Comments on: Hiring a professional organizer

By: STL Mom

STL Mom — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:09:45 +0000

Okay, a new friend who has never seen my house started raving about her organizer today. Maybe this is a sign that it’s time for me to join the new generation of don’t-do-it-yourselfers and get some help!

By: John Trosko

John Trosko — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:02:10 +0000

When I was growing up in middle class New Jersey, it was unheard of to have someone mow your lawn for you. You did it yourself!

But I live in Los Angeles now. And I don’t know anyone who mows their own lawn. I think it’s a cultural thing. When you realize you can hire someone to do the things you don’t want to do, can’t do, don’t know how to do, or want to learn how to do it, then the reasons and the price begin to make sense. Your leisure time begins to take on more value and you look for ways to save time. Some people take that more time and turn it into more time with the family, or more time to make more money– the choice is yours.

By: Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome

Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:57:13 +0000

Great list and great comments. I especially like Janine’s comment about going with your gut.

There were times when I was running my organizing business that I would say to a potential client that I didn’t think we’d be a good fit and pass them onto someone with whom they’d work better. It’s better for the client and for the industry as a whole. Sure I might have needed the money, but not at the expense of my reputation (nor of the reputation of the whole industry).

As a client, remember that you might go through some pretty strong emotions with your organizer as the emotion clutter tied to your stuff comes up. You want to feel 100% comfortable with that person, or the process will not work.

By: Denise Lee

Denise Lee — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:57:43 +0000

I would like to add that the value of an organizer goes beyond de-cluttering – although, de-cluttering is important. A good organizer can look at a situation objectively to provide systems and ways of doing things that address the challenges a client faces while complimenting and supporting her lifestyle. Efficiency is important but so is comfort.

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Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:39:20 +0000

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By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:46:34 +0000

@Laura — Wow, that is wacky … and definitely not the standard across the industry. If you haven’t completely given up hope on the idea, I would contact the NSGCD for a recommendation for a professional organizer for your daughter.

By: Laura

Laura — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:39:03 +0000

I tried to give the services of a professional organizer to my daughter as a gift (which she had asked for). The organizer told me flat out that she refuses to serve anyone who is not on medication for ADHD and seeing a therapist. I gave up looking for one. What a wacko.

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:59:28 +0000

@dee — Rates for organizers vary based on the organizer. Some charge per hour, others charge per project or service. For a garage project, I would have recommended that you pay for an hour of an organizer’s time to have him/her make recommendations for your space. That’s it. Like you said, you were able to do the dirty work, so you wouldn’t need an organizer to help you with that.

By: dee

dee — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:00:24 +0000

Their prices are way too high for my sensibility. I had my garage organization quoted at $900 (they bill at $75-$100/hr for someone to do the physical labor-what a crock) and I did it myself with some help from the housekeeper in about 3 hours and it cost a total of $75.

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:54:00 +0000

@Lia — Some professional organizers go through training courses for specifically working with clients who have ADHD. The organizers learn about the disorder and strategies for helping people with ADHD get organized. Not all clients with ADHD would benefit from working with a specially trained organizer, and not all organizers need to be specially trained to be of assistance to someone with ADHD. It’s just a specialty for those who want it and feel that it can help them better serve their clients.

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:33:02 +0000

Also great to ask about car advertising if you hate car advertisements. I know I do. They are distracting visual clutter on the road.

By: PleinJane

PleinJane — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:15:05 +0000

@Alice, I had to laugh at your clean slate comment. My husband just told me tonight that he had an idea of just buying another house and starting fresh – to “wipe that slate clean”…to bring in the bare necessities and a few of our children’s toys (they have too much – they’re 4 and 2). It’s a struggle to keep everything organized only to see it destroyed by our gremlins. I’ve accumulated furniture that my late father refurbished, so there are memories associated with furniture that otherwise would be given away. One other thing I would add, is that for those with hobbies (such as art), it comes with many tools and depending on your space…you have to either have the “master plan” on how to organize it – or have the space to separate it out from the regular house stuff.

By: Lia

Lia — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:48:49 +0000

clients with ADHD

How is this different?!!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:43:50 +0000

As a professional organizer I’m always struck by how brave the people are who hire us. For most people it is very difficult to allow strangers to touch and go through all their stuff.

All of the people we work with hire us because:
1. They don’t have time.
2. They need someone impartial to help them see with “clear eyes.”
3. Their system isn’t working for them because it doesn’t fit the the way they live.

We have several clients who hire us for just an hour or two to help them get on the right track. Most people have the skills, they only need a push in the right direction.

By: STL Mom

STL Mom — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:38:24 +0000

I’ve always thought I didn’t need an organizer because, “I know what to do, I just need to do it.” And yet, after reading tons of books and blogs and watching nearly every episode of Clean House, I still don’t have a good system for my papers that I can stick with. And paper isn’t the only problem.
Maybe the right organizer could help me get started. I’m starting to think it’s worth a try.