| The sky was over cast and the day was cold. | | | | belonged. A professional organizer will ask |
| But I was warm inside the home ofa delightful, | | | | questions and do anassessment on the spot to |
| intelligent, interesting, busy mom who also has the | | | | help decide if it is something to be kept and if itis, |
| role ofbeing a wife, counselor to her family, chef, | | | | then find the best place for it to "live". |
| and chauffer just to name a fewof her jobs that | | | | Several women I have worked with have friends |
| she does every day. Oh and she works as a | | | | whose approach was to just puteverything that |
| nurse part time. | | | | was on the floor or on the bed into large boxes |
| She hired me, a professional organizer to tackle | | | | and beshuffled to the garage. The boxes weren't |
| her teenager daughter'sbedroom and get it | | | | labeled or put on shelves so whatwas in the |
| organized. Her goal was to find things that had | | | | boxes could not be used or readily accessed. |
| been lost,create a room where there was no | | | | 3. Another problem I have seen is that the |
| clutter and she could bring her friends tofor | | | | person who was hired to come andorganize is late |
| slumber parties. She also wanted to get rid of | | | | for appointments or they just don't show up. One |
| clutter that hadaccumulated and she had no idea | | | | womanshared the experience of expressing her |
| what to do with any of it. | | | | displeasure and she was told, "Wellyou're late |
| Reasons to hire a professional organizer: | | | | sometimes too". That is certainly unprofessional |
| 1. As we were happily organizing she asked me | | | | and even if shewas that is beside the point. |
| this question: "Do you thinkpeople who have | | | | 4. Professional organizers have extensive hours |
| psychological problems in their home are more | | | | of training on how toorganize. They are constantly |
| likely to beunorganized?" And then she said (and | | | | taking classes and reading the latestorganizing |
| this is the first reason to hire aprofessional | | | | information in the business. |
| organizer) she had in the past hired a woman who | | | | 5. They find a specific niche in organizing; some |
| wasn't aprofessional organizer to come and help | | | | are experts in homes,businesses, offices, working |
| her organize and this woman saideveryone she | | | | with those with ADHD, students or children |
| worked with was crazy. | | | | toname just a few. |
| I was bothered by this comment for days! A | | | | 6. They belong to a professional group called |
| professional organizer is non-judgmental and does | | | | National Association of |
| not make rash and insulting statements like this | | | | Professional Organizers. (NAPO) They can access |
| one. | | | | training and receivenewsletters keeping them |
| This same woman would ask her "where did you | | | | current with products and trends in organizing. |
| get all of this junk?" Again shewas being | | | | 7. Confidentiality is important to the organizer as |
| judgmental and totally out of line. | | | | well as the client. |
| 2. I have worked with several women who have | | | | Nothing discussed or things organized are ever |
| had friends come to their homesand organize with | | | | talked about to others unlesspermission is given |
| them. Friends can be very helpful in getting rid of | | | | to do so. |
| clutterbut may not know how to set up systems | | | | Hiring a professional organizer can save you time |
| to keep organized. There is adifference in tidying | | | | and money. You wouldn'tever think to have a |
| up and organizing. A few women I have worked | | | | neighbor do things a doctor is trained to do and |
| with andhad worked with their friends first got | | | | thesame thing goes for your personal item within |
| advice that was absolutely awful. | | | | your home. Hire a professionalorganizer for the |
| One friend's approach to organizing was to throw | | | | very best results. They take the guesswork and |
| anything out that she didn'tknow where it | | | | frustrationout of organizing. |