What is a Professional Organizer?

The National Association of Professional Organizers states “[professional organizers] help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper, and their systems for life.”  Each individual organizer provides different services and has different specialties.

How do I know if hiring a Professional Organizer is right for me?

If the chaos and calamity in your life is affecting your family, friends, and quality of life or is holding you back from achieving personal or professional goals, then hiring an organizer may be the right choice for you.  If you always seem to start organizing a space but only seem to end up making a bigger mess or never have enough time to finish what you started, a professional organizer can help you make a commitment to finishing it or work for you  to complete it.

What does a typical consultation look like?

Every potential project begins with a thirty minute consultation session during which we will take time to get acquainted and discuss with you what you’d like to accomplish during our time together.  The most important thing in choosing an organizer is finding someone that you feel comfortable with and will trust to help you make very important changes in your private world.  The initial consultation takes place over coffee or desserts.

How do I find the right organizer for me?

When meeting with an organizer ask questions that are important to you in determining a good fit, such as, “How long have you been in business?” and  “What is your background and/or training?”  It’s always a good idea to ask for references too.  It’s important that you like and trust the person you are hiring and make sure they have the skills to successfully complete the project for which you are hiring them.  I am always available before and after a free 30 minute consultation to answer your questions by phone or email to help you determine if I am the right organizer for you.

What happens after I hire you to be my organizer?

After you make the decision that I am the right person to help you get organized, I will complete an on-site assessment to determine what’s working and what’s not in your space.  We will discuss possibilities for improving how you utilize your space and what types of changes you are comfortable making in the space.    The most important part of working with an organizer is determining what you’d like to achieve through the process, so at this time we will sit down and write out your goals for our time together as well as set a flexible deadline for when you’d like the work to be completed and discuss a budget.    Then, I will help you break down those goals into manageable steps and sessions based on your schedule and availability and help teach you how to maintain the changes you are making.

I believe that it is better to teach someone how to organize and stay organized than to create only systems that may not be truly useful for my clients.  It is imperative that you are comfortable working with and maintaining the systems that are created for you.  After the work is completed, I will be available for some follow up consultations to continue to help you fine-tune your new organizational skills and systems.

Won’t you have access to all of my personal and confidential information?

I abide by the code of ethics of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Your confidentiality is a high priority, and your personal information will not be revealed for any reason.  I am aware that you are placing a great deal of trust in me and it is important to me that I live up to that trust.  Any anecdotes or client testimonials in my brochures or website are only printed with express permission of the client.

I’m ashamed of my home and I feel like I need to clean my house before letting an organizer in. Will you be shocked by my mess?

I will never pass judgment on the appearance of your home, office, or car.  By contacting a professional organizer, you’re already telling me that you need some help.  I have seen (and probably even lived in my own!) messes that are truly offensive.  In fact, it’s better NOT to clean up before an on-site consultation so that I am better able to assess the challenges you are facing.

What do you charge for your services?

Precise Arrangements offers a wide variety of services for each unique need and situation.  While one client may only want  some assistance in setting goals or some time management coaching, another may want help cleaning out and re-organizing an entire home.  At the beginning of a contract, I will estimate how long a project will take and cost; however, many things can come up during a project that will require additional time or expenses.  I charge a rate of $35.00 per hour for time working with you.  A number of my products are a flat rate including plans for organizing 20 minutes at a time, conducting a workshop, giving a presentation, or a personal coaching session.  Any tools or supplies that are purchased for your projects will be billed directly to you.  Depending on your personal needs, prices are negotiable.  Don’t hesitate to call for your free consultation even if the cost at first seems prohibitive.

Can I really make lasting changes in my life and stay organized?

Life change is indeed possible and easily attained by learning the basic principles of time management and organizing.  Then you can apply these principles to your life on a daily basis through systems created specifically for your needs.  Being organized is a continual journey and not something you do during one weekend.  Hiring an organizer is not a silver bullet for maintaining lifelong organization - as with any progression towards a goal, you will get out what you put in.  Remember: an elephant is eaten one bite at a time.

Will you make me throw away everything!?!?

The decision to part with any of your belongings is yours alone.  I am there to help you make those decisions by asking questions and making suggestions.  You will never be forced to do anything.

Will you do all the work or do I help?

It will depend on what you want, your needs, and your budget.  I am a strong believer that teaching you to organize will be much more valuable to you than simply organizing for you.  Each organizational challenge is unique so the format and plan for each project is different.

How long will it take to organize me?

Every situation is different and the amount of time to complete a project is dependent on many variables including the size of the space and its starting condition.  I will work with you to set deadlines and estimate how long it will take to complete a project before we start working, but all estimates are subject to change as we progress through a project.

How can I find other professional organizers?

Look on the National Assocation of Professional Organizers website for a directory of organizers in your area.  There are many local chapters that can help you find the organizer that is right for you.  Numerous organizers are listed in your local yellow pages as well.  Asking around to friends and family for a referral is always a good resource too.