Banish clutter from your home with help from a pro
A cluttered home can be a huge stressor, but addressing the mess can seem overwhelming for many homeowners. Luckily, you can hire help. Several professionals can help you declutter your home and logically organize your belongings. If you’re tired of living in a disorganized home, here’s how to hire a decluttering service to help make your house a home again.
When you’re ready to declutter your home, there are two main pros you might hire. Professional organizers base their businesses around decluttering, while many professional cleaners offer decluttering services.
Professional organizers help customers declutter their homes and logically organize their belongings. They can create efficient storage systems that work in any space and can even identify additional storage spaces in your home that you might have overlooked. When it comes to decluttering, you can lean on a professional organizer as much or as little as you like. For example, you could ask them to decide what to keep and what to toss, or you could work alongside them to make those decisions.
A home decluttering service might seem like a luxury when you first hear about it. However, regardless of budget and home size, any homeowner can benefit from working with a professional organizer or house cleaner to declutter their home. Here are some of the typical services these pros offer:
Decluttering and sorting through household items
Space planning and optimization
Organizational system implementation
Education and support
It’s certainly possible to declutter your home by yourself. But for many, the mental load of decluttering is too much to carry—especially if your clutter is extensive. In addition to making tough decisions about your belongings, you’ll need to purchase storage supplies like baskets, tubs, and drawer organizers. These supplies are available at many big box stores, but choosing the right items can be daunting.
A professional organizer or cleaning service can help you declutter your home without bringing emotions into the process. Plus, they can advise you on the best storage solutions and may have access to unique options that you won’t find at your average big box store.
Hiring a professional to help you declutter your home can be as simple as contacting someone and scheduling a time for an in-home consultation. But if you want to ensure you’re hiring the right pro for the task, there are several steps to take before you sign a contract.
Before you hire someone to help declutter your home, consider why you need help. There are several scenarios when someone might need to hire a professional organizer or cleaner to declutter their home:
Too much paperwork
Significant life changes, like new parenthood or cleaning the home of an aging relative
Selling your home
Moving out of a rental home
Physical limitations
Time limitations
Lack of storage spaces
You may simply feel overwhelmed by the clutter in your home and need help figuring out where to start. Or you might feel embarrassed to invite friends to your home due to the clutter. Before you contact any pros, write down your reasons for decluttering so you can share them once you start reaching out for quotes.
You’ll also need to determine which spaces you want to declutter. The more spaces that need attention, the more expensive the project will be. Some of the rooms that decluttering services can help you organize include:
Kitchens and pantries
Bathrooms
Laundry rooms
Bedroom closets
Dresser drawers
Children’s bedrooms and playrooms
Basements or storage areas
Listing out the areas that need help can guide your conversation when hiring a professional organizer or cleaner to help you whip your home into shape.
When you let a service professional into your home, you must know you can trust them. Check that they are licensed, bonded, and insured to protect you in case of damage or other liability issues. If you’re working with a professional organizer to declutter your home, check whether they are listed in the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) database.
You can also ask to speak with customers who have previously worked with the professional organizer. Ask your network for recommendations on who to hire and if you can visit their home to see the work.
Once you know what type of services you need, it’s time to find the right pro for the job. Don’t just settle for the first pro you find. Instead, speak to several professionals and get quotes in writing that you can compare. When comparing quotes, make sure they cover the same types of services and the scope of work, so you’re comparing apples to apples. A cheap quote can be tempting, but it's not worth it if it doesn’t cover everything you need.
After you’ve compared quotes and chosen the right pro for the job, you’ll receive a contract. Before signing, check that the contract includes the following items that you’ve verbally agreed upon:
The payment structure for the service
Any organizational tools or supplies that are included
Junk removal
Donation drop-off
Professional organizing services cost $250 to $830, or an average of $525. However, your costs may be lower if you hire a house cleaner instead. The cost to hire a cleaner ranges from $120 to $240 per visit, or an average of $170, though the costs can increase when you add on a decluttering service.
Before you hire a home decluttering pro, ask several essential questions. The following questions offer an excellent start, though you may want to add more based on your requirements.
What are your credentials?
Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
Can you provide examples of your recent work?
How do I need to prepare for the decluttering service?
Will you provide organization supplies?
How involved will I need to be in the process?
How long will the decluttering process take?
Will you take care of donations and junk removal?
What payment methods do you accept?
How can I leave a review of your work?
Picking the right pro is essential whether you’re hiring a home decluttering service or an electrician for a major electrical project. To get started, search online for a local home organizer or a house cleaner near you. Then, contact the pros that best suit your needs to request quotes.
Once the project has concluded, wrap up any loose ends that remain. This might include making a final payment, leaving a review, and agreeing to be a reference for future clients. You can also ask the pro for advice on maintaining your newly clutter-free home.
The best way to help a family member or friend declutter their home is to hire a professional organizer or cleaner to do it for them. However, you can also help them make a plan to tackle the clutter. Sit down with them and sort through the items, making piles of what to keep, toss, and donate. Focus on one area at a time to avoid overwhelming them. If they have trouble letting go of some items, ask them when they last used each item, what its purpose is, and whether it has sentimental value. The answers to these questions can help you advise them on handling clutter.
Decluttering services aren’t for everyone, but many people find the benefits of hiring a professional organizer worth the cost. A professional decluttering service can save you time and help you make tough decisions about what to keep and get rid of. A pro has experience decluttering many different spaces and can help you organize your home to fit your space and needs.
