professional organizer

What Should I Expect from a Professional Organizer?

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If you are considering using a professional organizer for the first time, you likely are looking forward to cutting through the clutter at home. A lot of questions will go through your mind, too, including wondering what the process will look like.To help you understand what to expect from the process, we will provide insights into what it’s like to work with a ClutterBGone organizer.

It’s a Collaboration

Bringing in an expert organizer is different than hiring a cleaner. While the housekeeper would typically do the work, the organizing process is a collaborative one.

The professional organizer works with you to learn your lifestyle and habits so that they can help you develop a system that works for your family in your unique home. The best person for you will be someone who listens and understands your desires and needs.

professional organizing consult

Starting with a Consultation

By now, it’s clear that compatibility with the organizer is important. That is why ClutterBGone suggests an initial consultation to ensure you are comfortable with the process and that the organizer who visits you is a good fit.

During the novel coronavirus times, we limit how many people are in a space at one time, wear masks and ask you to do the same, and wash our hands regularly. Virtual consultations are also available if you are not comfortable with an in-person visit.

During this meeting, feel free to ask us any questions. As said before, being comfortable with our organizer is paramount, so getting to know one another through this meeting is an essential first step. We can help you to identify the top challenges in the home and determine where to start. If it is a good fit, then the organizing process starts.

About the Organizing Service

Exactly what the project involves will depend on your needs. While some people want our professionals to focus on decluttering a certain room or closet, others desire help with creating a new system of organization in their home or office. The costs will depend on the scope of the project and other factors.

The organizer will work with you to decide what to keep, as well as what to donate or sell if you have unwanted items. At ClutterBGone, we are supportive, not judgmental, and we want you to know that your feelings and possessions and feelings are safe with us.

We are also happy to provide maintenance services, whereby the same organizer returns to the home to provide support so you can focus on family, career, and more. Also, as lives change, different organizing systems or decluttering projects can become necessary, so our organizer is happy to work with you on a future project after the current one ends.

When It’s Time to Work with a Professional

If removing the clutter or organizing the home overwhelms you, then it is likely helpful to collaborate with a pro organizer. Otherwise, you risk getting emotionally distraught and not meeting your goals, whether they are personal or professional.

Furthermore, an experienced organizer can help make adjusting easier after a major life event, such as getting married or having a baby. Even if you have not experienced a big change, enlisting the help of an organizational specialist can lower your stress by removing clutter or making more efficient use of a room.

Teaming up with a professional organizer is an investment in both your home and family. You will also benefit from no longer having the burden of disorganization. Enjoy a lasting transformation of not only the physical space but also yourself. Contact us today to book a consultation.

spring cleaning tips

Your Spring Cleaning Checklist for 2020

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The Spring months are a great time for deep-cleaning the home. There’s a real satisfaction in knowing your home is free of dust and dirt, as well as clutter. While it might feel overwhelming to start the process, this Spring cleaning checklist helps simplify the steps while helping make sure you don’t forget anything.

Create a Schedule

The reality is that you won’t get every room done in one day, at least not if you want to do a thorough job. Thus, go room by room and assess what needs a clean that hasn’t been done lately.

Use a separate piece of paper for each room and list the tasks underneath, so you have one page for “Master Bedroom,” one for “Laundry Room,” and so forth. Also have a page for closets, the garage, and outside the home.

A few examples are dusting the ceiling fan in your bedroom, cleaning the fireplace, checking the dryer vent, donating old clothes in closets, and cleaning the gutters. Then, write down the supplies needed for each room, such as a broom, vacuum, boxes, and steam cleaner. Get any missing supplies ahead of time.

Then, plan out when you will tackle each room and make it a reasonable schedule given your busy career, family, and other responsibilities. For example, maybe you do an hour twice a week or a few hours on Saturdays.

spring cleaning checklist

Clean Up the Clutter

Next, assess what needs de-cluttering around the house. You’ve likely already gotten a sense of this when creating the schedule.

If your home environment is disorganized, it can make your mind feel the same way. Being around messes can also heighten feelings of anxiety and stress.

Plus, there might be many items around you that aren’t being used, and they could be useful to someone else. Thus, consider donating clothes, serving dishes, or anything else that is merely collecting dust.

Don’t Forget the Windows and Walls

You likely clean the floors regularly, but do you also wipe down walls? Most people forget about this part of the house, although it attracts dust and gets grimy, especially if you have kids or pets.

If you’re wondering what to use to clean walls, a simple solution of warm water and dish soap can remove stains. Use the same solution to clean plastic window blinds, if you have them.

As for the windows, remove the screens and wipe those down too. Washing the inside and outside of the windows with your favourite cleaner can help each room look its best.

Seeing Rooms with Fresh Eyes

While cleaning, you might even start to envision the rooms in a new way. Look at how you could better use the space, such as changing the position of the couch relative to the TV.

Also, are there ways to lighten up the room for Spring? If you have heavy quilts in the bedrooms, move to lightweight bedding. Other ideas are to swap out dark couch cushions for ones that are brighter colours and add fresh flowers in vases around the interior.

We hope the tips above make spring cleaning easier for you! Enjoy the home updates as the warmer weather comes and let us know if you could use the help of a professional organizer. Refresh your space and welcome the possibilities of Spring.

cost of hiring a professional organizer

Is the Cost of Hiring a Professional Organizer Worth It?

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If you’re tired of living in a cluttered home, bringing in a professional organizer is a worthwhile consideration. Anyone who hasn’t worked with this type of expert before likely wonders whether the cost of hiring a professional organizer is affordable and what to expect. We’re here to today to clarify the answers!

What to Expect Cost-Wise

Each project is different, which makes sense given that no two homes are the same and each household likely has their own goals for the project. While your neighbor might want to declutter a certain room, for example, your objective might be to organize the entire home.

To be able to provide exactly what the client expects of them, a professional organizer typically provides an initial consultation. This assessment can range from $75 to $250 and is necessary for the expert to understand the work expected of them. They learn the size of the project and the depth of it.

Based on the information collected, the organizer can provide an accurate quote. Factors that the organizer considers when creating the custom quote include specific client requests, the time it will take to clear space if clutter hinders the ability to move around the home, and the extent of client involvement.

The Value of Working with a Personal Organizer

Clutter can be overwhelming and trigger irritability. It hinders the living spaces that are supposed to be your sanctuary after a tough workday and a place to gather with loved ones.

Unfortunately, a lack of time and having trouble emotionally parting with items, as well as not knowing where to begin with clearing messes, are all challenges that can keep you from doing it yourself. Thankfully, professional organizers guide you through the process and, just as importantly, help you to achieve a sense of calmness and understanding. You are always part of the decision making.

Decluttering your home can be life-changing. A professional organizer can increase the efficiency of daily tasks as everything now has a designated place, as well as help reduce both anxiety and stress by eliminating chaos in the physical space.

This skilled individual provides more than just cleaning up messes. They also help you find the perfect spot to store items in your kitchen, home office, and other rooms, not to mention providing tips to stay organized in the future.

Perhaps most importantly, they offer a way to take back your home as an organized space that provides a peaceful environment. By the end of the project, you can expect to be proud of your home again.

cost of hiring a professional organizer

Creating a Tidy Home

If you don’t have time to tidy up, you’re not alone. Busy parents and long working hours can make it challenging to prevent clutter.

Whether you’re short on time or want the guidance of an expert who understands how to reallocate spaces and organize part of or an entire home effectively, our professional organizers are here to help you.

The value of working with a skilled organizer on your project is priceless for your quality of life. Contact us today to take the first step toward a clean, orderly home.

what does a professional organizer do

What Will a Professional Organizer Do For Me?

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When you walk into a well-organized space, the calmness that is instilled is both tangible and intangible. You feel physically calm because the clean surfaces provide an escape from the cluttered outside world. There is also a mental calmness and clarity that increases quality of life and brings joy and productivity. As a professional organizer, we help you achieve a tidy, well-organized home. More than that, however, we help you create spaces that serve you and help you create the life you are supposed to have. We do this by working with our clients to personalize their home to fit their needs.. Here are some things we do with our clients.

Give purpose to your space

Do you have a “catch-all” drawer or table at your home or in your office? Even worse, is your home office your “catch-all” for life’s overflow? We help our clients create systems of organization that will give every space a purpose. When there is a system in place to organize a space, it will be easy to maintain. When your physical space is easy to maintain, it makes life easier to maintain. The project you’ve been working on will be completed faster, your kid won’t avoid their chores so much, and you’ll finally finish that book you started last year. Giving purpose to your space will allow life to flow more seamlessly and without disruption.

professional organizing company

Stress relief from the outside in

Life is better when it is streamlined and simple. As a professional organizing company, there is nothing more rewarding than helping our clients find peace in their homes for the first time. We help them achieve a space that brings order and cleanliness to their lives and their minds. People that live in chronic anxiety and overwhelm are able to breathe and live in the moment when a professional organizer works with them on a space- whether that space is an office or home.

Help you live the life you want

When less time is spent organizing life, there is more time to enjoy life. If you’ve ever questioned why we do what we do, this is it. We take pride in helping our clients flourish and grow into the people they want to be and to live the life they’ve always wanted by clearing the clutter. We do our job to create a clear and tidy platform upon which our clients experience life.

A professional organizer will help you find organization in different spaces in your home or office. Throughout the process, however, the client reaps benefits that are often unexpected. Some people increase productivity in their new space, form new relationships, and sleep better at night. There is so much in life that clutter and disorganization stands in the way of. The true purpose behind the work of a professional organizer is allowing the client to experience life in a whole new, clearer, relaxed way. What can a professional organizer do for you? They can help you achieve the dreams, happiness, and life that you’ve always wanted for yourself. Call us to book your consultation – don’t wait any longer.

realtors

The Truth about Professional Organizing and Home Staging

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Professional organizing and home staging are two terms that are not interchangeable, so understanding what the difference between them is will help you choose the right service for you. Here’s how professional organizing and home staging differ.

professional home organizing

Professional Organizing

Professional Organizing services are for individuals or business owners wanting to have organization and ease brought to their lives. Professional organizers will assess organizing styles and preferences, guiding homeowners through the difficult decisions they will undoubtedly face. They have both the skill and proper training to provide clarity and guidance when needed. It can be difficult to part with something that may seem important, but you will be relieved when you do. Professional organizers are meticulous and hold the necessary expertise to sort out all the essential items you need to keep, as well as which ones you can get rid of.

Professional organizers do all of the physical labor, so you don’t have to. They will coordinate pick-ups with donation centers and junk removal services. They will also use the services of consignment shops, shredding companies, cleaning companies, auction houses, and charities. Homes are generally packed in just a few days, meaning you will not have to be surrounded by boxes for weeks on end. A home can look and function well within just a few days – leaving the individual(s) feeling more relaxed, calm and stress-free in their own space.

home staging services

Home Staging

Home Stagers are skilled in setting scenes within a home, so you get as much as you can when you sell your home. Home stagers are also usually interior decorators. This is a service you would use when you don’t have the patience to go through every item you own to figure out whether to get rid of it or keep it. Home staging de-personalizes a home, while highlighting its most impressive features. The home is made to appear brighter, warmer, and more inviting. As on a stage, home staging is all about creating the illusion of a home looking in a way it normally does not. It is meant to be done in order to sell a home.

For Our Realtors

At ClutterBGone, we work collaboratively with Home Stagers. We help home-owners wanting to sell, declutter and organize their space before staging – if staging is needed.

We partner with realtors to get their listings on the market quickly and add value to their client’s experience to ensure a smooth transition. Check out our Realtor Program here.

organizing using calendar

How to Organize Your Professional Life

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Our homes are not the only place where organization can be of value. As workers and professionals, we have deadlines, projects and work during the week. It is challenging to organize your professional life with so many priorities, meetings and commitments. It is a reality that if your professional life is disorganized, it might be suffering. We’d like to introduce you to various tools that can put the spark back in your professional work life. These are some useful tools that have helped us to stay organized both in personal and professional life.

 

Evernote

This program allows you to keep track of one to one notes and to keep ideas you want to research and pursue. The best part, is the ability to search the topics and the keywords in the notes. The search function in this application alone sets a standard of the organization tool. Another feature of importance is the ability to organize the notes and tag them with useful keywords for search reference.

 

ColorNote

We have enjoyed making to-do-lists to satisfy our tasks. With the use of smartphones on the increase, we use the ColorNote app to organize our notes and create perfect to-do-lists on the go. With the app, it is easy to set up alerts, and reminders for each task – otherwise we may forget.

organizing using calendar

Calendar

You may use Gmail or outlook for your calendar needs. Digital calendars are great ways to help you stay organized. The time blocking tool on the schedule is a valuable tool to perform specific tasks. Research has shown that your are more likely to complete a task when it has been scheduled on your calendar.

 

Unrol.me

If you’re like me, you have an enormous email inbox full of subscriptions. It’s super stressful to open up your computer each morning to find an overwhelming amount of emails to tend to – most of which are not important. Unrol.me scans your inbox to provide a list of all your subscriptions. From this list you can then decide which to unsubscribe from and which to keep.

 

LastPass

Gone are the days of needing to create and remember all your passwords. Who uses the same password for everything? To give yourself more password variation with added security consider using a password manager such as Lastpass. Now you can relax in the knowing that the app is remembering all your passwords.

professional life organizational apps

Exercise + Self Care

This may seem like an odd item to list – but exercise is a great way to clear your mind and get focused. Step away from your desk and go for a quick walk – grab a glass of water while you’re at it. Taking a few minutes away from the task can prepare you mentally and physically to come back more energized and overall more organized. You will be refreshed, renewed and ready to get on top of the to-do-lists.

 

In our professional lives we are painfully aware that time is of the essence. Unfortunately, we cannot add hours to our days but by implementing some tools and applications today, we can become more organized and save ourselves time tomorrow. Give us a call if you need some extra support or advice on how to stay more organized in your professional life!

 

do I need a professional organizer

Who Would Hire a Professional Organizer?

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When it comes to organizing your home or space, it can be hard and overwhelming for anyone to know where to begin. How do you make your space work for you and your family? Many every day stresses get in the way of making your home-organizing a priority, and so the overwhelm continues.

Professional Organizers do more than just organize your spaces and put items into labelled bins for you. They are trained specialists who help people create order where it is lacking in their lives. They can help you make long-term improvements and keep disorder at bay.

Here are just a few reasons why someone might hire a Professional Organizer, and some various ways in which they can help.

When Time Is Lacking

You know that a well-organized environment is important for your overall well-being, but you’re stretched much too thin. Whether it be with driving your kids to sports events or your work schedule – hiring a professional organizer might just be the solution for you. Maybe you commute to work and by the time you get home, there’s just little time to do the things that warrant your attention such as making dinner and helping the kids with their homework. You don’t want to be spending those few hours at home with your family organizing your home.

Work From Home Office

You work from a home office, putting in long hours and the last thing you want to do at the end of your day is organize your paperwork and files. Hiring a professional organizer can take a mound of stress off your shoulders and tackle the office organizing for you.

do I need a professional organizer?

You Don’t Know Where To Start

Decluttering and organizing is one of the most challenging and time-consuming things a homeowner has to do from time to time. If you feel you need to declutter and you have no idea where to begin, a quick consultation with a professional organizer may help a lot. The organizer will provide ideas and processes that will kick start your decluttering journey. And, of course they are also available to take on the task of decluttering and organizing for you all together if you find you just want to have someone else manage it for you.

New Baby On The Way

It goes unnoticed sometimes just how much time, effort and not to mention expense goes into planning for a new baby’s arrival. Oftentimes people over-spend on items they may never need, causing overwhelm and clutter in an area that requires peace and tranquility. A professional organizer can suggest items for the baby’s room, layouts that work and are functional and even help set up the room to ensure a peaceful transition for everyone involved, including the baby!

As we mentioned above, Professional Organizers do so much more than just put your items into categorized piles. We all lead very busy lives – we need to give ourselves a space that we can come home to and feel a little less stressed, and a whole lot more relaxed. We have professionals help us with so many other areas of our lives like our taxes, tutors for our kids, barbers… why not consider the help of a professional organizer to help you get your home organized. Contact ClutterBGone for a no-obligation, complimentary consultation.

How To Organize Your Car

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An organized car, like an organized office, makes spending time there a lot nicer.

We spend a lot of time in our cars. From driving to work in the morning in rush hour to shopping, visiting friends or family, running kids to events or even just for the pleasure of driving, there is hardly a day that goes by that you don’t get into your car.

For many people their car shows off their personality and tells the world a little bit about themselves. A fast sports car, a large family car, a working truck all say something about their drivers. How we look after our cars tells people something as well.

This connection between personal space and personal pride naturally extends to how a vehicle is cared for over time, as cleanliness and upkeep influence not only comfort but also how a car feels to drive and be seen in. Interior clutter, worn surfaces, and neglected exteriors can slowly diminish the experience, even in a vehicle that otherwise fits your lifestyle perfectly.

Restoring that sense of order and freshness often requires more than a quick wash, which is where professional auto detailing services become an essential part of maintaining both appearance and value.

With careful attention to interior surfaces, paintwork, and fine details, trusted specialists such as those associated with cdcautodetailing.com help transform everyday vehicles into spaces that feel intentional, comfortable, and reflective of the care their owners put into every aspect of their lives.

We never want to come across as disorganized. An organized car shows people that you are an organized person. Sometimes, though, we don’t have the time to pay enough attention to these things.

If you’re constantly losing and searching for items in your car, suffering constant breakdowns and embarrassed about anyone seeing the inside of your vehicle, it might be time to organize your car.

So, how do I organize my car?

An organized car is one that is clean, tidy, well-maintained and provisioned. It’s easy to do and is well worth the pay off.

To start with, completely empty out your car including the trunk. It’s best to start with a clean slate. To this we can add, rather than take away. It’s also a great chance to clean your car and find lost items. Grab a garbage bag and throw away any rubbish, hoover it out, and clean any surfaces and windows. The first time might take a while, but it will be quicker and easier the next time.

Organizing your documents is the most important thing to do. Insurance and registration should always be with you. But maintenance records, owner’s manual, and receipts are useful to carry around as well. I like to put mine in a folder with separate pockets. You can put this underneath the driver’s seat if your glove box isn’t big enough.

While keeping your car organized is important, ensuring it’s properly insured is just as essential for peace of mind on the road. A quick visit to Simply Quote can help you compare coverage options and choose the best plan suited to your needs, making it easier to feel secure no matter where you drive.

Just as an organized car saves time and reduces stress, the right insurance policy protects against the uncertainties that come with driving. By combining practical organization with responsible planning, you create a driving experience that’s not only efficient and safe but also worry-free, letting you focus on the journey rather than potential setbacks.

Keep a page with a note of the last time your car had an oil change, new tires or brakes, and an engine service among other things in the folder as well. This will focus your mind on getting those things done before something breaks down. A well maintained and organized car won’t let you down and will be cheaper to run in the long term.

Once your car is organized and you’ve taken steps to stay on top of maintenance records, the next thing to consider is finding a reliable auto repair shop that can help keep everything running smoothly. A clean and well-managed vehicle is only as dependable as the care it receives, and building a relationship with trusted mechanics ensures your car remains in peak condition for years to come.

Regular inspections, timely oil changes, and professional diagnostics go a long way toward preventing unexpected issues and expensive repairs. In this pursuit of reliability and precision, G&R Diesel stands out for its commitment to expert craftsmanship and transparent service, offering car owners the confidence that every repair and tune-up is handled with care.

Having a trusted team to turn to makes it easier to stay ahead of maintenance needs, ensuring your vehicle not only looks tidy but performs flawlessly on the road. An organized car paired with dependable service gives you the ultimate peace of mind every time you drive.

The trunk is a great place to keep bulkier items. If your car does breakdown, or you get stuck somewhere in bad weather, being well organized and prepared will make a world of difference. Besides the obligatory spare tire, keep a fully stocked first aid kit, blanket, bottled water, jumper cables and a fresh pair of socks. Trust me on the socks.

Finally, a roll of garbage bags, a pack of wipes and some emergency cash in your glove box will come in handy. You can hide the cash in an envelope if you are worried about it.

A car is a tool. The better we treat it, the more useful it will become. A car helps you get places. An organized car just makes the journey more enjoyable! Call us if you need some help!

Who Needs A Professional Organizer?

Who Needs A Professional Organizer?

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Do you want to tidy up your home but just don’t know where to start? Discover the slew of benefits of hiring a professional organizer. Continue reading to find out more!

It’s More Than Just Cleaning

Many people believe that a professional organizer is simply someone who’ll help arrange your home. However, an organizer is so much more than that. A trained organizer enables their clients to take control over their home and life. It could be anything from re-organizing an empty nest or moving out a deceased loved one’s possessions. Home is where the heart is and an organizer is the first step towards creating a space that is perfect for your lifestyle and needs.

Do I Need An Organizer?

This is a personal question that only you can truly answer. The best way to work out whether you need a professional organizer is to ask Who Needs A Professional Organizer? yourself the following questions. Do you feel overwhelmed with your possessions? Do you believe your space represents your personality? Is there anything you want to change in your home to make life easier? If you answered yes to any of these questions it’s time to consider whether a professional organizer could be the perfect fit for you.

Is An Organizer Just For Hoarders?

There’s a popular myth circulating that a professional organizer is only for people with hoarding tendencies. In fact, an organizer can assist with a diverse number of needs! For instance, if you feel your place is cluttered and you just can’t get on top of the mess, an organizer can be invaluable. At the end of the day, an organizer will help you only as much as you want to help yourself!

What Can A Professional Organizer Do For Me?

There are so many different things that a professional organizer can assist you with. Below, is a brief list of just some of the amazing work they can do.

 

An organizer can:

  • Arrange your space effectively. This can help you to enjoy your home and cut down your cleaning time.
  • Instill strong organization principles in the client: A professional organizer will help to improve your everyday life. Being organized is a lifestyle, not just a cleaning method!
  • Help you to downsize: Many people hire an organizer when they are downsizing to a new home. This could be for retirees, empty- nesters, or even just a family moving to a new area. Downsizing is difficult, but with an organizer on your side, they can make the process seamless and painless.
  • Take control: Many people feel totally overwhelmed by their homes, and can’t even enjoy the space they have.

 

At the end of the day, an organizer helps to empower and encourage their client to take control of their space and improve their quality of life. Let us help you with your professional organizing needs – We here at ClutterBGone specialize in ensuring your peace of mind.

cost of hiring a professional organizer

How Much Does A Professional Organizer Cost?

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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!