Search:

Our Organizing Approach

 

Step 1: The phone assessment.

This lasts about 10-15 minutes.  We ask many questions regarding your organizing project, your current resources, time and availability, and what budget you had in mind. This ensures that our services are the right fit for your needs.

Step 2: The onsite assessment.

This lasts about 15-60 minutes depending on how big your organizing project is. During this step we are in your home or office and we talk with you in detail about the space, layout, contents, and current organizing issues. We’ll set goals and develop a game plan to reach those goals.

Step 3: The organizing appointment.

In most cases we begin the organizing work right after finishing the onsite assessment.  We work alongside you to help you eliminate excess stuff, create new systems, and implement the best arrangement or layout for your space. The question most people ask is “How long will it take to complete my organizing project?” That really depends on three things-the amount of stuff, the size of the space, and your participation in the process.

Although the majority of our organizing work is done with the client, some clients choose to organize on their own. Our organizing plan package are for those that want to purchase our ideas, suggestions, and systems to carry out on their own time. Read a complete list of our services here.                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following paragraphs give you a sample of our organizing views, thoughts, and approach:

 

“I don’t know where to begin so it’s easier to not begin at all.”

There’s two approaches you can take here. - Begin working on the space that is bugging you the most OR pick something small and simple like on shelf or one drawer. Normally, when I organize with clients we start in the space that is causing the most trouble and most frustration. Also keep in mind which spaces are used more frequently. If you start in those areas you’ll see a greater impact because you and your family are using those rooms more often.

“I am disappointed in myself for not staying as organized as I have been in the past or should be.”

Quite often, there are events, changes or situations in our lives that create more clutter and more mess than usual. This is a common frustration people have and it is so common that organizers even have a  name for it. It is situational disorganization. So what event, change, or situation changed your capability or desire to keep things organized? Once you know that answer, you can see why it would have been hard for you to stay organized. The next step is to start doing something about it and of course, set realistic expectations.

“I never know where to put everything while I go through it.”

Not having room to sort through things can make things difficult. We what we typically do is we create an open space so that we can sort through things. In a bedroom try clearing off the bed and make your bed. Now you’ll be able to sort through clothes and shoes by making piles on the bed. If you’re in a kitchen or dining room, gather the contents laying on the kitchen or dining room table into a laundry basket or box. Your table is a clean surface to sort the paper or pantry/cabinet contents.

“I need to know first what I’ll need to complete the organizing project.”

Actually, you don’t. Even organizers don’t know every tool or product they’ll need at the beginning of an organizing project. As you go through the organizing process- sort, purge, assign a home, containerize, and equalize- you will start to see what you’ll need. Make a list and then you can shop for what you need instead of overbuying and bringing home things you don’t really have a use for. Organizing products doesn’t solve our piles of clutter. Implementing systems and solutions and going through the process of purging is what really matters.

“I start projects but then I get overwhelmed.”

In order to prevent overwhelm it’s important to not bite off more that you can handle. Decide how much time you have to devote to your organizing project, If you only have an hour perhaps only go through your hanging clothes in your closets and leave the shoes, folded clothes and accessories for another. Of in an office, only go through on filing drawer instead of all 4 drawers. Organizing projects can always be broken down piece by piece.

“I can follow a system, but it’s not always easy to set up the most efficient system.”

Setting up an effective, productive system is probably the most important job an organizer has to do. That’s our specialty and that’s why people hire us. We know what systems are available for you and we can customize a system to fit your need, space, and situation. There’s a lot more creativity in organizing then you might think.  

“Staying organized is easy for me; my challenge is finding the time to do it.”

With anything we want to get done or accomplish, it always takes time. And people often say they don’t have the time and can’t make the time. Here’s my honest opinion (it might offend you)- we make time for whatever is a priority to us. So if organizing is your top priority, you will find the time by putting off other things or rearranging a schedule or commitment.  

“I buy boxes and bins, but end up still disorganized.”

That’s not surprising. Bins and boxes and neat organizing products don’t make us organized. We have to manage our clutter and stuff on a daily basis by making decisions- keep, toss, recycle, store, to do, etc. The bins and neat products just help our system stay in tact. We still have to work the system to stay organized.

“My home still feels disorganized, even though I’m hyper-organized.”

Step back a moment and ask yourself what more needs to be organized and why? Some times we’re unrealistic in our organizing goals and maybe don’t realize we really are “ok” at this level of organization.

“Nobody follows the systems I put in place.”

In order to make systems stick and work, it’s best to have the people using the system be involved in creating the system. It can be compared to getting dressed in the morning. You have an idea of what will be comfortable and what fits, so naturally you choose your outfit- someone doesn’t dress you. Well, same with an organizing system, in order for it to be useful and a good fit,  the person using the system should help create it to tailor it to their personality and lifestyle.