Frequently asked questions:

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1. What is a professional organizer?

2. What are your personal niches?

3. What is the difference between organization and reclamation?

4. What kind of clients do you work with?

     a. Do you work with hoarders?

5. What do you charge?

6. What do I do if I have to cancel/change an appointment?

7. What if I disagree with the services being done?

8. What are your hours?

9. Can I "gift" your services?

10. Why is your phone number from a different area code?

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1. What is a professional organizer?

     As defined by the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), professional organizers "support evaluation, decision-making, and action around objects, spaces, and data helping clients achieve desired outcomes regarding function, order, and clarity." Organizers and productivity consultants can specialize in many different aspects of decluttering, so keep that in mind if you are looking for someone to only sort through photographs or only install garage organizational systems.

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2. What are your personal niches?

     I have experience in professional offices, but I especially enjoy residential organizing—such as dealing with that "everyday clutter" that keeps building up—because of the creativity involved in designing solutions to improve people's daily lives. I am also intimately familiar with how to pack efficiently for short and long trips, and moving in and out of homes.

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3. What is the difference between organization and reclamation?

     If you would like my help "organizing," then I will help you rearrange and find solutions to organize everything that is currently in the home. Reclamation, however, refers to the more in-depth process of decluttering areas by making decisions on what should stay and what should go. I have separated the two since reclaiming space lost to clutter takes longer because it involves sorting through every item.

     If you are still confused or don't know which service you should request, please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss it further.

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4. What kind of clients do you work with?

     I have worked with all sorts of people, from young professionals to busy families to older couples looking to downsize. Every project is unique, and I strive to give you the most personalized suggestions I can.

     Do you work with hoarders?

     Unfortunately, I do not work with individuals or in homes that fall on the hoarding scale as levels 3-5, mainly because I do not have the proper training or expertise to handle these situations. However, I would be happy to provide a list of resources for you or your loved one if you so wish.

          What are the "red flags" of hoarding habits?

General signs of hoarding are:

1. Inability to throw away possessions

2. Severe anxiety when attempting to discard items

3. Great difficulty categorizing or organizing possessions

4. Indecision about what to keep or where to put things

5. Distress, such as feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed by possessions

6. Suspicion of other people touching items

7. Obsessive thoughts and actions: fear of running out of an item or of needing it in the future; checking the trash for accidentally discarded objects

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5. What do you charge?

     Because every project is unique, I have a complimentary consultation to determine the scope of services and an estimated cost of the project. Cost varies depending on the scope of services expected, but I prefer to charge a fixed rate rather than per-hour, and, if I expect pricing to increase or decrease while I am working, that will be discussed and an updated Work Order will be sent for you to sign. If you wish to hire an organizer, but are not sure you can afford to have someone consistently come to your home, contact me and we can talk about your options.

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6. What do I do if I have to cancel/change an appointment?

     I understand that life happens and sometimes we may have to change our appointment; however, I must ask that you let me know as soon as possible. Contact me at least 24 hours prior to the original start time or a fee of $120 will be expected before we meet and the contract may be terminated without the completion of the remaining work.

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7. What if I disagree with the services being done?

     Then, first and foremost, I apologize for the work not fulfilling your standards. If this situation arises, I ask that we set another meeting to reevaluate the work that has been done, where you wanted it to be by now, and how we can achieve that. If we still cannot come to an acceptable arrangement, then I expect to be paid for the services I already completed, and you may choose to terminate our contract and any further appointments without charge.

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8. What are your hours?

You can contact me at any time of the day, any day of the year; I strive to respond as quickly as possible to any inquiry. If you wish to schedule an appointment, please reach out to set up a time.

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9. Can I "gift" your services?

Yes and no. If you would like to cover the fee for a friend or family member, then I can direct billing to you and I'm sure they would appreciate it; however, I only work with clients who are explicitly interested in acquiring my services. (Imagine if you thought you were the next-best-chef, then someone "gifted" you beginner's cooking lessons.) 

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10. Why is your phone number from a different area code?

Because I am originally from Southeast Michigan and I use my cell phone number for my business. I know it can be disconcerting when a business does not have a number in the area code they work in, but I want clients to know that when they work with me, they get nothing but personal service.