Congrats! You’ve made the wise decision to hire a professional organizer. You’ve set up your first appointment. This is the first step in the right direction so give yourself a high-five. Now what?
When you hire someone to mow your lawn, do you cut the grass before they come?
When you hire someone to clean your house, do you clean the toilets before they come? (okay, maybe you do BUT shouldn’t)
Your organizer wants to help you get organized. They want to see the “real” situation. And the only way your organizer can help you truly solve your organization problems is to know what is really happening - honest.
The best way to prepare for your professional organizer is to take a deep breath, drink a warm cup of tea, and visualize what your home will feel like organized.
How do you want your space to feel?
What would it if everything had a home?
Also, think through your day-to-day and brainstorm what is stressing you out the most. Be ready to share your organizational stresses with your professional organizer.
What drives you totally nuts about your space?
Do nothing out of the ordinary. More specifically, these are the things I DO NOT want you to do before my arrival.
DO NOT:
Tidy Up –I want to see an accurate portrayal of your home on a typical day. I want to see where you drop your coat, kick-off yours shoes and set your mail when you walk into your space. I want to see where your put your dirty laundry, where/how your kids play with their toys. Straightening up distracts from the clear view of how you spend your day and where you naturally put things. Besides, there is a good chance I’m going to pull it all out anyways when we begin working 😊
Be Embarrassed- If I had a $1 for every client who said they were embarrassed about their space-my kids college would already be paid for. Every single person I have worked with has mentioned their embarrassment before showing me the space(s) they want to organize. It is nothing you need to be embarrassed of. There are many circumstances that result in homes not being in your ideal state.
Buy Bins- This is probably the number one things people ask me if they should do before I come. The answer is almost always no and here is why: we don’t know what you need yet. We won’t know until we go through your home, decide what is staying and what is going, where you are storing things, what type of storage works best there, and what quantity you need. Everyone loves a good storage container, but if you buy too early you will very likely not end up with the proper one. All this does is create a return errand for you, extra clutter, and/or using a storage container because you have it and not because it’s the best for the space. If we need something, we will buy it after we are sure of what is needed. Often, after our sessions storage containers are usually the items that remain and get released.
Stress out- This may be harder to avoid than the previous three, but please don’t stress out about our upcoming session. I know it may seem overwhelming, but I promise you I will make the process pain free and much more manageable. No one said you can't crank-up the music, dance, meditate - whatever works for you. Home organizing can actually be fun-yes, this is true.
During your session, feel free to ask questions, share your thoughts and preferences, and actively participate in the organizing process. Or if you prefer, go take a nap, work, or anything but help. Remember, we are here to support you and customize our approach to each clients schedule and needs. We will not release anything without your approval-but we totally can send photos or leverage facetime if you can’t or don’t want to be physically present.
After our first session, there is a chance we might give “homework” to complete before we come again. If the homework is ever too much, my clients always can wait for my help. After all, I’m here to serve you and make the process easier for you!
5 Tips for Your First Professional Organizing Session
Be open and honest:
Share your goals, challenges, and preferences with your organizer. The more information you provide, the better we can tailor our approach to your needs.
Trust the process:
We have the expertise to guide you through the decluttering process. Trust our guidance and us help you make decisions.
Be patient:
Decluttering can take time. Be patient with yourself and the process; remember, the goal is to create a sustainable system that works for you. If you find out something isn’t working- it needs to be changed 😉
Ask questions:
If you're unsure about anything, don't hesitate to ask. Your home organizer is there to provide guidance and support.
Celebrate your progress:
Acknowledge your achievements along the way. Celebrating both small victories and significant milestones can boost your motivation. You can share before-and-after photos with friends or just keep on your phone to remind yourself of what you accomplished and encourage you to tackle other spaces.
Remember, maintaining an organized space is not a one-time event, it is an ongoing process. Establishing routines and habits that will help you keep your space clutter-free and organized in the long run.
By getting prepared and following the above tips for our organizing session, you'll be well on your way to creating organizing solutions that mindfully minimize clutter to help you live your best life.
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