Organizing Q&A

Most people are curious to know what I do & how I do it…okay, most are a little scared I might look in their car/handbag/closet, but curiosity gets them to ask probing questions.  These questions tend to be very similar if not the same from everyone; guys & girls, young & more mature, analytical & artistic, working for a company & working for your family, ADD & not ADD.  I thought it might enlightening & reassuring for you to see the questions everyone asks me & my answers to them.  So sit a spell & read the answers to your burning questions.

Q:  What do you do exactly?

A:  I help people organize their things & their time in homes & places of business.

Q:  How did you get into this profession?  Is there a degree?

A:  I have always been very organized & wanted to own my own business so it was a natural combination.  My degree in Fashion Merchandising from Baylor University gave me the business classes along with design classes I needed for this business.  And, I took my certification exam in 2003 to become a CPO, Certified Professional Organizer.

Q:  What is a Professional Organizer? Is that like Hoarders?

A:  Some Professional Organizer work with Hoards alongside a psychiatrist to address the intense problems that cause hoarding.   I work with non-hoarders who may have some disorganization, even some messy or cluttered areas.  I help clients get organized & teach them how to get & stay organized.

Q:  Do I have to be there when you are organizing?

A:  You don’t have to BUT if you want to learn the skill of sorting, prioritizing & organizing, it is easier to learn when involved in the process.

Q:  So you work alone?

A:  I work side-by-side with clients teaching them sorting, prioritizing & organizing skills as we work.  I also develop organizing plans for clients to accomplish on their own.  And, in some cases, I organize without clients, wrapping up with a one-on-one session to answer my outstanding questions, walk the client through my process & present a maintenance plan/routine for the client.

Q:  Do you have a team?

A:  If a job is really large or the timeline really short, I will bring in additional Professional Organizers to be sure we can reach the target end date.

Q:  I’m so embarrassed for you to see my home/office/closet/playroom/etc. I will need to tidy/organize before you come over. Right?

A:  No.  If you do that, I won’t see an accurate picture of the problem to better understand your needs.

Q:  What type of clients do you work with?

A:  The main common denominator between clients is the desire to change.  A little like deciding to loose weight, eat healthy, start saving, etc.  Other than that, I work with men, women, kids, new parents, singles, downsizing, upsizing, packing, unpacking, renovating, ADD, Chronically Disorganized, organized & all financial levels.

Q:  Are you a counselor?

A:  No, but I do help parents/children, spouses, work associates, siblings, etc work through separate goals to create a common goal which in turn creates an agreed upon organization plan.

Q:  Are you going to make me throw out everything?

A:  Absolutely not!  My goal is to create a space you feel comfortable in, allows you to find what you need & is manageable to maintain.  If anything is removed, it is because you have decided it is no longer useful to you.  I will ask you questions to help you in this decision process but ultimately, it is your decision what stays & what goes.

Q:  What if my spouse/work associate is not on board with this whole process?

A:  For our work to be successful, everyone needs to be accepting of our working together.

Q:  Do you do come look at the space?

A:  Yes, and that is the time when we all decide if we are a good fit.  It takes about an hour.  We meet in the space you want to organize.  I am there to ask & listen to what everyone thinks is working, what isn’t working, what you all really want to see happen in that space & everyone’s timeline.  If there are different answers for the goal & timeline, we discuss compromising options to see if we can come to an agreement. If we decide to work together, the consult fee is deducted from your first organizing session.

Q:  Can you help me with some decorating?

A:  I do help with decorating although I’m not an interior designer.  I am very aware of what feels right in a space & will often suggest new furniture arrangements in a room we are organizing in order to maximize space or create a better flow in the room.  Most times, just a few tweaks of your furniture can make the room your new favorite hang-out.

Q:  What about closet systems like Elfa or California Closets?

A:  I studied closet design & worked with California Closet for two years learning the right way to design closet spaces.  Whether you want a closet system from a company or to have a carpenter build one for you, I can design or assist a closet design company with your design to maximize your closet space.

Q:  How long is an organizing appointment?

A:   Depending on the project type – paperwork vs garage vs toys – and your availability, appointments can last 3 hours to 8 hours.  Ultimately, you are the final decision maker on how long a session lasts.  Most first appointments are 3-4 hours.  It gives us long enough to make headway, but short enough it isn’t overwhelming.

Q:  Do you have a website?

A:  Yes, www.styledandorganizedliving.com.  I also post a weekly blog to help you by disclosing my knowledge of how to organize & be prepared for any situation.  I will show you tips & tricks through posts on the Styled & Organized Living Facebook page,@StyledOrganized on Twitter & the Styled & Organized Living Pinterest page.  Some posts will be simple tools while others will be ideas to consider.   But all will show you how to gain a little more control over your life through organization because Life is Better Stylishly Organized!

Now, my question to you is, “Are you ready to get organized?”  If so, contact us & let us help create a styled & organized life for you.