin the work. Depending on the scale of the job and your time deadlines, we may only need to meet for a few hours, or schedule further blocks of time to complete the task. During the de-cluttering process, I will need to know the scope of everything you have because it is only when you know what is already there that we can begin to decide how to proceed. We can chunk it down to smaller areas or tackle multiple areas in one session. Usually momentum takes over once my clients see how much they can accomplish with my help, and they want to get done quickly. Diving straight in is often the best way; just be prepared for us to get started! During our initial meeting, I'll make some suggestions about what items that can be disposed of, items that might be used in a different way or location and items you might need to buy (like improved storage units). I will try to guide your decisions about what to throw away, and where to keep what you want.
Will you make me throw things away? No. It is always your choice what items stay or go. I simply ask questions to help you make decisions that are right for you. Do you love it, use it or need it? My effectiveness will be affected by your ability to let things go, but I will never force you to throw anything away.
How long does it take to finish a job? Each client and organizing project is unique and involves varying factors such as project and space size, amount of belongings to sort, and your decision making process as we declutter and organize. Smaller projects can take a couple of hours; larger ones will take longer. My job is to see the possibilities for what you want to accomplish and offer suggestions for the most efficient way of achieving them. A block of time is set up for the first meeting to assess the job and make good headway on it. One or more follow-up visits may be needed to finish. If you are able to "keep up the good work" between sessions it will lower the cost for you.
How much does it cost? The cost is based on an hourly rate and varies depending on the complexity, size and scope of the project. Compare the hidden cost of being disorganized with the time and money you will save working with a professional organizer and the cost becomes very reasonable. Payment is due at each session. Discounts are given for prepaid blocks of time.
What is your cancellation policy? Twenty-four hours notice is required, or you will be charged for the missed session.
How do I maintain the organization after you are gone? I will teach you systems based on your personal style that will enable you to maintain your living or office spaces. For stubborn or chronic organizing issues, standing appointments can be scheduled to keep things under control. I am also available to help you with additional projects as they come up in the future, or just general tweaking as needed. You can also join one of my clutter mastermind groups as well.
