cost of hiring a professional organizer

How Much Does A Professional Organizer Cost?

in

Are you interested in hiring a professional organizer but concerned about the expense? Let us help clarify the costs associated with hiring a professional organizer!

First off, there is no specific answer to this question. Each organizer or agency will most likely charge different rates. This can be dependent on a range of different factors. Some of these can include the experience of the organizer or the specific needs of each project.

The good news is that most organizers provide an initial thorough consultation with their client. From our experience,  the cost of a consultation assessment can cost clients anywhere from $75-$250 and can take anywhere from one hour to an hour and half and upwards (depending on the number of spaces being assessed and how much detail clients which to provide). The consultations  will help the organizer get a rough idea of the volume and scope of the project but also an in depth understanding of their client. Each person and home are unique, so this initial consultation is essential for the client to understand how much and how long a project will be. Let us outline some of the factors taken into consideration that can influence the cost of this service below:

Project timeline

This can depend on many different things such as the involvement of the client and the size of the home. cost of hiring a professional organizer

Personal client goals

Not everyone wants a total makeover. Some people may just want to regain control of their living spaces. Each specific need and request need to be taken into account to provide an accurate quote.

Space issues

If a home is difficult to move around freely in this can have a significant impact on the time it will take to de-clutter and organize each room.

The availability of storage space

This is an important aspect that many people don’t consider. A large part of organizing is reordering storage space. This entails finding easy and clear places for the client to locate important items. If there isn’t much storage space to work with, this can impact the time frame of the project. The organizer and client may need to get creative with innovative storage solutions!

Any foreseeable psychological challenges

This can include any number of things and will be ascertained during the consultation interview. An example of a psychological challenge may be a client clearing out their home while grieving the loss of a partner. This is a significantly different project with specific needs. It may require a longer time frame than an average organizing session. The sensitive and emotional nature of each project must be taken into account.

Physical constraints

This could entail a variety of physical situations that could be important when providing a price estimate. For example, the home could be on a top-story with no elevator!

A consultant will take stock of all of these features and provide a thorough estimate at the future cost of hiring a professional organizer. For an estimate, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help you begin your journey to a more organized lifestyle!

the difference between a professional organizer and a cleaner_

Professional Organizer or Cleaning Service?

in

What’s the difference between a professional organizer and a cleaner? How do they compare, and which one is best suited for your lifestyle? 

What’s a professional organizer?

A professional organizer is a trained and seasoned professional that teaches important organizing skills. Organizing may seem like a small thing but it’s essential to learn how to order the chaos of everyday life. An organizer will teach the client innovative and forward-thinking techniques to get in control of their household. On top of this, a professional organizer will also ensure that these methods are sustainable for their client’s day to day life, providing systems and homes for their client’s items. The end goal is to seamlessly integrate these lifestyle changes into the clients’ daily routine.

What does a professional organizer do?

When most people imagine an organizer, they start to get a little anxious. Do I want a stranger to tell me how to run my life? Will they make me throw everything away? Well, it’s a lot simpler then you think!

An expert organizer helps people to develop tried and tested techniques to bring order to their living space. This not only helps with maintaining a clean and tidy home but also managing daily stress and anxiety. Living in a home where every object has its place and is easy to find can have a significant impact on day-to-day life. De-cluttering the difference between a professional organizer and a cleaner_your home and discovering an organizing method or system that works best for you can be life-changing.

A professional organizer is friendly, open, and a great listener. They are dedicated to discovering the best solutions for their clients. It’s not about creating a perfect minimalistic space, but focusing on the clients’ goals and making their dream home a reality. A professional organizer understands it’s okay to want to live in abundance with the things you love, we just help to filter the things that you don’t love so you can make more room to enjoy the things you do.

What does a cleaning service entail?

A cleaning service is quite straightforward. A cleaner is an employee who regularly completes household chores. These duties may include washing the dishes, vacuuming floors, and completing laundry.  A cleaning service can be helpful to get control of the household mess and chaos. Yet, a cleaning service doesn’t instill life changes, values, systems or methods. An organizer not only helps you to organize effectively but also encourage you to take pride of your possessions and home.

In comparison to a cleaning service, an expert organizer can be a game changer. They can help to completely renovate your space without breaking down walls or structurally changing anything. We don’t hide the clutter, we confront it!

The difference between a professional organizer and a cleaner

The main difference between a cleaner and an organizer is that an organizer wants to help their clients realize their ideal life and home potential. Together, the customer and organizer will visualize what they want the future to be and break it down into manageable steps. The goal of an organizer is to create a technique and outlook that will last the test of time. A clean and organized home will leave the client more hours to relax and enjoy their new and improved space!

Looking for some support with your home organizing needs? We here at ClutterBGone service the Greater Toronto area – helping you bring calm to your chaos with our professional organizing services. Give us a call – we’re happy to get you a quote!

how to keep your home organized

How To Keep My Home Organized?

in

Just finished organizing your home and don’t know what’s next? We here at ClutterBGone get asked this question frequently. We’ve helped our clients organize their space, and now the question remains – how do I keep my home organized?

Keep the Interior Decor Fresh

The best part of organizing a home is working on the interior decorating. It’s the perfect opportunity to see your home in a new way and plan an entire makeover. This could be anything from new furniture and accessories to just changing the color of the walls. Celebrate your newly organized living space by bringing something fresh and vibrant to the table. It’ll give you a whole new appreciation of your home.

Entertain

Now that your space is organized and feeling great, you have a great excuse to have a dinner party or small get together at how to keep your home organizedyour place. The best part is you won’t have to spend hours cleaning your home before your guests arrive. Have fun preparing and serving a lavish dinner in your newly organized home. You’ll feel proud of the accomplishment and your guests will be amazed. Then you can relax and spend the rest of the night celebrating.

Start New Projects

Have you cleaned up a spare room? Or cleared away extra mess in the garage? Why not start using the newfound space as a project room. Here are some suggestions on how to use your free spaces.

  • Workshop: Do you have a passionate DIY spirit? Always wanted to try your hand at woodwork or jewelry making? Treat yourself by purchasing the supplies you need and start using the space for something creative and proactive. You’ll love unleashing a new side to yourself.
  • Arts and crafts: If you enjoy scrapbooking or making creations from scratch, start an art studio or craft room. It could be for painting, design, sewing, or calligraphy. Whatever your passion is put it into action!
  • Reading room: Want to catch up on your latest read? Create a snug library complete with comfortable chairs, how do I keep my home organizedbeautiful bookshelves, and lamps with a powerful light.
  • Photography space: Whether it’s a dark room or a studio, it’s time to indulge your love of photography right in the comfort of your own home.
  • Mini-cinema: Today home studios are inexpensive and readily available. All you need is a good projector, screen, and plenty of comfortable chairs and cushions. Don’t forget the popcorn!
  • Home gym: Want to get in shape in the comfort of your own home? Invest in gym equipment to inspire you to be the best version of yourself.

Stay Vigilant

One of the most difficult parts of organizing the home is adjusting to the new lifestyle in the following months. It’s easy to slip into old unorganized habits. Life is busy and it can be hectic at times so it’s important to make organizing second nature to everyone in the household.

If you feel like your home is starting to fall apart again, call a house meeting. Talk to the other people sharing the space and potentially delegate house responsibilities. It’s everyone’s home and space and every member should be proud to keep it clean and organized.

And, if you need some extra support, we are here to help! Once your system of organization has been established we can provide you with maintenance and on-going support so you can focus on your core passions and spend time with your loved ones. Schedule regular sessions at intervals of your choosing to keep your home or office running smoothly and efficiently. Contact us here.

home organizing: where do I start

Home Organizing: Where Do I Start?

in

Tackling home organizing on your own can be a daunting project. Let us help you discover where to start!

Break it down

Organizing the entire household can be a lengthy and stressful process. Don’t pressure yourself to do it all at once. home organizing: where do I start?Tackle it room by room and break it down over a period of a few weeks. Set yourself a time period and a task and then focus on getting that small project complete. Otherwise, it will be easy to get distracted and overwhelmed by all the things on your to-do list!

Organizing when you have a family

If you don’t live alone, home organizing can be even more complicated. Most likely, the other household members won’t be around for the entire clean up. So before you start, make different sections for each family member. This is where you’ll place anything of theirs which they may want to get rid of. Next time you see them, make sure they go through their piles and immediately dispose of anything they don’t need. This will make the whole process a lot easier!

Stock up on supplies

Purchase plenty of garbage bags and spare boxes to put in items that are getting thrown away or taken to charity or goodwill. Make sure to get extra cleaning supplies, such as paper towel, multi-purpose spray, rags, and air freshener. Keep in mind that you should also call your local council to schedule a hard trash collection ahead of time. By preparing all this early you can dig into cleaning and get everything organized efficiently.

Tackling that first room

Now that you’ve stocked up on supplies and planned a schedule, it’s time to start cleaning. Which room should you tackle first? This may seem counter-intuitive, but the best place to begin is the storage areas. This includes spare rooms, closet spaces, the garage, attic, and wherever else you store miscellaneous things. The reason why this is the best place to start organizing is that you first need to create space to store any important objects. Most likely the things that will be thrown away will be items that have been gathering dust in storage. Set aside plenty of time to clean and organize any full storage spaces.

Next up: The shared rooms

After making space in storage areas, start working on shared rooms. This would include the kitchen, living area, dining room, and communal bathrooms. Try and get the other members of the household involved in the project too. This is especially important if you have young children, as they will enjoy learning how to clean and have a sense of pride that they have been involved.

By de-cluttering space and giving each item a specific home, it will be easier to keep everything organized all year round. Make sure you let family or housemates know where each spot is. Better yet, make labels for different sections. After you’ve finished the communal areas, it’s time for the private ones.

And remember, we are here to help you along the way if you need a little extra support. Organizing your home is always easier with expertise, support and coaching from an organizing professional.  With our Lead Organizer on site, any space is redeemable! We provide space planning and efficient storage ideas and solutions for easy access and retrieval.  We’ll help you sort, pare down and liberate yourself from what you don’t need, creating strategies and a system of home organization specifically tailored for you. We even assist you with space planning and re-design.

Spring Organizing Tips

Greet The Season With These Spring Organizing Tips

in

All the best ways to greet spring with a decluttered home. Here are some Spring organizing tips!

Spring is finally here! Organizing your home is a great way to freshen up your living space to prepare for the beautiful weather ahead. Continue reading to discover some great Spring organizing tips for organizing your wardrobe, drawers, and communal spaces!

As the weather improves and flowers start to bloom it’s time to kick- start spring-cleaning. If you’re new to spring-cleaning or just want to change up your technique, check out our tips to revolutionize your clean this year! Continue reading to discover how to save space, time, and energy this spring.

Spring Organizing Tip 1: Say Goodbye To Winter!

Winter clothing usually takes up the most amount of space in dressers and closets. These items could anything from winter hats, scarves, jackets, thermals, socks, and boots. With the coming of spring, you can expect warmer weather so why keep all those bulky winter items in your valuable closet space?

Get all the winter goods that you don’t need for months ahead and place them in storage containers. You can keep these containers under the bed, attic, garage, or spare room. This will free up space and give you some room to start organizing! Keep in mind that this should be the first step in your spring-cleaning routine. It will make it a whole lot easier to start organizing and categorizing your space. There are still some chilly days ahead, so keep out any light spring gear to keep warm!

Spring Organizing Tip 2: Have a Garage Sale

Have you been obsessing over Marie Kondo’s brand new Netflix series? Well, its time to stop watching and start doing. It’s important to reduce the clutter of your home and only keep items that are important, useful, or make you happy. Spring-cleaning is the perfect opportunity to clear out junk, make some extra cash, and start off with a clean slate.

Organize a garage sale with your neighbors or take your things to local weekend markets. When spring rolls around you’ll be so glad that you cleared out so much space! By decluttering your home before you start to organize, you’ll make the job much easier on yourself.

Spring Organizing Tip 3: New Storage Units

Are you struggling to organize all your things? Do you feel like you never have space? Then it’s time to asses your current storage options and update your furniture. Many furniture stores offer innovative storage solutions that can revolutionize the way you organize. From hanging shoe racks to stylish document folders, check out what options there are that can help you to organize and style your home appropriately. Make sure you take advantage of vertical space and label every different section in your wardrobe. By giving a clear space for every item in your home you will

Spring Cleaning Tip - Have fun

Spring Cleaning Tip – Have fun

find it easier to keep organized all throughout the year.

Spring Organizing Tip 4: Make It Fun!

Re-organizing and clearing things out can get a little stressful. So reward yourself with making some interior decorating changes. You could create your own unique wall hanging or dye an old tablecloth a different color. Get into the DIY spirit and customize your home to suit your taste and personality. It will bring a distinctive edge and highlight all of your beautiful spring-cleaning efforts!

If you’re like us, you love checklists! You can download our Organizing Checklist here to help you along the way. And as always, if you need a little guidance or support, we’re just a call away. Happy Spring cleaning!

organized tax filing system

How To Stay Organized At Tax Time

in

Getting organized at tax time can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

It’s time to tackle that messy documents drawer under your desk and get organized for tax time. The biggest secret to getting prepared for the busy tax period is to keep your documentation organized all year round. Follow these great tips to make tax time a lot less stressful!

How to stay organized at tax time: Create A Filing System

Half the stress during tax time comes from trying to locate files. Start your financial year off fresh by setting up an organized tax filing systemorganized filing system. Here are just some of the ways to make your job easier come tax time:

  • Place your file system in a home office, or somewhere within easy reach of where you conduct business affairs.
  • Purchase an accordion folder to file tax-related documents.
  • Labels are your best friends! Label everything, from folders to documents. Make every document, folder, and file, clear and easy to sort through.
  • If you’re an independent contractor, consultant, or run a small business, most likely you itemize your tax deductions. If you don’t keep everything organized, filing deductions can be very stressful and time-consuming. To make it easier, create a filing system where every different type of document has its own folder and an attached description.

When the paperwork still starts to feel like it’s breeding overnight (it happens to the best of us), bringing in a professional can save both time and sanity. A reliable business accounting service can help review your records, flag anything missing, and make sure your documents are lined up properly before deadlines roll around. This is especially useful when it comes to Business Tax Returns, where accuracy matters and small oversights can turn into big headaches. With expert support, your neatly labeled folders actually get used the way they were intended—smoothly, efficiently, and without last-minute panic.

How to stay organized at tax time: Get Your Receipts In Order

Tracking down receipts can be a very stressful process. Many people end up tearing their hair out by the end of the tax period. There are a couple of things that you can do during the year to make it as seamless as possible.

  • Label receipts – this is an easy way to categorize your documents and make them easier to identify when filing your taxes. Write down the reason for the expense of your receipt when you make your purchase. This will make filing your taxes a breeze!
  • Go paperless – whether you run your own business or have a 9-5 job. Chances are you will need to file an How to stay organized at tax time save your receiptsassortment of different receipts. However, during the year many receipts get misplaced or the ink can fade and make the receipt illegible. Start uploading your receipts online! There’s a lot of great software where you can scan receipts and keep them in an online account. Many even allow you to take a photo and upload them right from the convenience of your phone. Having all your receipts in one place as a clearly legible scan is invaluable.

How to stay organized at tax time: Online Forms

If you often give to charity, it’s a good idea to start a spreadsheet of your tax-deductible donations. In the spreadsheet, you may include the amount of the donation, the date that you gave the money, and the charity you gifted it to. Make sure you also have further proof of your donation. This can include a bank record or official note from the charity organization providing the details of your donation.

Where To Store Your Documents

Many people file their documents in a random desk drawer in their office. Tax documents are important and sensitive items. Consider getting a secure filing cabinet to lock away important tax documents and identity files such as passports. You may also need to invest in a paper shredder. Keep in mind that bank documents, tax files, and other sensitive information should always be disposed of thoughtfully.

If you follow these simple steps during the year, you can get organized and save time and stress this tax season! And, if you need a little support in getting your paperwork organized, give us a call. Always happy to help!

decluttering procrastination

Top Reasons Why Procrastination is Clutter’s Best Friend!

in

“We’ll have to go through those boxes at some point.”

“We’ll sort the files in that cabinet at a later time.”

How many times have you heard phrases like that, perhaps even coming out of your own mouth? Procrastination can be quite an easy way out of doing some extra work. At first, it might start off rather innocently. Maybe you are really tired or busy on that particular day, and you genuinely want to plan to do some decluttering as soon as you can. However, procrastination always leads to one thing: more procrastination!

Keep reading to learn more about how procrastination might be contributing to the clutter in your life, and how to stop adopting such a negative habit, which affects many of us.

Plan ahead

Getting organized over time is probably the best, and easiest way to fight procrastination. If you schedule your how to declutter your homeactivities, there isn’t much leeway to procrastination, because theoretically, it’s all in your calendar! Make time to do whatever you need to do, so you can easily manage your effort and work.

Self-Discipline

Giving in to procrastination is a little bit like staring at a candy bar. You know you want it, and it would be easy for you to reach for it, even though you know it’s not good for you and you probably should eat something healthier.

The only way to get out of this situation is self-control. If you are disciplined about the way you manage your activities, you will be able to come up with a better, more upfront lifestyle, which also includes decluttering!

Remove distractions

Distractions are the gateway to procrastination, and the problem with our lifestyle is that we are literally surrounded  by countless distractions each day. In this modern day of smartphones and the internet at your fingertips, getting distracted is easy. It’s up to you to stay focused and remember that every time you get stuck focusing on a distraction, it’s time you’re taking away from your valued personal life, development, and growth.

Don’t let distractions get in the way of a clutter-free life. Take the time to understand the process and learn how you can easily turn your life around in many ways, if you just avoid giving in to procrastination and distractions of various kinds.

the stress of bringing clutter into your life

3 Ways You Might be Bringing Clutter Into Your Life

in

One of the most common things you’ll hear about people struggling with clutter at home and in their life is that they can’t find a way to manage. It’s hard to manage a mess if you don’t understand the root issues that are actually causing it. In this article, we will talk about 3 main behaviors that often lead people to accumulate too much clutter. Keep reading to learn more!

You are emotional about certain items

This is a tough one. Nobody can tell you to throw something away, and if you feel attached to an item on an Are you bringing clutter into your life? emotional level, it is really only up to you to determine what to do with it. It’s important to take a hard look at yourself and search your feelings. What does that item really mean to you? Is it the item that’s worth keeping, or the memory that will forever be etched in your heart and in your mind?

You think that certain items might be useful down the line

Are you the kind of person with drawers filled with mixed batteries, random knick-knacks, ketchup sachets from the diner and hotel slippers from your last vacation 2 years ago? I am looking at you! So many people amass so much clutter through the years, due to their inability to get rid of things that they think they might need further down the line. The irony is that if they do end up needing these things, there are high chances that they might forget they have them in the first place and buy them new anyway!

Guilt

If you really think about it, a lot of it comes down to guilt. Even the first 2 pointers in this article are related to guilt. the stress of bringing clutter into your lifeIn a sense, people might feel guilty about throwing away stuff that once has meant something to them, or even things that they might think they’ll need some day.

“Oh, it’s such a waste!” How many times did you stop to think something like that while you were considering throwing something out? It’s important to understand the process of guilt and try to overcome it. Instead of letting guilt dictate your actions, take a step back and think about it with an open mindset. Being more honest with yourself is a great way to start your clutter-free journey!

The Importance of Saying No

in

Do you feel like your life at home is an absolute mess? Are you constantly overwhelmed and feel like you never have time to clear the clutter? You are not alone. There are many people out there who, just like you, struggle with keeping things tidy.

Due to tight work schedules, tending to your family and other commitments, it might be hard or even impossible to learn to say notake some time aside and work on decluttering your home.

After working, caring for others and other daily tasks, the last thing you might want to do is to sort through your things and start doing more work. It’s only natural, and you deserve a break!

The truth is, sometimes our plates are way too full, and we could simply avoid a lot of issues by learning how to say “no” respectfully. Stop for a moment and think about it. How many of your daily commitments could easily be avoided if you just had said no to begin with?

The problem is that saying “no” is not always easy, especially when friends ask you for favors or your community wants you to be a part of something.

Say, for example, that somebody asks you to volunteer to coach a soccer team for the neighbor’s kids. It’s a flattering honor to be considered, and you could do some good in the community, as well as improve your networks and social ties. However, it’s important to ask yourself one thing: can you really dedicate so much time to something else in your life?

Saying “no” might seem awkward at first, but it can relieve a lot of stress from you, especially if you have too much to declutter your life todaydo every day already.

You can be respectful when saying no, showcasing respect and appreciation while declining. Always answer timely and don’t put off saying no, giving people the impression that you might say yes later! The best way is to be firm about your decision, yet polite. You do not have to do everything asked of you, but you can also straight out tell people why you’re going to say “no.” You have simply too much on your hands and need some personal time for other endeavors. Who could possibly argue with that?

Living a busy life can lead to a lot of fulfillment, but lack of balance can bring about so much stress. “No” might just be your safe word out of it!

Star Metro Land Media – Tips to Declutter your Workspace

in , ,

February 2019 – For many a post-secondary student, the start of the new year will bring with it a renewed sense of scholastic productivity. Yet if it’s a messy workspace that’s holding them back from academic success, a thorough de-cluttering might be the resolution to prioritize.
Read more…