Insider Tips for Hiring a Professional Organizer
Getting organized is tricky business. Sure you can clean up the clutter, but it never seems to stay clean, does it? The reason most people can’t stay organized is because they haven’t found a system that works for them.
That’s where a professional organizer comes in. Professional organizers specialize in a wide range of services, from organizing your documents, to de-cluttering your garage, to clearing out your closest. We can even help you organize your time – and who doesn’t need that?
A professional organizer is a great resource for the chronically un-tidy to take advantage of, but how should you go about it? Here are my top tips for hiring the right professional organizer for you.
Understand the Services
Before hiring a professional organizer, understand exactly what the service is. A professional organizer is not a cleaning service. We are not coming into your home to scrub it top to bottom, make it look tidy, and then leave you on your own to get disorganized all over again.
A professional organizer is like a personal assistant for getting your life in order. Whether it’s an overflowing closet, a messy desk, or a hectic family calendar, the job of an organizer is to teach you the skills we already have.
At the end of the project, you will not only be organized, but will be able to maintain an organizing system that will keep you organized. That’s the key – passing our skills on to you using a system that’s personalized to your individual needs.
Research Local Organizers
Just like you should do your research before hiring an interior designer, it’s important to research local professional organizers.
There are countless organizers out there, all specializing in different areas. For example, I love tackling messy kitchens, home offices, or family calendars, but I’m not an expert at organizing a garage.
Once you have a list of local organizers, call around to see what their specialties are, along with their rates. Many organizers offer services in bundles, meaning a set number of sessions for a fixed price. Getting organized is usually a big job and will likely require 3 – 4 sessions with the organizer.
A great tool for finding local professionals is the National Association of Professional Organizer’s public directory, which helps you find organizers in your area who specialize in the services you need.
Know Your Budget
Keeping in mind that organizers typically offer the service as bundles of sessions, create an estimated budget for your project. The budget should include organizing supplies such as baskets, file folders, or clothes hangers.
Don’t go out and buy these items ahead of time. An inventory of your items must be taken first. Your organizer may be able to use the supplies you already have on hand. It’s often well into the project before the organizer will know what storage supplies, if any, are needed.
Be Prepared
Once you have selected the organizer and set a date for the first session, get prepared. This doesn’t mean you should clean the house! Don’t attempt to get organized prior to your pro arriving. If the organizer can’t see where the problem areas are, he or she won’t be able to create a system that works for you.
“Be Prepared” means get ready to share. A professional organizer needs to know a lot about you and your family. Everything from your habits, your cleaning system (or lack of), how you go about your day, your previous organizing attempts, to any other professionals you are working with. All of this information is an important part of creating a system that you will stick with for the long run.
Don’t Be Embarrassed
When your home is disorganized, it can be intimidating having a professional organizer looking around. Don’t be embarrassed! You might worry that every little pile of clutter is being judged, but that’s not the case.
It’s right there in the job title: professional organizers are professional. Even if the mess rivals those houses seen on TV, a professional organizer will never criticize you. We’re here to help and guide you out of the clutter.
If you have decided enough is enough and you can’t live one more minute in chaos, contact me and we can get started creating a personalized organizing solution that’s just right for you!
My mom is just moved to a new luxury home with her second husband, and she’s planning to hire a home organizing service so she wouldn’t have to arrange all their stuff on her own. I like that you said that she should not be embarrassed about the clutter in the house because the professionals would not criticize her for it. I’ll share this with her since my mom is a timid and introverted individual. Thanks for this!