Organizing with Kids Archives - Page 3 of 5

Exactly How Does Clutter Accumulate?

September 6, 2016/in Downsizing, Estate Organizing, Garage Organizing, Home Office, Home Organizing, Move Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

Clutter means different things to different people. Many of us can work in and actually thrive in, what others would consider a cluttered state. Others have to be in or work in a minimalist state. Whatever environment works for you, at some point we find ourselves with too much clutter around us. How does that happen?

Life happens

You are all so busy these days with raising a family, working (maybe even more than one job) or just not aware or caring what is accumulating around you. Some of you are able to see it as it happens and act on it and some just realize one day that you’re finding it hard to find things and spending more time looking for things or cleaning up than actually getting tasks completed.

Your energy is gone

With a busy life comes reduced energy levels and who wants to clean or organize after a busy week or weekend? You need to be in the mood and have a high level of energy to start the process.

Starting without the ability to see it through will only defeat you and prevent you from going at it again.

Life has thrown you a curve

A critical illness or the loss of a loved one can leave you spinning out of control and put you out of commission for a very long time. You rarely go out and don’t have the energy to do anything at all. Depression can cause you to remove yourself from the rest of the world giving you the same results.

I know a lot of you tend to hang on to certain items thinking you’ll make use of them again whether it’s a broken appliance or maybe even some clothes that you think you’ll fit into again. Lean on your family and friends during these times for help and support.

But it was on sale!

What better way to feel good about something you bought then to know how much you saved? Want to save even more?

Don’t buy it at all unless you really need it and when you do make the purchase remember my rule on clothing – one in equals one out. If you find it hard to resist a good buy try to limit your trips to the mall or the big box stores.

Hoarding tendencies

Maybe you were raised in a household that always had clutter and you don’t know any other way. This cycle can be broken so you can enjoy more free time.

No matter how clutter appeared in your life or what your level of tolerance for clutter is, we can help.

ClutterBGone has helped many clients with all different levels of clutter and disorganization in their lives. If you need help, we’re here to give you a hand and see it through. Contact us here.

6 Key Back To School Organizing Tips

August 16, 2016/in Downsizing, Garage Organizing, Home Office, Home Organizing, Move Organizing, Moving Seniors, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

Where did the summer go? I know summer doesn’t officially end until late September but for a lot of you summer ends when the kids go back to school so I trust you’ll enjoy the last few weeks you have left!

Take these last few weeks to get your children organized and ready for school with these back to school organizing tips.

Train for bed times now

The young ones have been having a blast all summer long with extended bed times, sleeping in and irregular meal times. Now is the time to start getting them back into the habit of bed times and getting up earlier. You don’t want the chaos of sleeping in on the first day. Slowly start to get them to bed earlier in the coming weeks to prepare them for the first day of school.

Set up a central station

Assign an area in the home where everyone knows where he or she can get more supplies for school.

Keep a charger there as well for cell phones, tablets and laptops. No more “Hey mom, where is …” Notes can also be posted there for all to see. Make sure they check this area each morning if you are off to work before they leave for school.

Get the homework area ready now

Set up a homework area in the home and get it stocked with the usual supplies – pens, paper, chargers – that they are going to need to complete their homework. This area shouldn’t be in their bedroom. There are too many distractions that will take away from completing their assignments.

Go thru the clothes now

Perhaps the biggest challenge for any parent at this time of year is going through your child’s clothes to determine what still fits and what needs to go. How much taller has your child grown over the summer?

I used to love going shopping for back to school clothes with my mom. We would come home and go through all my clothes to determine what could be donated or handed down before the new clothes were put away.

Ensure emergency numbers are handy

Kids are getting phones at a much earlier age now and there are arguments for and against but if your child is old enough and responsible enough to have a phone, make sure you have stored the emergency phone numbers in their phone. These should include your home number, cell number and work numbers as well as an alternate family member. Store them in the favourites so one touch of the screen can get them assistance if required.

“Tween” kit

There are times when I’m glad I didn’t have to raise girls. Their needs are much different than boys, especially during the “tween” phase. Help them during this time by preparing a kit containing must have items. Lip balm, deodorant, minimal make up, feminine products and maybe even a small amount of cash are some of the items these girls may need throughout the day. Pack it all in a small bag that they can carry in their backpack or purse.

Going back to school can be a chaotic time in the household. Follow these tips to keep chaos at bay. At ClutterBGone we have helped a lot of families get organized for back to school. Contact us here to see how we can assist you.

Closet Organizers – What You Need To Do Before You Purchase

August 9, 2016/in Downsizing, Estate Organizing, Home Organizing, Move Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

One of the favourite places to start an organizing project is the master bedroom closet. You go in and out of it a few times a day for clothes, shoes, bags and a lot more that you store in there. Many of my clients ask me about installing closet organizers and what I would suggest. There are many different types and styles for many different styles and budgets. Regardless of which style you decide on there are procedures to follow as you start your organizing project.

A picture is worth a thousand words

I like to take a picture of every project I start and then a picture when I finish so I can see the difference. Sometimes it’s difficult to see what you’ve accomplished without having the starting point to refer to. So before everything comes out and the closet organizer goes in, take a picture.

S-P-A-C-E

As you follow my blog you know this acronym of SPACE.

S = Sort everything into piles. These piles can be determined by you such as your bags, pants, scarves, etc.

P = Pare down what is no longer wanted or needed. Here is where you need to be tough on yourself. Do you need that many bags? Will you really want that item when you lose the weight? Keep only what you love and that you feel great in or about. A lot of these items would be welcomed by your local charity or gently used clothing shop.

A = Assign a home for what is left. Everything goes back putting like with like. Keep the colors together too.

C = Containerize what you can using clear plastic containers or decorative bins so it’s easy to see or know what ‘s inside. Labelling is key in this regard. If hanging space is at a minimum, scarves or belts can fit into containers quite easily and some of my clients use clear shoe box size containers to hold each pair of shoes. Shoes stay clean, the containers stack well and you can easily pick out the shoes you need.

E = Evaluate every so often to ensure the system you implemented is working for you and that you’re not accumulating more. Remember the one in, one out rule.

Closet Organizing Systems – do this first!

If you’re putting a closet organizing system in yourself, make sure you have your closet measurements when selecting your closet organizing system. You’ll need the height, length and width and remember to take into account the baseboards and any crown mouldings. You don’t want to have to take a second trip to the store, or worse, be stuck with system pieces that won’t work for you.

Before purchasing any custom or do-it-yourself closet organizer ensure you first pare down and see the complete volume of each category of clothing and accessories you need to include in your closet. Otherwise the system you decide to implement may not be sufficient to functionally and efficiently hold all your items. You may need more shelves and drawers and less hanging room, or vice versa.

Maximize and take advantage of height and ensure you have at least 2 closet rods to double your hanging opportunity and maximize the space. Don’t forget to allocate hanging space for longer items. Spend the extra few dollars and purchase all new hangers. You don’t want a new closet organizing system installed with a ragged collection of various sized and coloured hangers.

Research the various closet organizing products and systems on the market before you purchase. There are several price points available and all can be very functional for you. You don’t have to spend thousands to be organized.

If you are thinking of installing a closet organizer or having one installed soon, follow these tips to assist you to maximize your space. If you need help with getting your closets de-cluttered and efficiently organized, we at ClutterBGone have helped a lot of clients do just that. Whether you do yourself or not we would love to see your before and after pictures.

The Process of Organizing – 5 Easy Steps To Follow

June 14, 2016/in Downsizing, Home Office, Home Organizing, Move Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

In any business, organizing is a process of establishing work required, the flow of work and grouping of activities related to that work. It really isn’t that different when you apply this to your home or small office.

In the professional organizing industry we like to use the acronym SPACE – Sort, Purge, Assign, Containerize and Evaluate. These 5 basic principles will guide you through the organizing process and allow you to organize pretty much anything.

Sort: This is where you evaluate your items that you wish to organize and sort them into broad categories, placing like items with like items. You can then further sort your broad categories into smaller ones.

For instance, if you’re sorting clothing, begin with placing all your long, short and sleeveless tops in one pile then further refine it into 3 separate piles: one for sleeveless, one for short sleeve, and one for long sleeve. This will help you clearly see how much you have of each type of item.

I recently sorted my husband’s tee shirts in this exact same way. He was surprised at just how many tee shirts he had and was able to purge which included quite a few shirts he just doesn’t wear any longer.

Purge: Purge can sound like a lot of things to a lot of people and can be scary to some, but think of it as the stage where you decide what will stay and what will go. It does not have to mean these are the items you are throwing out in the garbage. We want to keep as much out of the landfill as possible. Make separate piles for items you are going to donate (it can be a charity or to family); put away (those items that belong in another room or space); sell (via an on-line sale site, garage sale, second-hand store, etc.) or throw away (items for garbage or recycle). Don’t be too sentimental with items. After all, you are going through this process for a reason.

Assign : This is where you determine the best place to store items based on how you function on a daily basis. Ask yourself these questions: Where is this supposed to be stored? Where is the most convenient place for me to keep this where it is most often used or needed? Give some thought as to how you work, what your reach limitations are, etc. Don’t put items away that you need often and have to get the step ladder out for.

Containerize: Once you have completed the previous steps, you can shop your own home or office for the appropriate sized containers, or go out shopping for the containers you need to adequately store the items you have. Remember to store items in containers using the smallest possible container that will house all of the items in a particular category.

Try to always use clear totes to easily identify what is inside and always label containers. Choose decorative bins and baskets if you wish that will fit in with your décor if these are to be left out.

Evaluate: Now that you have completed the first four steps of the process you need to conduct regular on-going evaluations to maintain the organization that you have now implemented in your space.

These processes will give you a good start on your next project in getting organized so you can calm the chaos. Get your project started and let me know how you’re making out. I would love to hear from you.

10 Hidden Spots To Find Extra Storage

June 7, 2016/in Downsizing, Home Office, Home Organizing, Move Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

The truth about storage is that you can never have enough. As an organizational specialist, I am constantly thinking about new and creative ways to bring more storage to your home or office. It doesn’t matter whether your space is small or large.

Even in a larger home you’ll find you seem to grow into your home, perhaps buying more than you need simply because you think you have more space. As a result, we are always thinking of new ways to store it, stack it or stow it away.

When considering storage options, keep your lifestyle in mind and you can develop rooms that are both sensible and cozy. Here are my ten hidden spots to find extra storage in your home:

Wall partitions with built-in storage compartments

Sometimes you need a divide and conquer approach to cater your space to specific tasks and that suit the many needs of your family. Wall partitions are great because they not only serve to separate zones in your living space but can also be aesthetically pleasing, functional and an efficient method to store anything from books to games, decorative items, and photos.

Give yourself permission to not fill every nook and cranny. Keeping spaces open and clutter-free is the key to making this work.

Vintage suitcases

Vintage leather or wicker suitcases can be stacked to serve as an end table or coffee table and also provide hidden storage for your video or CD collection, photos or files.

It’s a great, inexpensive way to achieve that extra storage space and create an interesting design element as well.

Headboards with storage shelves

The idea here is to have pieces that are multifunctional. Especially if you’re challenged with storage.

End tables or coffee tables with shelving underneath

These are great for storage of family board games or cards, videos and even those remote controls that we all seem to have a lot of.

Stylish containers with lids can be stored in the shelving and can upgrade your room’s style and serve to hide items like toys and DVD’s. More décor appealing items such as books and throws can be kept in open bins to be more visible. Choosing containers with a single, beautiful material can cut down on visual clutter.

Empty luggage

Empty luggage can serve as storage for off-season clothing if your closets cannot accommodate all of your belongings. Why have empty suitcases lying around if you could fill them with your off-season items? Simply fold your off-season clothing neatly, place in the suitcase and store either under your bed, under a staircase, in the bedroom or any other space in which they will fit.

Storage ottomans

These are a big favourite of mine for quick and easy storage.

Not only with tops that open, but the ones with lids that flip upside down for multi-functional use as a tray/side table. Once again, think multi-functional, especially if you’re in a tight space.

Baskets

They come in every conceivable shape and size and can be utilized next to a chair, under a bench or stool, inside a closet and even attached to a wall. They can hold everything from photos, extra paper, toys and even towels. Use them in bathrooms to store extra toilet tissue if there are no cabinets, or attach them to the wall easily with a couple of screws and they can house bath products, tissue, towels and more!

Benches

Benches that open are another great secret storage space. With a safety latch, your kids may even think this is a great hiding place! Use one in your front entry, placing baskets inside and store hats, mitts, scarves and even your pet items for easy access when you go out the door.

Trunks

Steamer trunks can serve as both a coffee table, an extra place for linen storage or serve as a great costume/tickle trunk for dress up. Make sure you have a safety latch on these trunks as the lids can be quite heavy for small children.

Architectural columns

Hollow architectural columns are a great idea if you are doing some renovating and are looking for a creative way to add extra storage. Make them hollow and you can add shelves or a door on either side.

If you paint them the same colour as the walls they will not stand out as much and actually blend into the walls.

Stretch the storage and function of your spaces. Because small spaces can quickly turn into over-stuffed messes, organizing your space with creative solutions can go a long way to conquering the clutter.

If you are looking to simplify your home, find secret storage spaces and get rid of clutter, these ten tips for finding new spots to store everyday items will help you get organized so you have more time to relax, enjoy every day and then spend more time on the things that matter the most to you.

ADHD & Clutter – A Recipe For Chaos?

April 19, 2016/in Downsizing, Garage Organizing, Home Office, Home Organizing, Move Organizing, Organizing with Kids, Uncategorized /by Doug Ward

ADHD, also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a psychiatric disorder causing attention control, which can cause attention deficits. Many adults with ADHD have cluttered homes and work spaces.

Some of you are able to function quite well in these surroundings and surprisingly can find anything you need quite quickly in a state that we would consider to be extremely cluttered. For those that cannot, here’s how to prevent clutter from overwhelming you.

Plan it

Whether you use sticky notes or hang a calendar in your room or use a day timer type of book, these physical reminders can control everyday chores from getting out of control.

If Thursday is garbage day, write it in the calendar. If you have bills that need to be paid write them in your book as soon as they come into the house.

Break it down

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD you may get overwhelmed with the number of things that need to get done. For most of us we can juggle our daily list of things to do and make changes on the fly but other things can easily distract those of you challenged with ADHD and before you know it you have a clutter everywhere.

The key is to break things down into smaller manageable tasks and stay with it until it is complete. Larger tasks should be broken down into smaller portions that you know you can complete within the expected timeline. If something comes to mind while you are working on a different chore, write it down and come back to it later.

Shopping trips

Shopping can be very tricky unless you’re prepared. Compulsivity is a symptom of ADHD so items are easily forgotten and items that are not required are purchased. This results in unnecessary expenses for the items you didn’t need and a return trip to the store for the items you forgot.

Make a list and stick with it, no matter what. If cost is a factor use your calculator on your phone as you shop so you stick to your budget. I would suggest that you stay away from the bulk, membership type stores to reduce the temptation of purchasing more than you actually need.

The office desk

Whether at home or at work ADHD typically leads to a very cluttered desk. A lot of time is wasted in looking for things or moving things from one place to another. Find an organizing system that works for you. Initiate the practice of everything going into your “In” basket and once it’s taken from there you’re committed to finishing whatever it requires to complete it, right down to filing it away. Color coded files work for some and bins work for others. They key is to find the system that works for you.

Take a break and clear your mind

The most important thing is to recognize when you begin to feel overwhelmed. At this point it is OK to step away, process and relax. Don’t forget that your mind can also get cluttered so step away, take a few deep breaths and let it go.

If you live with someone who has ADHD or are challenged with it yourself, you may be living in a state of controlled clutter. The clutter can make your life feel like it is constantly out of control.

You may be able to function quite well with clutter all around you but many others cannot. Perhaps the significant others in your life are feeling overwhelmed with the clutter or you are feeling challenged with it yourself. If you are in the camp of those that can’t function well with the clutter and would like to get it under control, we would love to help. Give me a call or contact me here to learn more about how we can help.

How Do I Help My Child Organize Their Room

April 5, 2016/in Home Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

As a child you’ve probably been scolded and sent to your room to clean it many times. A very familiar sound in my house was my mother yelling “get this room cleaned up”.

Now that I’m older and wiser and have gone through it with my kids, I now know she was trying to get me to organize my room, not just clean it up. It wasn’t really dirty, just a whole lot of everything strewn around the room.

If like most parents you are tired of messy, cluttered bedrooms then here are some ideas to help your children to organize their room.

Get them involved

If you want your kids to learn how to be organized they need to be involved in the process. Don’t go in there on your own when they are at school or at a friend’s house. They will resent you taking control of their possessions and rightfully so. Let them make the decisions with your guidance and they will use this experience when they get older.

Use age and size appropriate systems

It’s tempting to put teen or adult sized furniture in a kids’ room with the thought that they will grow into them. However, kids can’t reach some of the shelves on adult sized furniture so there is a lot of wasted space and items are bound to get left on the floor or jammed onto a lower shelf giving a disorganized look.

In the closet try bringing the rod down so they can reach that too or better yet put a dresser inside the closet or use a hanging closet system for the child to keep their clothes in. Hangers too should be child size to make it easier for them to use until they graduate to adult size.

Bottom to top

As adults, we tend to store things from top to bottom. Let’s face it, as we get older we may find it harder to stoop down. For kids it’s the opposite. Store from bottom to top with the items they frequently use on the bottom so they aren’t struggling to get things or put them away.

S-P-A-C-E

Use the same Space principle that you would use with your own organizing project – Sort, Purge, Assign, Containerize and Evaluate. Sort everything into piles of similar items. Purge the items your child doesn’t need any longer. Pay particular attention to toys and clothes that they have outgrown. Assign a home for everything that is staying. At this point your child can see the progress you both have made so far and can see that everything is easily retrievable.

Containerize the smaller items to keep them together and to make it easier to find and store. Label the container so you both know where everything goes at a glance. Lastly, evaluate the system after a few weeks or so to ensure that everything is working as planned.

Allocate time for upkeep

Allocate 30 minutes or so every week or two or however often you think your child will need, for a quick tune up for anything that is out of place or starting to stray from the plan.

If your child is the owner of a disorganized room chances are they have never been taught how and why to keep their belongings organized. A little patience in teaching them will last them a lifetime and assist in success in school and their careers.

If you would like to learn how we can assist in organizing your child’s room, we have plenty of experience in just that. Contact us here for a chat.

It’s “Clean Out Your Closet Week”

March 8, 2016/in Downsizing, Home Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

The second week of March is “Clean Out Your Closet Week” and what better time to do so when the temperatures are on the rise and spring is just around the corner. Time to switch things up in the closet and get ready for the warmer months ahead.

Here are a few questions to ask your self about your clothing as you pare down and change over.

Does it fit?

I mean does it really fit? Don’t keep something just in case you lose those few pounds that you’ve been planning on doing for a while unless you are actively engaged in an exercise program with clear goals and objectives.

Don’t forget that a fashionable piece of clothing can look terrible on somebody if the fit is poor.

Will you ever wear it again?

Did you buy that special outfit for New Years Eve and know you won’t have a use for it again? We all do it.

We buy something for those special parties and wouldn’t be caught dead in it again at next year’s event. You’d be surprised just what you may be able to get for it at a consignment shop or one of those on line community groups or large scale consignment events. Why not get a little cash if you can?

Is it looking worn or ragged?

Take a real hard look at it. If you really are going to wear or use it again and it can be fixed for a reasonable fee than set it aside and get it in for repair. Don’t put if off any longer or it will make its way to the back of the closet again for another year. Unless you’re going for that worn look that includes scuffed up shoes, ripped tops and thread bare jeans, get it fixed or toss it out. Not even donation centres want your clothing if it’s stained, damaged or badly worn.

When did you wear it last?

Does this item look like you’ve had it since high school? I know styles come and go but if you’ve had an item for over a year and haven’t used it then it’s time to find it a new home. Some styles are timeless and I know some of you have a few classic pieces in your closet. However, the vast majority of you don’t and you know it.

Do I know anyone that could use this?

If you’re in the giving mood I’m sure you know somebody that could use it. Perhaps a friend, a relative or a neighbour is close to your size and would love to make use of what you cannot use anymore.

Maybe you’ve lost a bit of weight or perhaps gained a bit over the last year. Once you come to grips with this is how you’re going to be it doesn’t mean the item can’t be used by someone else that would truly appreciate it.

What can I do with all the stuff I don’t need?

There are so many options of disposal when you have items you no longer need or want. Most charities would jump at the chance to take these items off your hands. I personally like to give to the not for profit charities so I know the value of the donations are maximized.

Every city and town has a couple of great consignment shops that will take your gently used items and share the proceeds with you. Most communities also now have groups on Facebook or check out varagesale.com where you can sell to people in your own area. There are lots of different opportunities to sell or donate items you no longer require.

Clean out your closet week has been timed to coincide with the changing of the seasons. Take this opportunity to clean out your closet, get a fresh start and stay organized. Help is just a phone call or email away. Contact me here to learn how we can help you get and stay organized.

5 Signs You May Be Chronically Disorganized And What You Can Do About It

February 4, 2016/in Downsizing, Garage Organizing, Home Organizing, Move Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

We are all a little disorganized in some aspects of our life but for some of you being disorganized affects your day-to-day living. Lets begin with defining what chronic disorganization is (also known as “challenging disorganization”).

Being chronically disorganized is defined as being disorganized for a long period of time during which you have not responded to attempts at self-help. It has a negative impact on the quality of your life and can also affect your relationship with others.

It’s normal to feel a little disorganized when certain life events happen, like a death in the family, when you move or even something as simple as having a house full of visitors over for an evening.

You may recover from these events quite quickly but if you are chronically disorganized these events just add to your current challenges. If you are chronically disorganized it’s important to remember that it is a condition, and not a flaw in your character.

There are many signs that point to being chronically disorganized. Lets look at 5 of them.

1. Unable To Find Things

I frequently have trouble finding things myself, especially when I’m in a rush. Sometimes another family member has put something away in a spot totally different to where I keep it. For me and most people, it only happens once in a while and does not impact my life.

If you are chronically disorganized you’re always looking for something that you need and often you’ve left it to the last minute so panic now sets in and chaos ensues. This can lead to missed appointments, being late in making payments (leading to late fees or a bad mark on the credit rating) and can even have an adverse effect on your health with higher blood pressure and anxiety.

2. Cluttered Living Area

A very visible sign of being chronically disorganized is the condition of your living area. If you have small children in your home I’ll bet you feel that your home is always disorganized with toys and baby accessories seemingly everywhere. Do you have a husband who maybe forgets to pick up after himself? No need to worry, we all go through this.

If you are chronically disorganized you live in a cluttered state that affects you to the point where you perhaps cannot find most things and may even have to clear things out of the way just to find a place to sit. In extreme cases this can lead to a safety issue with trip hazards on the floor or the room becoming a fire hazard.

3. Off Site Storage Is Required For Possessions

This happens more than you would think. We all love our possessions or “stuff” as George Carlin used to say, but you may acquire an over attachment to belongings for sentimental or other reasons. It may be that you find items that are too good to pass on, whether somebody is getting rid of something they feel has value or when shopping a sale is too good to pass. Your thinking may be “why spend more on an item later” when you can get it on sale now. What a deal, right? Before you know it you have more than you can keep track of and you forget where everything is so you buy more, and the cycle continues.

Typically a lot of these items will spoil or become contaminated thus turning into a health hazard. Of course there is the cost of outside storage to keep in mind, a cost that is probably really not needed.

4. Missed Deadlines

Whether at home or at work, if you are chronically disorganized you may frequently miss deadlines. At work this can of course affect your career path and in the worst cases can lead to dismissal.

At home missing deadlines can lead to late payments causing financial penalties. Failure to get your financial information to your bank on time can lead to not taking advantage of a low mortgage rate. Your children could be missing out on something fun at school because you failed to get a document back to school on time. Deadlines are important and missing them affects just more than you.

5. Work Evaluations Focus On Improving Organizational Skills

Has your boss ever “suggested” that you improve your organizational skills? If you are chronically disorganized, it is not likely to be just affecting your home. It’s part of your life such that you may be disorganized at work as well. Are you busy at work and juggling a few projects at the same time? Not being organized will have an impact on your reviews and thus your salary increases. In extreme cases jobs could be lost thereby losing your sole source of income.

These are just 5 signs of a chronically disorganized person. There are many more. Chronic disorganization is a condition that can be changed. It takes time, patience and an organizational system designed specifically for you, to learn what you need, what is cherished, to set caps on categories of items and to learn how to make the system work for you.

6 Things Professional Organizers Want You To Know

January 21, 2016/in Downsizing, Home Organizing, Organizing with Kids /by Doug Ward

I have been a Professional Organizer for several years I’m often asked a lot of different questions about organizing and down sizing. There are a few things that I seldom get asked that I think you should know.

The System

When you hire a professional organizer you are not only hiring somebody who will help you de-clutter and get organized but you are hiring a professional who will leave you with a system to maintain your new found space after they have left. It is up to you of course to keep things in check but we just don’t come in, do the work and leave you.

The Investment

Every client situation is unique and your investment in a project will reflect that.

A professional organizer is there to work with you and stay within a budget that works for you. You can be as hands on or as hands off as you want to be during the process enabling you to minimize the hours and get really involved. If your budget is really tight then start with an area that causes you the most concern and leave the rest to another time.

Removing the Items

A professional organizer has a large resource list of charities and re-sale stores in your area where you can dispose of, donate or consign your goods to. You may have your own favourite charities that you wish to make donations to or may have valuable pieces that can be sold to a re-sale store or place on consignment. We are not able to take anything out of your home ourselves but can certainly arrange for it on your behalf.

Storage Containers That Are Required

In many jobs there are storage containers or systems that are needed.

A few professional organizers carry an inventory of these so they are readily available to get the job completed as quickly as possible. These are normally offered to our clients at the same cost, or less, as at your local store. If there are special items or systems required you have the option to purchase these yourselves or have us do it on your behalf. There will normally be a fee for personal shopping but it will be much less than the hourly rate for working in your home.

Confidence In Who You Hire

Professional organizers in Canada will belong to the Professional Organizers of Canada (POC) association.

This group is a registered national association that represents professional organizers and provides the training to us all. Members of the POC are required to abide by its code of conduct. During your initial consultation ask if the organizer you speak to is a member of the POC and ask them where they received their training. Make sure any organizer that you hire is bonded and insured in case of any mishaps in the home. Lastly, ask for and check the references that are given to ensure that the person you hire is competent and experienced.

Be Comfortable In Who You Hire

Above all you need to feel comfortable with who you hire. Treat the initial telephone consultation as an interview where you are doing the interviewing. Ask as many questions as you want and get that comfortable feeling with the person that will be coming into your home or office.

ClutterBGone has serviced many clients throughout the GTA and is a member of the POC with all lead staff carrying business liability insurance. If you are looking to downsize, get organized or need help with clutter contact us here.