Why Hire Us?

After many years of unrealized New Year's resolutions and failed attempts to get organized on your own, you have finally decided to take the plunge and hire a professional organizer. And why shouldn't you? People hire personal trainers, life coaches, and image consultants to help them achieve their goals, so is there something wrong with you if you need professional help to get organized? Absolutely not.

Why do people need to get organized?

There are several reasons why individuals want to get organized:

People need simplicity. They are paralyzed by their environment and want to simplify their lives; this includes learning to manage their time and their belongings.
Traditional roles in the workplace and family have changed.
Ours is a fast-paced culture. With the growing telecommunications trends of e-mail, faxes, phone, and instant messaging, the world now operates at a faster pace. Individuals are finding a need to be more organized to keep up with this new environment.

How Do You Hire Us?

You know you will benefit greatly from getting the help you need, yet the process of finding the "right one" might seem confusing and overwhelming. Relax. Finding a professional organizer is no different than hiring any other service professional. You need to know what services you are looking for and hire the person you feel most comfortable working with. You need to ask the right questions to make sure that there is a good fit. The "right choice" for you will be a professional organizer who has the expertise, skill set, and personality that best suit you to help you achieve your goals.

What kind of professional organizing services are you looking for?

Some professional organizers offer a wide range of services, while others limit their practices to a specialized niche. Some organizers prefer to work with corporate rather than residential clients; some specialize in creating custom filing or closet systems; others may specialize in preparing for moves or organizing collections and memorabilia. There are even professional organizers who specialize in working with clients who are chronically disorganized or have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Once you determine the type of organizing services you are looking for, you are ready to begin your search.

Where do you begin your search to locate the best organizer to work with you?

You can Find An Organizer here, on the NAPO-NC Chapter web site.

Another great place to look for an organizer is the local Yellow Pages. The headings vary from city to city, but one of the more commonly used headings is "Organizing Products and Services." You can also utilize the Internet, where you will find hundreds of Web sites detailing the range of services each professional organizer provides.

How do you interview professional organizers and decide who is right?

You should speak to several professional organizers before choosing one to work with. This can easily be done by telephone or e-mail and will save both you and the organizer much time. If you prefer to meet the organizer in person before making a decision, some organizers offer free consultations, while others charge for them and credit that fee if they are hired. Others will charge one fee for a client assessment and another fee for service.

What questions should you be asking?

One of the first questions you should ask is whether the organizer is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Of course, NAPO membership does not guarantee the quality of the professional organizer's work, but it does demonstrate a commitment to continuing education and an industry code of ethics. Other professional associations directly related to the organizing industry include Professional Organizers of Canada (POC) and the National Study Group for Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD).

Other questions to ask are as follows: What services do you provide? What are your areas of specialization? How long have you been a professional organizer? What can I expect from you? How long is a typical work session? Who will I be working with? How do you charge for your services? Do you have a contract? Do you have references? Is the work of your company guaranteed?

You relationship with a professional organizer will be a very personal one. An experienced professional organizer will ask a lot of questions about you, your work style, what you are looking for, and the issues you believe have thwarted your best attempts to get organized in the past. They are not being nosy. They want to get to know you, understand your objectives, and determine whether there is a good fit between your personalities and philosophies. Don't be shy. It is in your best interest to be as open as you can and clear about the results you want to achieve.

What are the fees that you should expect to pay?

As with most professions, fees vary widely based on experience, geographic location, and competition. Many professional organizers charge by the hour, while others prefer value-based pricing and charge by the project. Some will give you a choice options. You will need to establish a budget in your own mind and decide what feels most comfortable to you. The most important thing to note is to avoid choosing a professional organizer strictly by price. Finding an organizer with a skill set that matches your needs and a personality you "click" with is what will provide you with the best value and deliver the results you expect in the shortest amount of time.

Based on a 2004 NAPO survey, fees range from $50 an hour to more than $125 an hour. This is based on geographic location, the type of organizing service(s), and the experience of the organizer.

Your decision is not irreversible. Professional organizers should be nonjudgmental, encouraging, and supportive. They should be good listeners and recommend a variety of suggestions, alternatives, and solutions to create the system that will work best for you. If you begin working with a professional organizer and decide that you are not comfortable with his or her particular methodology or style, you are rarely under obligation to continue the relationship after the initial visit. Be sure to let the organizer know how you feel, and more than likely, he or she will be happy to recommend a colleague who is better suited to work with you.

If you have been imagining a clutter-free home or office and a desk that you can actually see and use, don't put it off any longer! By following these simple steps, you can competently and confidently hire a professional organizer and get the help you need. You will be amazed how quickly your dreams of living and working in a functional and clutter-free environment will become your new reality.

How long does it take to get organized?

It depends on the type of services needed and the commitment level of the client. Most professional organizers provide consultations to assess what is needed to improve the individual homes and/or company systems.

What do organizers specialize in?

There are various organizing specialties: Computer Consulting, Closet Designing/Closet Organizing, Estate Organizing, Event Meeting & Planning, Filing Systems, Financial/Bookkeeping, Garages/Attics/Basements, Home Offices, Information Management, Kitchen Designing/Organizing, Moving/Relocations, Office Organizing, Procedures and Policies Manuals, Records Management, Space Designing/Organizing, Time Management/Goal Setting.

Some professional organizers also specialize in working with various population sectors such as those with attention deficient disorder, or chronically disorganized, children, seniors, and students.

What type of education and training do organizers have?

Professional organizers represent a large and diverse segment of the professional and business community. Their education and professional experience are varied and may include business administration, management, entrepreneurial, financial, legal, and more. Most professional organizers utilize their prior education and experience to transition into a career as a professional organizer.

With respect to specific organizing education programs, NAPO offers its members continuing education programs at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels at its annual conference, regional seminars, and local chapter meetings. NAPO is also currently developing a Certification Program, in which qualified professional organizers can achieve a Certified Professional Organizer designation.

Several veteran professional organizers also offer training programs on specific areas of organizing specialties. Many business training and higher learning institutions are exploring the possibilities of developing a standardized formal education curriculum focused on the development of organizing skills that can be offered to professional organizers.