FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on the questions below to find out more.
- What does a Professional Organizer do?
- Do all Professional Organizers essentially offer the same services?
- What is the first step to getting organized?
- How long does the organizing process take?
- Will you make me throw everything away?
- Should I spend some time cleaning up before we begin organizing?
- Should I buy organizing supplies before we begin?
- How much does getting organized cost?
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- Will my sessions be kept confidential?
What does a Professional Organizer do?
As Professional Organizers, our goal is to educate you on the latest and best organizing and productivity solutions. When consulting one-on-one with you, we will help you prioritize where you want to start and develop customized, step-by-step solutions for these areas. As we “work your plan” together, we will teach you the underlying causes for your disorganization. The goal is to change self-defeating behaviors and create better habits so that you can maintain your organizing successes.
Ultimately, we help teach you how to improve your surroundings, how to get more done in less time, and how to achieve the goals that will bring more satisfaction into your life.
Do all Professional Organizers essentially offer the same services?
No, different Professional Organizers have different focuses and business models. Some only organize finances; others are business-only or residential-only; still others may focus primarily on staging houses for sale, unpacking new home buyers, or helping senior citizens downsize.
Our primary focus is helping busy, creative people organize their space, paper, time, and priorities. We do this through:
- On-site Organizing Services
- Organizing-by-Telephone Services
- Life Coaching Services
- Organizing and Personal Productivity Presentations to Groups
- Free Tips and Articles in my Newsletter/Blog, “Better Organized”
- Product and Book Recommendations for those who prefer to Do-It-Yourself
What is the first step to getting organized?
Your first step is to contact us to discuss where you are now and what you want the final outcome to be. If we determine that your project is a good fit for our consulting services, we’ll schedule a no-cost Discovery Assessment. During the Discovery Assessment, your Creative Order organizer will discuss where you are now and determine what your organizing goals and priorities are. She will offer suggestions to get you started, recommend some of the supplies you may need, and give you an estimation of the time each project might take. You can then schedule a date to begin your organizing transformation. Recognizing how busy you are, we even offer appointments on the weekends and in the evenings!
How long does the organizing process take?
The time it takes to get organized depends on several factors, including the scope of your project, how quickly you make decisions, how motivated you are, and the amount of time that you can devote to between-session homework.
Each on-site organizing session typically lasts 3-4 hours. You will be amazed at how much we are able to accomplish in just one session! In general, most rooms will take 1-2 sessions. Offices usually take 3 or 4 sessions. Small spaces such as bathrooms and small closets may only take a ½ session. Extremely packed storage rooms, garages, attics, basements and walk-in closets may take 4-6 sessions. Additionally, organizing paper and filing is a time-intensive process whose duration is entirely dependent on the volume of paper.
At each session, your organizer will work one-on-one with you, coaching you along the way, keeping you focused, and helping you determine what to keep, what to purge, and how to store what’s left.
After each session, we will suggest ideas for homework that will help you speed up the process and maximize your organizing investment. Our primary goal is to help you get organized while teaching you the good habits that you need to STAY organized.
Will you make me throw everything away?
Definitely not! We will help you decide which things are most important to you, what items no longer benefit you, and how the remaining items impact your organizing goals. Most clients find that it is empowering, and even freeing, to let go of things that are broken, that they no longer love, or that no longer add value to their lives. The client ultimately makes the final decision about what gets to stay and what needs to live elsewhere.
Should I spend some time cleaning up before we begin organizing?
Nope. You’ll be relieved to know that it’s not necessary to do any more cleaning than you normally would. In fact, it is more helpful for us to see your space in its normal condition so that we can design solutions that better fit your personality and lifestyle.
Should I buy organizing supplies before we begin?
During the no-cost Discovery Assessment, your organizer will let you know what supplies you should have for the first session. The initial supplies will usually be minimal since it's better to start with what you already have, whenever possible. As we sort common items together, purge what is no longer needed or wanted, and move things to their logical home, we’ll have a better idea of what supplies, containers, and solutions are the best fit for your organizing project. For our on-site clients, we can even purchase the items for you and apply that shopping time toward your organizing package.
How much does getting organized cost?
The real question is, “How much is disorganization costing you?” When you factor in time wasted looking for lost items, money paid for storage units and late fees, missed career opportunities, and the stress that disorganization and clutter chaos can cause on your mind, body, and relationships, the toll can be quite hefty.
To answer the question, most Professional Organizers in the Atlanta area charge rates that are comparable to other service professionals you may use in your home or business (approximately $45-$125 per hour in the Atlanta market). Creative Order's organizing packages are priced in the middle of this range, but the total investment will depend upon the scope of your project, the speed by which you make organizing decisions, and how much homework you are able to do between sessions. We will be better able to determine which of the Creative Order packages will be the best fit for your project once the no-cost Discovery Assessment is complete.
Consider the services of a Professional Organizer an investment in your happiness, growth, and quality of life. It’s similar to the investment you make when you hire a personal trainer to help you keep your body in good shape, a landscaper to keep your garden beautiful, a mechanic to keep your car tuned up, and a financial planner to keep your investments growing.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash, checks, VISA and Mastercard are accepted. Full payment for each organizing and coaching package is made at the first session.
Will my sessions be kept confidential?
All Creative Order organizers are members of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). We have pledged to protect the confidentiality of our clients. Following are the confidentiality guidelines that all NAPO members agree to abide by:
- I will keep confidential all client information, both business and personal, including that which may be revealed to other organizers.
- I will use proprietary client information only with the client’s permission.
- I will keep client information confidential and not use it to benefit myself or my firm, or reveal this information to others.
And as the owner of Creative Order, you have my word that I will never sell, rent, or give away your name or email address.
