Wave the white flag on clutter and get help from a pro
You may have that one friend whose home is a shining example of organization and seems to live clutter-free. You keep meaning to get organized, but like that stack of magazines to sort through, getting started is something you avoid. Hiring a professional home organizer may be one way to nudge you into decluttering and clearing out your space. Here’s how to find the right organizational specialist for you.
Finding a professional organizer near you is now easier than ever thanks to search engines provided by websites like the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and Angi’s database of trusted pros. Simply type in your address and scroll through the available options until you find one that suits your personal preferences, budget, and more. Then, contact several of these pros to determine which one is truly the best fit for you.
Although it can be tempting to rush into a professional relationship with an organizer—especially if the state of your home is working your last nerve—you’ll never regret slowing down to find the best possible person for the job. Follow these steps to guarantee that whoever you select will be able to deliver on your expectations.
As with any job, it’s important to interview potential candidates before hiring just anyone to be your professional organizer. This will allow you to see if your personalities match and give you insights into what you can expect from working together.
Ask these questions when interviewing potential organizers.
What do you specialize in? Asking this question will give pros an opportunity to tell you about their past experience and detail what they’re best at, whether that’s organizing kitchen shelving, closets, or helping you declutter years of accumulation.
What is your process like? Their answer should give you insights into what you can expect from the process overall, including how long it will take and what they’ll prioritize.
What do your services include? Ask this question especially if you have a specific task in mind.
How do you stay on top of trends? This will give you a view into where they take inspiration and what organizational style you can expect from them.
Will you bring supplies, or do I need to? Choosing a well-equipped pro is a good idea; this question will help you determine whether or not they are.
There are a couple of ways to verify the work quality of a professional organizer before hiring them. First, find out if they’re registered with NAPO. While it’s not a deal breaker if they aren’t, the association requires certain standards from its members to make it easier for potential clients to find someone they can trust.
Before you meet them face to face, request at least three references from previous clients who can vouch for their work. If they cannot provide enough references, that’s a sign you should continue your search elsewhere.
Next up, arrange an in-person meeting at your home to get to know your potential organizer a little better and show them around your space. This will give them a chance to familiarize themselves with your abode and for you two to devise a workflow and organizational approach that will suit both your needs.
There’s also not much you need to do to prepare your home for a consultation with a professional organizer. It’s important to avoid cleaning or organizing ahead of time so they can get a view of what it’s really like and what is and isn’t working to develop strategies to keep your space tidy.
Your consultation is also a great time to set a rate and determine a payment plan for your organizational project. Most professional organizers charge an hourly rate between $80 to $140 per hour. Keep in mind that that doesn’t include the cost of organizational tools like cubbies and boxes, which you’ll be responsible for paying for. Overall costs might increase depending on the complexity of the project as well, especially if a lot of planning is required.
While you’re at it, be sure to ask about any special offers or promotions that they offer, as some professional organizers may be willing to reduce their hourly rate for large projects. Similarly, find out if they’re open to redos and whether or not they will cost extra in case something isn’t working out the way you’d hoped after the project is complete.
Factor in any additional costs, which may include:
Organizational tools such as bins and baskets
Trash haul-away
Donation drop-off
Once you have a few possible organizers lined up, taking a handful of extra steps is the key to ensuring you’ve found the best possible pro for your needs.
Over-relying on organizational tools and equipment. While boxes, sorters, and the like can all be extremely helpful for organizing a space, too much will add more rather than subtract from the clutter. If a professional organizer insists on purchasing yet another compartment for a space that already has plenty of shelves and drawers for storage, that could be a sign they’re not the right fit for you.
Unwillingness to adapt their approach. A professional organizer has every right to stick to their guns, but that doesn’t mean you have to work with them if their process doesn’t vibe with yours. Don’t hire the first person you meet out of obligation. Take time to find someone who understands you and your needs and is willing to work with them.
Passing judgment. In your own home is the last place you should feel judged, and a professional organizer who makes you feel that way is not one you should be working with.
Photographing your space without permission. A pro willing to violate your privacy with photos may do so in other ways, too.
Pressure to throw away objects—especially ones you can reuse. Getting rid of some stuff is a normal part of organizing a home, but if a pro constantly presses you to toss objects you don’t want to, you may be better off working with someone else.
Getting organized can get a little complicated, practically and emotionally. For example, you need to sort clothes into keep, discard, and donate piles for a closet organization. While this sounds straightforward, parting with clothing—no matter how outdated or unwearable—can prove overwhelming for some people.
Paper organization can also feel like a time-consuming and tedious process since you’ll need to discuss each item you need to file, scan to a computer, or throw away. A reliable professional organizer will keep you on task and adhere to a strict schedule so you don’t have to spend extra money for more of their time.
Professional organizers offer many services. Some specialize in specific areas, such as file organizing or garage decluttering, while others perform various tasks. Some of the services professional organizers offer include:
Paper management
Home office systems
Residential organizing
Business organizing
Family schedule management
Feng shui consulting
Decluttering
Computer organizing and purging
Get proper assistance by specifying which areas of your home need the most organizational attention. An effective organizer will identify steps to take, supplies to purchase, and other items you may need. Then, when the professional organizer comes to your home, an initial consultation will help narrow the scope of the work.
When your home is nice and tidy, it’s tempting to kick up your feet and call it a day. But it’s important to implement a few new tasks to prevent it from becoming disorganized once more. Professional organizers do that by creating daily, weekly, and semi-annual routines. For example, switch out your wardrobe depending on the season so it always has plenty of space.
On a day-to-day basis, try allotting three 10-minute moments to clear up problem spaces and get the other household members involved so you don’t have to go it alone. Finally, don’t forget to leave your pro a positive review or write a reference for their future customers.
Hiring a professional organizer can cost $250 to $835, with the average person paying around $525. While cost factors may include the location of your organization project, the level of experience of the organizer, and the size of the project, there are ways to incorporate a professional organizer into your project that work within your budget, as they usually charge an hourly rate.
Sure, you can organize anything a professional organizer can, but whether hiring a pro is worth it depends on how much time you want to spend on the project. To DIY, you’ll only need to pay the material cost of bins and storage. However, organizing your home when you don’t know where to start can be daunting. Hiring a professional organizer will give you access to expertise, provide a starting point, and alleviate the mental and emotional strain of organizing.
It all depends on your needs and the scope of your project. If you have a full day to sort through a half-full storage closet, it may not be worth hiring someone to do the job. However, if you’re looking at a much bigger project, have little free time, or have never done much organizing, bringing in a professional can help you organize effectively and quickly.
Tipping a professional organizer is not standard practice and is not required. Your professional organizer will set a price in the contract that reflects their professional service. However, if you have the budget and you feel that your professional organizer has gone above and beyond the expectation of the job, you can definitely leave a small token of appreciation.
While both jobs go hand-in-hand when decluttering your home, professional organizers and cleaners do different jobs. A professional organizer will look at the project and set up the space to maximize it with storage and functional efficiency. A cleaner might do some organizing in the home, but their main task is to make sure it remains clean and free of garbage. If you want to put everything in its place, hire an organizer. If you want sparkling floors and dust-free surfaces, hire a cleaner.
