Organizing Options of Illinois

Real Estate Auctions, Home and Garage Organization, Home Staging,

About us

We are estate liquidators servicing Chicago, it's suburbs and Northern Indiana! We Advise, Organize, Donate & Sell Your Stuff. Whether it's the passing of a loved one, the changing needs of an aging parent, or just moving to a smaller home, we can help you manage your belongings so they aren't managing you. Running your Estate/House Sale is just one service we have to offer. We provide customized organizing strategies and downsizing solutions that best fit your needs.

Business highlights

15 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

Estate liquidation, estate sales, donation coordination, refuse removal, home staging, downsizing guidance, hoarding solutions, space planning, organizing, moving strategies, loose market item valuations & appraisal coordination.

Amenities

Free Estimates
Yes
Warranties
Yes


Accepted payment methods

American Express
Check
Discover
MasterCard
PayPal
Visa

Photos of past projects

Reviews

4.945 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
93%
4
0%
3
0%
2
4%
1
2%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.9
value
4.7
professionalism
4.9
responsiveness
4.9
punctuality
5.0
Showing 26-45 of 45 reviews

Dennis L.
12/2015
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
unknown

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
Thank you for taking the time to review our services in the midst of your hectic move. It was our pleasure to assist you with coordinating and removing your donations and refuse and taking care of the final broom clean service. We were also so pleased that a portion of the cost of our services was covered by the sale of so many of your items that we made on your behalf. Wishing you all the best in your new home!

Bonnie O.
09/2015
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
unknown
Description of Work: Brett and Cathy emptied a storage unit, removed clutter from the garage and took items to designated donation center. They were prompt, effective and did it all in a minimal amount of time. The service is expensive, but I felt it was worth it because it was completed so quickly and is no longer a point of frustration for me.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
We appreciate you taking the time to review our services and we were so pleased that we could assist you with your storage unit that had been filled for more than 10 years. We pride ourselves on our professional and caring work ethic and are so glad that you were happy with the end result. Thank you and best of luck with your new uncluttered life.

Laura A.
02/2015
5.0
auction services, home & garage organization
  + 0 more
unknown
Description of Work: PACKED UP MY MOM'S HOUSE AND GOT IT READY FOR ITEMS TO BE DONATED TO AN ORGANIZATION

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
Thank you for taking the time to review our services. It was a pleasure to work with you and your husband on this liquidation project. I'm so pleased that we were able to sell so many of your items, which resulted in a much lower project cost. Wishing you and your family all the best!

julia M.
02/2015
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
unknown
Description of Work: Arranged a dumpster, cleaned out a storage room and parts of the attic, recycled some items, sold a car, removed the dumpster

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,000

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
Thank you for your positive review. We appreciate you taking the time to write about your liquidation experience. I'm so glad we were able to assist you with your clean-out. Wishing you all the best.

Donald L M.
08/2014
2.0
auction services
  + -1 more
Provider stated there was a $15,000 minimum which should have been posted in their ad. Waste of time for the average middle class person to even contact this firm.
Description of Work: nothing

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
value
1.0
responsiveness
3.0


Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
I'd like to clarify our policy. We do ask that there by a value in the area of $15,000 in order to run a full scale estate sale to the general public. After many years of experience, we have learned that it is in our clients' best interest to not do an estate sale to the public if there is not enough value to engage shoppers. Mr. [member name removed] and I discussed that his condo contents would probably not meet that dollar amount. I then went on to offer him other services and possible solutions that we could assist him with - if he was interested - both by email and over the phone. Mr. [member name removed] chose not to hire us to assist him. Many clients who contact us for an estate sale end up hiring us in a different capacity - to sell what can be sold and assist with liquidating the remaining. We are passionate about always looking out for our clients' best interests and are proud of the many levels of service options we offer.

Dorothy W.
07/2014
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
We initially thought we might have a partial estate sale in moms house but after consultation decided there wasn't enough value for that. We discussed other services we might use and we got good advice. We ended up participating in a neighborhood garage sale and used two excellent young men referred by Organizing Options to bring items out from house to garage. I would recommend this service to anyone needing moving, downsizing, or consolidation of theirs or a loved ones home. We got precise, compassionate advice and we appreciated the flexibility of the different options presented. This lady knows her stuff! Thank you!
Description of Work: Reviewed with us our situation regarding moving my 86 year old mom out of her home. Gave advice and supplied some moving labor.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$300

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review about our work together. I'm so glad that your garage sale went well. Wishing you and your mom all the best. I hope she's enjoying her new home. Mara

ART S.
06/2014
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
Unfortunately for me I waited until nearly the last minute before my move to start looking for help offloading our stuff. So by the time I contacted Mara her schedule was already full. Nonetheless, she took the time to understand my situation and share some thoughtful advice. Just wish I had thought to contact her earlier. Based on my brief exchange with her I would definitely recommend that anyone in need of these services reach out to Mara for a consultation.
Description of Work: Mara advised me of my options given my circumstances and timing. She shared some very helpful perspective and recommendations.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed], thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely review in the midst of your move out of the country. I'm hopeful that the advice I shared with you will help lighten your burden. Best to you!

Debra W.
04/2014
5.0
auction services, home & garage organization, home staging
  + 1 more
unknown
Description of Work: We recently had to move my mother to a long-term care facility. We contacted Mara of Organizing Options of Illinois for advice on clearing out/selling items from my mother's apartment. Mara was very helpful and professional. In our case, the value of the items wasn't enough for it to make financial sense to use her extra services. However, she gave us her expertise on how best to run an estate sale on our own by helping us with pricing and other advice. She only charged us a small fee for her time and advice. I highly recommend her.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$50

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
(member name removed), Thank you for taking the time to write about our work together. Your kind words are very much appreciated. I enjoyed meeting with you and your brothers and wish you all the best. Mara

Susana S.
04/2014
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
Went well. Professional, organized. Fair and much better yield than multiple other estimates. Overall very happy with this company.
Description of Work: Help liquidate inherited jewelry.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$400

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed], Thank you for entrusting us to liquidate your family's inherited jewelry. We were honored you chose us to assist with these very personal pieces. Wishing you and your family all the best!

Carol M.
01/2014
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
Mara and her entire team were wonderful, amazing, awesome! There was some time lapse between the time I hired OOI and the time they did the work by mutual agreement, long enough to give me time to have second thoughts about the wisdom of my decision. When they came to perform the service, I was "blown away" by their thoughtfulness and consideration in every detail. They were meticulous in their inspection of everything, consulted me continually about the importance of various objects and extraordinarily knowledgeable about the utility and value of just about everything--and what they didn't know about, they marshalled the resources to find out. I don't know what the final cost will be because they have not yet sold the items that may defray some of the cost, but I could not have done this as wisely even with my entire family's help. I have recommended them to all my friends and would say "Don't leave home without them".
Description of Work: I hired OOI to "clean out" my mother's house, to divest 55 years of collection of various interests.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed], we are so appreciative of you taking the time to write such a positive review. Thank you for choosing us to assist you with your Glenview project. Wishing you all the best!

Sandra C.
01/2014
5.0
home & garage organization
  + -1 more
Beautiful job!!!
Description of Work: They cleaned the house and the rugs.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$500

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
Thank you for your very kind review!

BARBARA M L.
12/2013
5.0
home & garage organization
  + -1 more
I am a repeat client of Organizing Options of Illinois. I had the challenge of consolidating two small apartments and a couple of storage units into a new apartment on very short notice. Having done business with Organizing Options earlier this year, I contacted them hoping that their schedule would permit them to accept my job. They did. Several phone calls from them ironed out the details. One more time I was impressed by the manner in which they draw out the details of the engagement before arriving for work Little, if any, time is lost while "on the clock" because the preparation was so thorough (but not annoying or boring). On the day of the consolidation, we met at u-Haul to pick up a truck. From there we went to the first apartment where the materials were loaded and then to the storage units where that material was loaded. We headed to the new apartment, unloaded and placed the larger items. We then went to the second old apartment and loaded that stuff and headed back to the new apartment and unloaded. Probably TMI, huh? Both gentlemen (Brad and Bret) have calm demeanor, each with a great sense of humor, keeping my level of angst very, very low. This was a highly stressful time for me. I appreciated just turning over the tasks knowing they would be done correctly in a timely, professional way.
Description of Work: Consolidated two small apartments and a couple of storage units into a new apartment, on very short notice.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$700

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed], we loved that we had the opportunity to work for you again! Thank you for entrusting us twice with your precious items. Best!

Thomas H.
11/2013
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
The family members involved in this transition all lived outside of the Chicago area. We were able to come in to coordinate much of this, consigning various items to a local auction house. But then we needed to leave town and turn it over to someone capable of selling and donating remaining items and then finally closing the apartment. We needed someone in Chicago who understood what to do and had resources to carry out the work in a short amount of time. Even before our initial meeting with Mara, she had an accurate grasp of what needed to be done - well beyond our own understanding of what was possible. She was clearly the right person for the job. Although the cost of services was about $900, much of it was offset by the net proceeds from the furniture sales that she made. Her accounting of labor, expenses and sales was promptly given. In the end, Mara did everything that she promised; on time, on schedule, and with a generous spirit.
Description of Work: After my aunt moved from her apartment to a nursing home, Mara and her staff performed all necessary planning and services to close my her apartment. This included selling furniture and a few other items, donating what couldn't be sold, and clearing out all items necessary to vacate the premises.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$900

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
(removed member name), thank you for your positive review and thank you for entrusting us with your aunt's project. Administrating her apartment liquidation from afar must not have been easy for you. We greatly appreciate you trusting us to handle this in your absence. Wishing you and your family all the best!

Mark J.
09/2013
5.0
auction services, home & garage organization, home staging
  + 1 more
In 2012 I lost both parents and my Grandmother within a 45 day period. As devastating as the deaths were I found it even more difficult to deal with the possessions that they accumulated over the decades. We don?t realize the emotional attachment to possessions until the time comes to decide their ultimate fate. Nearly everything sparked an emotion or memory that made it hard to move forward. I didn?t expect it to be so emotionally paralyzing. Organizing Options made that transition painless and even pleasant. Mara and her team were the ultimate in professionalism and compassion. They arrived on time. They were fast and efficient and respected my family?s property possessions and memories. At the end of such an emotionally taxing day, I was grateful that I hired Organizing Options. I HIGHLY recommend Organizing Options to deal with these and other similar situations that require an expert swift and compassionate action. Mara and her team are wonderful. They can answer practically any question regarding removal, donations and possible sales of items. On a scale of one to ten, they get a solid 20. Respectfully Mark Jones
Description of Work: Organizing Options cleared out and either sold, donated or disposed of everything in the house. They were supper efficient and fast and extremely kind.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,400

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
(Member Name), thank you for taking the time to write your positive review. We appreciated the opportunity to work with you and especially enjoyed hearing stories about the memories that some of the items we touched evoked. Wishing you all the best!

Jay P.
09/2013
5.0
auction services, home & garage organization, home staging
  + 1 more
How many times have you contacted a potential vendor only to find that they aren't the best fit for your needs? Not all that unusual I'd expect and hey, it happens. Now, how many times has that vendor invested considerable time and effort to make sure you found a company that was the best fit? I'll wager not many. Organizing Options did just that for me. My personal tragedy isn't particularly germane to this review but, suffice it to say that I was treated with such care and with so much quality guidance that I can't imagine having engaged anyone else. The level of sensitivity and delicacy with which difficult issues were broached left me astounded and grateful. Some people of a particular cultural background will understand the word "mensch". If you don't know what it means I strongly encourage you to Google it as it is a very accurate description of Mara and her company. Organizing Options was everything I needed exactly when and how I needed it. I honestly can't think of higher praise than that. If you find yourself in the terrible situation of having to dismantle the infrastructure of your life, or the life of a loved one, you simply can't make a better choice than Organizing Options. I am truly disturbed to read the scathing review on this page. So many assumptions, so much projection. All of it wrong. Please bear in mind that this person appears to be a shopper at a sale and not a customer of Organizing Options.
Description of Work: Mara went so far above and beyond the call that it felt like she was helping a dear friend. Not some random guy who just happened to call.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,100

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed], thank you for taking the time to write such a positive review about our work together. Your truly lovely comments about how we handled your project touched me. I know I met you during a trying time in your life. I'm hopeful that you are doing well and I send you many, many thanks.

bill R.
09/2013
1.0
auction services
  + -1 more
I was very disturbed to hear the vendor speak negatively of the family for whom she was selling the estate. These comments were openly stated in front of all the buyers in the main room of the condo where the sale was being held. It seemed in the opinion of "Organizing Options" that the family was very demanding and not wanting the sales people to reduce the prices. The statement was "this client is VERY EXACTING". What does that mean? They were tired and ready to call it a day and give all the remainders away? This is not the attitude I would want someone to have when they are selling my loved one's estate. It was very disrespectful to whoever had collected and loved these possessions. There were lots of items without prices, very messily displayed. It was also being held in one day. That doesn't seem like it would be the most beneficial to the client, regardless of how exacting they are. I would think twice before using Organizing Options for you estate sale needs.
Description of Work: The provider was performing an estate sale for a family

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
2.0
value
2.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
2.0


Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
Definition of exacting: requiring careful attention and precision. I am proud to serve my clients in this manner, that's what I was doing. Though sale shoppers may wish for lower prices, my allegiance is to my clients who I serve and whose directions I follow. I have great respect for my clients, their treasures and the memories represented by their items. We always accept reasonable offers, but will not sell at rock bottom prices when I know their are other selling venues where I can realize higher profits for the families I serve.

BARBARA M L.
07/2013
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
(PLEASE NOTE: The cost I quoted above does not reflect the revenue from the sales of household items and the auto. I came very close to breaking even and there are still many items on consignment.) I found Organizing Options on Angie's List. I sent an email to the company to verify I was in their service area since they are located in the northern suburbs and the house is in the southwest suburbs. Mara (co-owner and lead contact) met with me in a couple of days to review the situation. She explained to me the pros and cons of an estate sale vs a clean-out with donations and separating out the finer items for sale to dealers with whom she works. I thought my goals would be met well doing a clean-out as described. From the beginning, Mara was easy to deal with and a very thorough communicator. I trusted she would help keep me from making poor decisions during the process. And so she did. The day of clean-out came. Mara and the team were there early (and I was late). Each member of the team was courteous and professional, always asking Mara or me about items that appeared to have the possibility of being special. It was a brutally hot and humid day and the team handled the heat stress with great humor (and a lot of cold water). By day's end, nearly all the donatable items were out of the house and at the charity location (several 16' truckloads) and the items that we had to keep were in the storage unit. The next day a smaller team finished the junk clean out. A few days later, the car sold. To others who hire Organizing Options, I'd say "stand back!" Once this team gets going, it is like a swarm of bees, or a human vacuum. Things just fly out of the house! That was good for my situation. As other reviewers pointed out, for other circumstances Mara and her team will match their speed to the needs of the client. I recommend this company without qualification and I would hire them again. They are a friendly, compassionate, hard working team that will not disappoint. .
Description of Work: Helped me decide which of their many services matched my needs Provided clean out services and auto sale Managed their availability and staffing to meet my timeline Provided all materials except the dumpster Listened to my concerns and desires Reviewed and evaluated every item leaving the house Set aside those requiring "expert" opinions Were extremely careful when removing items from the house Sold the car Lugged a bucket (really) of coins to back for counting Worked quickly to load truck with donatable items Worked very well as a team and kept me advised

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$4,550

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[removed member name], thank you for choosing us to assist you with your project. And, thank you for calling us again to assist with your second smaller project. You were so supportive of all our efforts on your behalf. I hope our work together has made your very full to-do list much more manageable. Thank you again!

JENNIFER C.
07/2013
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
I had initially contact Mara about doing an estate sale for us as we were planning a move to Florida and thought that we would pretty much sell everything rather than move it all. Unfortunately, we don't have enough to make an estate sale a viable option, but when I asked her about helping me price things to do a sale on my own, she said that was no problem. So I hired her on an hourly basis (it only took her an hour and a half) and we went from front to back in the condo. She was even able to price some sterling silver for me that I would have never dreamed was worth what it brought in. She even helped with suggestions for advertising the sale. Mara is very knowledgeable and a delight to work with.
Description of Work: I had Mara help me price items that we were selling in a two day moving sale. Thanks to her help, we were able to make far more than if we had priced things on our own. She even suggested selling some items on eBay which worked really well.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$100

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed], congratulations on your successful estate sale and move to your new home. I'm so glad that our work together helped increase your profits. Best to you!

denise S.
04/2013
5.0
auction services, home & garage organization, home staging
  + 1 more
After 15 years, our house needed a good overhaul in order to become a home, beginning with a good decluttering. Both my husband and I have difficulty getting rid of things/stuff. So, we decided to get help, we hired Organizing Options?s owner and founder Mara Lazar to help guide us through the process. Mara came by to our house, did a brief needs assessment and determined the best place to begin decluttering so as not to make the process overwhelming. Mara has an amazing ability to determine the communication style of each of us as well as our needs in order to move forward. My husband needed more hand holding, patience, and compassion as he had more emotional ties to his stuff ? whether it be paper, clothes, or mementos. So, Mara worked closely with him every step of the way. I, on the other hand, needed a more direct, logical task oriented approach. Mara used questions such as, ?Do you love this? Does this make you happy?? in order to determine what to part with or to keep. Mara would give me a task to clear away an area on my own with her occasional input. First, we worked on our bedroom and bathroom, then the kitchen, and then the biggest project , the basement. After a 3 day declutter, we created bags and bags of garbage, recycling, shredding and donations. We even had items to sell that Mara sold on ebay and at her estate sales. With some of the display worthy objects we found in the house, Mara helped me create various tableaus in the house so we could enjoy the objects instead of them sitting in a closet collecting dust. After the 3 days were complete, Mara gave each of us our next assignment to continue the process without her. Fast forward a couple of years, the house still looks good and we both are much better about decluttering. My husband still had one area that wasn?t tackled, his workroom. Steve?s emotional ties to his stuff had decreased enough so that he wanted Mara to come and just clear away his worktable and organize it without him. She came with an assistant and 3 hours later and multiple bags of garbage, he could see and use his workbench. We are so grateful to have Mara to help us through this process, her decluttering skills are just a small component of what makes her special. Her biggest asset is her people skills and ability to understand people and their needs with a blink of an eye. I would highly recommend Organizing Options to anyone as well as hire them again.
Description of Work: decluttering our home created various tableaus in our home to see some of the objects we unearthed sold items donated items

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,200

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed] thank you for choosing us to organize both your home and office. Your new streamlined, uncluttered spaces now support your creativity. Wishing you much success!

Susan B.
03/2013
5.0
auction services
  + -1 more
I interviewed 4 or 5 companies. One was a huge outfit, and I felt like my job would be one of dozens and not get the right amount of attention. Another was too small, and I feared they wouldn't be able to handle a job this huge and intricate. Mara, the co-owner and leader of Organizing Options, came across as experienced, knowledgeable and TRUSTWORTHY. This is key, as hiring an estate sale company requires a lot of trust and honesty on the part of the company you hire. They are going through boxes of items you may never have seen, and you want to hire the kind of people that will come to you and say, "We found this diamond ring/old coin/family heirloom while we were getting items ready for the sale." This happened often, and I appreciated their "finds" as well as their knowledge of some of the items worth, etc. Mara came out and gave me an idea of what they do and how we could benefit from using their services. She gave me thoughts on what items were more sought-after than others, etc. as well as how the sale would be handled. She also gave me a loose estimate of what it would cost to have them do the clean-out after the estate sale. She was also COMPASSIONATE and understanding....after all, this process of parting with items from your life and generations before you is a tough one. Once I hired her, she and her ace team of twin brothers Brad and Brett swooped in and began working their magic. I should note they were terrific about communicating with me the entire month we worked together. And they're funny, too. They found things I didn't even know were there. They were great about working around the items that my family didn't want to put in the estate sale. Once or twice we changed our minds about a few items and they were gracious about it. They dusted the decades off some of the items and displayed them well, grouping them together in ways that would appeal to estate sale attendees. They brought in a book guy and sold him some of the more valuable titles, getting a great price. They brought in some other dealers and actually sold almost $1,000 in items BEFORE THE SALE EVEN STARTED! They came a few days at a time over a number of weeks to prep the sale. When it came time for the 2 day estate sale, PEOPLE WERE SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS TO BE THE FIRST IN LINE! The sale went beyond well. I didn't attend as it would be too hard to watch strangers sifting through our family items. They sold almost $15,000 worth of stuff! We were thrilled. They gave me an accounting of what sold and cut me a check two days later. Note: like all other estate sale companies they took a percentage of what we sold. Our job was beyond the norm, so we paid a higher percentage, but frankly it was worth it. We NEVER could have sold all the things they sold on our own. And they had the incentive to get the highest prices possible...which they did. CLEAN OUT This was the part I was dreading, and they made it all go away!! They swiftly packed everything up to be donated. They combed through scary parts of the basement and attic I was too afraid to tackle. They did it with a smile, never complaining and working quickly, so as not to rack up too many hours on my behalf. By the time they finished, two dumpsters had been filled and my old house was empty. It was like a magic trick. Total cost: $2200. These people were recommended to me by a realtor in Northbrook, I had no connection to them prior to hiring them. You only do this kind of thing once or twice in your life, so if you hire the wrong person you're kind of just out of luck. Fortunately for me, I hit the jackpot with this company. The were smart, honest and trustworthy. They were also really kind people who were interesting, funny and compassionate. To be honest, I sort of miss seeing them now that it's over. I'll stop writing now. Just hire them already! :)
Description of Work: In total: Organizing Options executed our estate sale and managed the clean-out of an old home overflowing with items. To say this was an intricate job is an understatement. My parents had lived in the old farmhouse for 50 years. They never threw things away. On top of that, they inherited many generations of antiques and other heirlooms. To add icing to the cake, my father had a woodworking business that filled the basement with primitive farm tools, items and implements. It was a mammoth job. ESTATE SALE PORTION: They had to sift through a jam-packed attic, first floor and basement filled with thousand of items. They separated out the things that they wanted to show to their experts, i.e. a book expert, an antique expert etc. They then priced every item and displayed them, using the house and furniture available to maximize presentation. They handled permits for the actual sale. They placed advertisements and posted picture of many of the items online. They ran the 2-day estate sale with their TRUSTWORTHY and KNOWLEDGEABLE team. They hired a parking attendant to handle traffic on the very busy main thoroughfare our house is on. CLEAN OUT PORTION: They arranged for a worthy charity to come pick up items not sold in the estate sale. They packed up all of the donations in boxes for the charity to come pick up. They cleaned out the rest of the house which required TWO DUMPSTERS They arranged for ComEd to come pick up an old freezer and we got a $50 check for it from ComEd! They arranged for a metal scavenger to remove any metal items They cleaned out every drawer, cabinet and room in the house so the new buyer could move right in.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Response from Organizing Options of Illinois
[member name removed], it was a pleasure to work with you on your Northbrook project. Thank you for taking the time to write such a comprehensive review. Wishing you and your family all the best.
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Contact information

5111 Brummel St, Skokie, IL 60077

www.organizingoptionsil.com

Service hours

Sunday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Licensing

Bonded

Insured

Eco-friendly Accreditations

LEED Accredited Professional
No
Energy Star Partner
No
EPA Lead-Safe Certified
No
Use Green Products or Work Practices
Yes
State Contractor License Requirements

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*Contact business to see additional licenses.


Service Categories

Real Estate Auctions,
Home and Garage Organization,
Home Staging,
Antiques

FAQ

Organizing Options of Illinois is currently rated 4.9 overall out of 5.

Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Organizing Options of Illinois accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,PayPal,Visa
Yes, Organizing Options of Illinois offers free project estimates.
Yes, Organizing Options of Illinois offers eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Organizing Options of Illinois does not offer a senior discount.
No, Organizing Options of Illinois does not offer emergency services.
Yes, Organizing Options of Illinois offers warranties.
Organizing Options of Illinois offers the following services: Estate liquidation, estate sales, donation coordination, refuse removal, home staging, downsizing guidance, hoarding solutions, space planning, organizing, moving strategies, loose market item valuations & appraisal coordination.

Contact information

5111 Brummel St, Skokie, IL 60077

www.organizingoptionsil.com

Service hours

Sunday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM