What does a Professional Organizer do?
By
Dawn Reitz
“Professional Organizers help individuals and businesses take control of their
surroundings, their time, their paper, and theirs systems for life,” according to the
National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). They can “help you complete
projects faster while teaching you lasting organization systems.” A Professional
Organizer is a skilled and trained individual with the knowledge and the tools to help their
client accomplish their goals.
This starts with assessing the needs of the client. The Professional Organizer reviews
the area of the client’s home or office with the client. As an educated professional your
organizer can help determine the best area to begin with if you are unsure. Usually, a
detailed questionnaire will be completed at this time in order to personalize and
individualize the organizing experience.
Next, a detailed plan of action is established. This will define the client’s goals and give
the organizer an idea of what the space will “look like” and how it will function for the
client. The Professional Organizer will also outline the steps that will be taken throughout
the process and recommend products to be purchased in preparation for “organizing
days.” If you are too busy or not sure what products to purchase, most Professional
Organizers will even do the shopping for you. They may possibly refer additional services
such as painters, carpet cleaners or custom storage installation companies if the plan
includes completely emptying the space.
When your Professional Organizer arrives on your “organizing days” they will come with
the supplies, tools and motivation to help you clear out the clutter and put your belongings
and life into order. They will start off by working side by side with you to sort through
your belongings and help you determine the value of keeping them or disposing of them.
Your Professional Organizer will help you dispose of items through donation, consignment
or trash.
Professional Organizers are not only organized themselves but have studied and refined
the ability to transfer these skills to their clients. In helping you develop a system that
you will be able to maintain this ability is apparent. Your organizer will place and label the
storage of your items so that what you use most is most accessible. Maintaining the
space is simply a matter of reading the labels and following their message. Any additional
members of the house or office can just as easily maintain the space.
You have probably spent a minimum of 3 days (not the 30 minutes you see on HGTV)
sorting, disposing and relocating your belongings but your Professional Organizer won’t
just leave you hanging. Most Professional Organizers routinely follow-up periodically with
their clients. Implementing anything new into your life takes 4-8 weeks to become part
of your regular schedule. Therefore, Professional Organizers conduct a follow-up
session to help you maintain or adjust your organizational system.
Fees for Professional Organizing services vary and according to NAPO “range from $30
to $110 per hour.” Some Professional Organizers bundle their services into packages
enabling you to purchase bulk hours at a discounted rate. An average kitchen organizing,
for example, including the pantry and refrigerator takes about 16 hands-on organizing
hours.
As a Professional Organizer for over 3 years, I find great personal satisfaction and
gratification in helping people reclaim their space, recover lost and valuable items and
find the time to enjoy life and their loved ones. My goal is to help you produce a clutter
free living space by sorting and relocating your belongings and introduce ways to maintain
A More Organized Residence.
By
Dawn Reitz
“Professional Organizers help individuals and businesses take control of their
surroundings, their time, their paper, and theirs systems for life,” according to the
National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). They can “help you complete
projects faster while teaching you lasting organization systems.” A Professional
Organizer is a skilled and trained individual with the knowledge and the tools to help their
client accomplish their goals.
This starts with assessing the needs of the client. The Professional Organizer reviews
the area of the client’s home or office with the client. As an educated professional your
organizer can help determine the best area to begin with if you are unsure. Usually, a
detailed questionnaire will be completed at this time in order to personalize and
individualize the organizing experience.
Next, a detailed plan of action is established. This will define the client’s goals and give
the organizer an idea of what the space will “look like” and how it will function for the
client. The Professional Organizer will also outline the steps that will be taken throughout
the process and recommend products to be purchased in preparation for “organizing
days.” If you are too busy or not sure what products to purchase, most Professional
Organizers will even do the shopping for you. They may possibly refer additional services
such as painters, carpet cleaners or custom storage installation companies if the plan
includes completely emptying the space.
When your Professional Organizer arrives on your “organizing days” they will come with
the supplies, tools and motivation to help you clear out the clutter and put your belongings
and life into order. They will start off by working side by side with you to sort through
your belongings and help you determine the value of keeping them or disposing of them.
Your Professional Organizer will help you dispose of items through donation, consignment
or trash.
Professional Organizers are not only organized themselves but have studied and refined
the ability to transfer these skills to their clients. In helping you develop a system that
you will be able to maintain this ability is apparent. Your organizer will place and label the
storage of your items so that what you use most is most accessible. Maintaining the
space is simply a matter of reading the labels and following their message. Any additional
members of the house or office can just as easily maintain the space.
You have probably spent a minimum of 3 days (not the 30 minutes you see on HGTV)
sorting, disposing and relocating your belongings but your Professional Organizer won’t
just leave you hanging. Most Professional Organizers routinely follow-up periodically with
their clients. Implementing anything new into your life takes 4-8 weeks to become part
of your regular schedule. Therefore, Professional Organizers conduct a follow-up
session to help you maintain or adjust your organizational system.
Fees for Professional Organizing services vary and according to NAPO “range from $30
to $110 per hour.” Some Professional Organizers bundle their services into packages
enabling you to purchase bulk hours at a discounted rate. An average kitchen organizing,
for example, including the pantry and refrigerator takes about 16 hands-on organizing
hours.
As a Professional Organizer for over 3 years, I find great personal satisfaction and
gratification in helping people reclaim their space, recover lost and valuable items and
find the time to enjoy life and their loved ones. My goal is to help you produce a clutter
free living space by sorting and relocating your belongings and introduce ways to maintain
A More Organized Residence.
| Dawn Reitz is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of AMOR (A More Organized Residence) in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information on getting and staying organized contact AMOR at (702) 373-7896 or www.AMoreOrganizedResidence.com |
