How to Hire a Professional Organizer

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (3 Ratings)

Suppose you have no talent at all for creating order out of chaos, much less for envisioning and implementing systems customized to your home and your way of life. It's time to call in a pro. Choose the type of professional services you need, then pick up the phone and get the show on the road.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

Ask neighbors and friends for recommendations. Inquire about the nature of the work they had done, how long it took, if the professional organizer provided hands-on assistance and which methods were used. Also ask if they continued to be organized after the professional left.

Step2

Contact the National Association of Professional Organizers (napo.net) for information on the field as well as referrals. NAPO members are bound by a code of ethics that includes serving customers with competency, integrity and strict confidentiality.

Step3

Ask the same questions you would ask any consultant: What is your background and training? How long have you been in the business? What is your particular area of expertise? Are you member of a professional association? Can I call your references?

Step4

Find out how much the organizer charges. Fees vary widely based on geographic location, experience and the type of services provided. Most residential organizers charge an hourly fee that may range from $25 to more than $200; some work on a fixed-fee basis; and some use a combination of hourly and fixed fees. For large projects, professional organizers may contract their services for a defined period of time on a retainer basis.

Step5

Clarify who will do what. Depending on the nature and the scope of the work, organizers adapt their services to the needs of the customer. He or she may set up the new systems and let you do the work, plow through the job with you, or take care of it alone. Some examples where an organizer needs to be hired are: Preparing for the sale of a house; estate sales; or defining and implementing informational records management for legal, medical other file-heavy, malpractice-laden fields.

Tips & Warnings

Professional organizers will often request an on-site consultation visit to better understand the nature of the problem and the extent of the services to be provided. Some charge for this visit, while others offer it for free.
Ask what supplies you'll need to have on hand, such as bins and trash bags for sorting.
Many organizers specialize in working with children, students, seniors or people with ADD. See 268 Organize Home Systems for ADD.
Some professional organizers will run errands for you.