Frequently Asked Questions
What does a professional home organizer do?
An organizer is someone that comes along side you to help you to create space and systems in your home to help you overcome clutter and disorganization. An organizer only helps you organize your mess, but they also create easy-to-follow systems to help keep it that way. They are there to help you through the entire process or to get down and dirty and do everything themselves. They are there to sit, sort, clean, file, de-clutter, and de-stress to help make your home a better place to live.We want to help make your life less stressful and create freedom from overwhelm in your life. We want to help you find freedom from stress that disorganization causes and freedom to enjoy productivity and peace that you will find in an organized home.
What are the benefits of getting organized?
Some benefits of getting organized are the savings of time, money, and stress. You will know where everything is located (which saves time and huge headaches). You will know what you do and don’t have before you decide to shop. This will help eliminate duplicate purchases because you will already know what you have. These two things will help to lower your stress level and improve your family relationships. Chaos and disorganization affect on your daily life. It makes life so much simpler when your home is organized and it’s easy to find things. You will find yourself having more time, less stress, you will know where everything is located (which saves time and huge headaches), and it will make your life easier and, more importantly, happier. Your environment plays a huge part on your attitude, outlook, and even blood pressure levels. When it’s in disarray, that will reflect and play an immediate part on your life. It makes life so much simpler when your environment is organized, clean, and it’s easy to find things.
I’m frustrated…why can’t I get my home organized myself?
A lot of times we are so busy with “life” that we don’t stop long enough to evaluate how things are going and then look around and realize that things have gotten out of control and we have become buried. This is okay....I have been there, too! You may look around and not even know where to start. We will help you to decide where to start and create a plan that will help you to make the changes in your home and life that you want to make. Our team will help you to make the changes that you want to make and work with you to implement them. We want to help you through the entire process. We are here to help you sort, file, and de-clutter in order to create systems that will help you save time and become more productive.
Should I clean up before you come?
No. We would like to see your space the way you see it. This will help us to give an accurate assessment in order to help you get organized. Please try not to be embarrassed, we are here to help you! We won’t judge you, we will encourage you and help create solutions with you.
Which areas do you service?
We will tackle anything from your children’s playroom to your kitchen pantry. Almost all areas of your home, office, garage, and storage areas are covered. You can see a listing of areas and rooms that we can service on our Services page.
Will you work with me or just coach me?
It’s entirely up to you. If you don’t want to touch a thing, you don’t have to. But, if you or anyone else wants to help, it’ll get the job done faster, and in the end, save you money.
Can my kids be here while you are organizing?
I love kids, and have six of my own! When it comes to organizing session with you, I would like you to be able to focus on the organizing project. This becomes difficult if you need to take care of your children, and can slow the process down. Because you are paying by the hour, you may want to arrange for a sitter for your children while we work.
Do I have to get rid of anything?
No, you don’t have to get rid of anything! Chances are you will need to, because getting organized does involve getting rid of the clutter that has overrun your home. Too many items and belongings may be the reason that your home is unorganized. We will determine what you ultimately want your space to be used for, and work with you towards your end goal. Some clients have discovered items that they have been holding onto and have forgotten about, and wonder why they even kept it. This may even happen to you! It’s not easy to get rid of personal items. We are here to work with you during this process, but we will not throw anything away or make you get rid of anything. You can keep it all, the decision is yours. We will be here to encourage you!
Do I need to be home or will you without me?
It’s entirely up to you. I enjoy working with my clients and find that we will get more done when we work together. You are able to make decisions as we declutter and this helps the process go smoother. If you don’t want to touch a thing, you don’t have to. I will need your input before we begin and then may have questions along the way. Working together will get the job done faster, and in the end, save you money.
How do I get started?
Fill out the form on the Contact Me page and you will be able to schedule a free 30 minute phone consultation. After you schedule the consultation, you will fill out a simple survey for me as well as upload some photos of the spaces you want to discuss. During our consultation, you can share with me what is and isn’t working for you. We will discuss the best solution for you. We have in home organizing services as well as do-it-yourself services for you to choose from. Learn more about our services here.
Do I need more than one organizer?
Not necessarily. However, if you have a big project or a deadline, we recommend a second organizer from our team. With two organizers, you will get twice as much done at the same time, and save money in the process. When we work as a team, we are quicker and more efficient.
Do I need to buy anything before you come?
No! Please don't go shopping! :) We will come and declutter your space first, and then if you have any organizing products in your home, we will use those first. If there is anything that needs to be purchased, there is a separate fee for this. We can talk about what is needed during the sessions.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask for a minimum of 48 hours notice if you must cancel an appointment. This allows us to offer the appointment to another client. We will attempt to confirm the appointment two days in advance so that you've got plenty of time to let us know if there has been a change in plans. A cancellation fee will be charged to the payment method on file, or against any package purchased. There is a fee for any late cancellations or no-show appointments ($25 for consultation and $100 for organizing sessions). A credit card may be required to book future appointments after cancellation if we do not already have payment information on file.
How long with the organizing take?
Each space and client is different. The biggest factor is how quickly the client makes decisions. Clients sometimes can get distracted by “memory lane”, so I encourage them to keep moving forward. There is no pressure to get rid of anything. I understand that the decluttering process can be very mentally and emotionally exhausting. I encourage my clients to take breaks when things become overwhelming. We are here to work alongside you. I can assure you that after a session, you will see improvement in your space….high five!
Will my sessions be confidential?
Absolutely! What you share is confidential to Organizing Your Chaos. I will only share a testimony from you with your permission. All meeting, conversations, and questions are between you and I and my team (as necessary to perform the services). I stand by the Code of Ethics that you can read the bottom section of my About page.
How do I pay for the services?
For single day sessions, payment is collected at the end of each session. If you purchase a package, a deposit is due to schedule the session, and the balance is due half way through the organizing session. We accept cash, check, credit cards, PayPal, and Venmo. Payments can be made online.
What takes place at the initial meeting?
I will come and talk with you about your project and your goals. Then, we will discuss what problems you have with the space, what you would like to see change, and what is currently working for you. Then, organizing session will be scheduled and we can get moving on organizing your space!
What if I only need you for a few hours?
That's not a problem! There is a half day package which is 3 hours.
Is there a contract?
There is! To be clear on expectations and policies, we ask every client to sign a working agreement which is sent via email at the time of booking. We provide a full automated paperless process. Your contract, invoice, and session logs are available online through our client portal. These are available at your convenience 24/7.
If you have additional questions?
Please ask! Email your questions to Monique@OrganizingYourChaos.com or contact me here.