Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Professional Organizer do?
It doesn’t matter what type of person you are – an inspired artist, a collector, an aspiring minimalist or anywhere in between, we all need functional and easy to maintain systems to operate as efficiently as possible in our spaces.
This is what I as a professional organizer do – help you create easy to follow systems in your home or business that allow your space to be both beautiful and functional. I work with you through every stage of the process – from sorting and de-cluttering, managing paperwork and categorizing to finding the best home for your collectibles or favorite books or movies.
How is working with a Professional Organizer different than doing it myself? Will I stay organized?
While most of us feel the best in clean, orderly spaces, sometimes the organizing systems we try just don’t mesh with the way we think or do things or how we want to use our spaces. This is where a professional organizer can help you. Professional organizers have many different types of organizational systems, products and methods in their arsenal that you may just not be aware of.
Through discussion and a series of questions, we start by establishing your goals and vision for your space. We then work with you to create organizing systems that are customized to the way you think and live and teach you the skills and habits needed to maintain your new systems or routines.
Are you just going to clean my house?
All organizing has an element of cleaning involved – an organized space is not only a clean space but is also easier to keep clean in the long run. I want your space to look and feel the best it can when we are finished the project so cleaning of the space that is being organized is a natural part of my process, however whole house cleaning, deep cleaning or cleaning areas outside the area being organized is best left to a professional cleaner.
What is the difference between a cleaner and a professional organizer?
A cleaner helps you with “mess” – they come into your home and help you maintain a sparkling, germ and dust free environment and may help with regular cleaning duties like laundry, cleaning toilets, scrubbing bathtubs, washing floors, vacuuming etc., all those basic things that maintain the cleanliness of your home.
A professional organizer helps you with your “stuff” – they support you in deciding what to keep, what to get rid of, and where to put things for maximum functionality and ease of access. An organizer helps you develop systems (ex: labelling bins, shelves etc. so everyone knows where things go; or putting things where they are used most often) that make managing your belongings easier, quicker and more fun. They can also help you with time-management and figuring out the best way to manage household tasks. An organizer gives you peace of mind knowing you can find anything you need right when you need it, saving you time, energy and frustration.
While cleaning and organizing always go hand-in-hand, they are two different concepts and both have a vital place in life. If you would like assistance with regular or deep cleaning, please let me know during our session and I can refer someone to you.
Will you make me get rid of all my stuff?
Our time together is ALWAYS a collaboration – I will never force you to do anything you don’t want to, whether that’s purchasing organizing tools you can’t afford or parting with sentimental objects.
On the other hand, I always remind my clients what their goal is for their space – what they said they wanted to get out of their organizing session – what MORE they wanted, and sometimes to have more in one area, we need to have less in others. So we work together to decide what stays and what goes.
Will you work with me or just coach me?
It’s entirely up to you. If you don’t want to touch a thing, you don’t have to. But, if you or anyone else wants to help, it’ll get the job done faster, and in the end, save you money.
Will my sessions be confidential?
You betcha! All meetings, conversations, and questions are between you and me, and no one else. To see other guidelines I stand by, please read the bottom section of my About Page.
Should I tidy my house before the Initial Consultation?
Please don’t! The best thing you can do is RELAX! We want to see how you do what you do. This is how we can help you the most. We are coming to be of service and to aid you in discovering new perspectives that will help you live the life you want or run your business efficiently. We need to see the full extent of any disarray in your home and how it’s affecting your life. It’s important to see any piles or clutter that habitually appear, so together we can figure out how to make them disappear and stay away. Clutter provides valuable clues!
How Does Being Organized Save Me Time & Money?
Disorganization costs money and time. It’s been said that North Americans waste almost an hour each day looking for misplaced stuff. According to an IKEA “Life at Home” survey, 23% of people pay their bills late because they lost them.
Here are some of the costs of being disorganized:
For fun, below are some of the things that have been found by organizers around the world when working in client’s homes:
It doesn’t matter what type of person you are – an inspired artist, a collector, an aspiring minimalist or anywhere in between, we all need functional and easy to maintain systems to operate as efficiently as possible in our spaces.
This is what I as a professional organizer do – help you create easy to follow systems in your home or business that allow your space to be both beautiful and functional. I work with you through every stage of the process – from sorting and de-cluttering, managing paperwork and categorizing to finding the best home for your collectibles or favorite books or movies.
How is working with a Professional Organizer different than doing it myself? Will I stay organized?
While most of us feel the best in clean, orderly spaces, sometimes the organizing systems we try just don’t mesh with the way we think or do things or how we want to use our spaces. This is where a professional organizer can help you. Professional organizers have many different types of organizational systems, products and methods in their arsenal that you may just not be aware of.
Through discussion and a series of questions, we start by establishing your goals and vision for your space. We then work with you to create organizing systems that are customized to the way you think and live and teach you the skills and habits needed to maintain your new systems or routines.
Are you just going to clean my house?
All organizing has an element of cleaning involved – an organized space is not only a clean space but is also easier to keep clean in the long run. I want your space to look and feel the best it can when we are finished the project so cleaning of the space that is being organized is a natural part of my process, however whole house cleaning, deep cleaning or cleaning areas outside the area being organized is best left to a professional cleaner.
What is the difference between a cleaner and a professional organizer?
A cleaner helps you with “mess” – they come into your home and help you maintain a sparkling, germ and dust free environment and may help with regular cleaning duties like laundry, cleaning toilets, scrubbing bathtubs, washing floors, vacuuming etc., all those basic things that maintain the cleanliness of your home.
A professional organizer helps you with your “stuff” – they support you in deciding what to keep, what to get rid of, and where to put things for maximum functionality and ease of access. An organizer helps you develop systems (ex: labelling bins, shelves etc. so everyone knows where things go; or putting things where they are used most often) that make managing your belongings easier, quicker and more fun. They can also help you with time-management and figuring out the best way to manage household tasks. An organizer gives you peace of mind knowing you can find anything you need right when you need it, saving you time, energy and frustration.
While cleaning and organizing always go hand-in-hand, they are two different concepts and both have a vital place in life. If you would like assistance with regular or deep cleaning, please let me know during our session and I can refer someone to you.
Will you make me get rid of all my stuff?
Our time together is ALWAYS a collaboration – I will never force you to do anything you don’t want to, whether that’s purchasing organizing tools you can’t afford or parting with sentimental objects.
On the other hand, I always remind my clients what their goal is for their space – what they said they wanted to get out of their organizing session – what MORE they wanted, and sometimes to have more in one area, we need to have less in others. So we work together to decide what stays and what goes.
Will you work with me or just coach me?
It’s entirely up to you. If you don’t want to touch a thing, you don’t have to. But, if you or anyone else wants to help, it’ll get the job done faster, and in the end, save you money.
Will my sessions be confidential?
You betcha! All meetings, conversations, and questions are between you and me, and no one else. To see other guidelines I stand by, please read the bottom section of my About Page.
Should I tidy my house before the Initial Consultation?
Please don’t! The best thing you can do is RELAX! We want to see how you do what you do. This is how we can help you the most. We are coming to be of service and to aid you in discovering new perspectives that will help you live the life you want or run your business efficiently. We need to see the full extent of any disarray in your home and how it’s affecting your life. It’s important to see any piles or clutter that habitually appear, so together we can figure out how to make them disappear and stay away. Clutter provides valuable clues!
How Does Being Organized Save Me Time & Money?
Disorganization costs money and time. It’s been said that North Americans waste almost an hour each day looking for misplaced stuff. According to an IKEA “Life at Home” survey, 23% of people pay their bills late because they lost them.
Here are some of the costs of being disorganized:
- Misplaced clothes mean you have to buy more
- An overflowing, disorganized pantry equals not knowing what you have and purchasing duplicates.
- A crammed fridge means food going to waste and more money being spent on groceries
- Lost keys, misplaced wallets = being late for work, school or that important lunch date
- Blocked ventilation = rise in utility costs
- Too many toys = tripping hazards
For fun, below are some of the things that have been found by organizers around the world when working in client’s homes:
- Uncashed checks
- A gold coin worth over $300
- A life insurance check from a husband dead 4 years
- Un-redeemed gift cards
- $$$ - found in pockets, books and more
- Medical receipts that should have been included in tax returns – netting a bigger refund for the person (in my own home – haha!)
- Sentimental family jewelry that the homeowner thought was stolen (nope, just lost in her piles of “stuff”)!
LiveMore Organized. All rights reserved. 2015-2016