Health & Fitness
Need to Hire a Professional Organizer?
January is National "Get Organized" Month and many of us need an extra hand! Here are just a few simple tips to help you get started in hiring a professional organizer...Cheers to an organized 2013!
January is National Get Organized Month and while for your neighbor this could mean cleaning out a few closets to achieve her New Year’s Resolution, you could have a bigger issues at hand.
Feeling overwhelmed is common when considering how to tackle an organizational challenge at home. If you need an extra hand, how should you seek professional help? The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) says that finding and hiring a professional organizer is no different than choosing any other service professional. The "right choice" for you will be a professional organizer who has the expertise, skill set and personality that best suit you and your goals. NAPO has some great questions to ask yourself when considering hiring a professional organizer.
First determine what kind of services you need. A complete closet overhaul or an entire lifestyle overhaul? Some professional organizers offer a wide range of services, while others limit their practices to a specialized niche. For example, 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.
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Where to begin the search? NAPO’s Professional Organizer Directory is a great place to start. You can search for a professional organizer by type of service, distance from your location, or both. You can also do a general internet search for "Organizing Products and Services” in your area.
What questions should you ask? NAPO suggests the following questions to ask an organizer during an interview:
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What kinds of organizing projects do you do?
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Who is your typical/usual client?
What services do you specialize in?
Do you have any training or hold any certifications in organizing or related areas (chronic disorganization, coaching, feng shui, interior design, etc.)?
Can you describe your organizing process/approach (consulting, coaching, hands-on, team organizing, seminars/workshops, etc.) and describe a typical working session?
How long have you been in the organizing business?
Will I work directly with you, or will you assign an employee and/or subcontractor?
What is your fee structure?
Do you work with a written contract?
What is your cancellation policy?
Can you provide references?
I have tried to get organized before. How will this be different?
Your choice of an organizer 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 along the way that you are not comfortable with his or her particular style, you are rarely under obligation to continue the relationship. Be sure to let the organizer know how you feel. More than likely, he or she will be happy to recommend a colleague.