Village TimeSaver Makes It Her Business to Care for Others

Donna Netschert has always had a knack for helping people and a willingness to pitch in. Twelve years ago, she found her niche, parlaying her experience as a self-described "professional volunteer" into her business, the Village TimeSaver of Clifton. Today, she is a veritable "911" for the busy and overwhelmed.

Village TimeSaver began as a dog-walking service for one client.  As an animal lover married to a long-time local veterinarian, Netschert knows plenty about the care of animals.  A resident of Clifton and the surrounding area since age 13, she knows lots about growing demands on neighbors and local families.  She knows many families that concurrently juggle life's challenges and commitments, careers and the care of aging parents.  She's made a business of helping them fill in the gaps.  "I can help you figure it out," she said reassuringly.

Netschert said what she likes most about her business is "the variety it offers."  Services offered by the Village TimeSaver range from clutter control, pet services, house sitting, personal shopping, errands, party planning and chaperoning teenagers, among others.

Because of long-term involvement in the community, many in the Fairfax Station and Clifton area know Netschert personally before engaging her professionally.  She is one of the most recognizable faces in Clifton.  Clients appreciate the neighborly, "extended family" approach this outgoing red head brings to what she does.  A recent job had her running errands for Swiss Army knives, to Sears for jeans, and stopping by Aldie's "British Pantry" to retrieve Bangers. "I love doing it," she said. "It's exciting!"   She also enjoys the opportunity to interact with the very old and very young.  The mother of one adult daughter, she said shuttling young athletes between practices, "helps her keep in touch."

Among Village TimeSaver's array of services, Netschert's favorite is helping clients organize their homes because she "enjoys seeing the results of that labor and helping clients talk it through... Hiring me is like making a date with yourself."  She has plenty of practical advice to offer the "organizationally challenged."

Most organizational problems "are simply the result of unfinished projects," according to Netschert.  She works with clients to create organizational systems and clear clutter, but insists the client be part of the process.  "At some point, you have to do the work," she pointed out. "You have to be part of the process."  Netschert helps diagnose problems and implement practical solutions.  Often clients "just need permission" to clear clutter and help in establishing a reasonable deadline to do so.  She said her own personality, "slightly obsessive compulsive, but in a good way,"  helps clients resolve those issues "so they can relax in their own homes."

Netschert  knows many clients react with growing intimidation to clutter, putting tasks off because they are embarrassed or overwhelmed.  Her mantra to clients?  "Know that I'm not interested in how bad your house looks.  I'm interested in helping you get organized.  It's not usually the worst-case scenario."  She believes in reducing the stress of the process.  She said the easiest way to solve organizational problems in any room is to empty that room and begin to build it back up, but she realizes that is not always practical.  She works to remove the stress from the process.  Referring to popular television reality series that eliminate clutter over two days, she said, "that's a lot of pressure."  She recommends working for no more than three hours at a time.

Still, she readily admits she has a couple unfinished projects and "piles" in her own house.  She claims simple changes can yield big results tackling clutter.  While Netschert agrees that some projects like a new home office may require more time and financial investment, she said "high end systems" aren't essential to order.  Something as simple as a chair can serve as an organizational tool, especially for students.  "Jacket goes on the back, shoes underneath."

Coming up next: A piece on the Village TimeSavers "Quick Tips" and recommended reading for home organization.

Detailed information on Village TimeSaver is available at http://villagetimesaver.com/.