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Getting spaces, tasks, and thoughts organized can be tricky and overwhelming.

There’s a lot of pressure to do more with less, and before you know it, that pressure can become paralyzing. Enter the Professional Organizer. These are the individuals who can help you create order and function from chaos. Many of them have been exactly where you are and have dedicated themselves to learning techniques and practices to overcome that stress. 

For many, the fact remains that inviting a stranger into your personal spaces filled with clutter and guilt is downright embarrassing. Don’t let that stop you from reaching out for help. Allow me to ease your fears by busting 5 common myths about hiring a professional organizer.

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1. Professional organizers are for famous people.

Yes, it’s true that hiring a home organizer is a sort of luxury. However, the industry has grown substantially in the last several years and you can bet there’s a clutter coach available for everyone. The organizing and productivity industry has many specialties including photo organizing, closet design, academic organization, high end styling, and paper management. 

In my case, I serve clients with families and busy professionals. I offer a range of pricing and package options to fit just about any budget. My goal is to make my services accessible to a wide range of clients while still maintaining high-end service and fair compensation for my business. Many professional organizers offer similar options, so you don’t have to assume this service isn’t in your budget.

2. You should be able to do that yourself.

I’m certain, in most cases, that people can organize themselves. However, there are only so many spare hours in a day and I’ve found the most common challenge of organizing/decluttering is the amount of time it takes. If you’d rather not spend your hard earned 4 hours of free time decluttering your pantry, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with hiring a professional to do it for you. 

Sure, you could probably cut your own hair, but you would trust a professional to do a better job. Getting your home decluttered, organized, and systematized professionally is really no different. If the lack of function in your space is causing you stress and anxiety, it might be time to invest in an organizer who has the tools, education, and time to tackle the chaos for you.

3. They judge you and your space.

Like I mentioned before, many professional organizers have been exactly where you are now. Sure, there are some that are naturally orderly, but there are also plenty of us that had to overcome our own problems with clutter. Regardless, you’ll never encounter judgement from your consultant. We’ve seen it all and we know that negatively assessing our clients for the state of their space will do absolutely nothing to improve their situation. 

We know that guidance, patience, understanding, and determination are more important than even the physical decluttering. All we really want is your success and happiness in the end, so we put our positive forces to use when working with you.

4. They make you buy expensive containers.

Sometimes, you’ll come across a home organizing business that emphasizes containment and will build storage products into your budget. This approach can be very costly and targets clients with the funds to do that type of project.

In my case (and many others like me), the decision to purchase storage solutions is up to the client. I emphasize decluttering and repurposing above all else for getting organized. I will often encourage clients to get reacquainted with their belongings first and reflect on what they want to keep before we decide on homes and systems for everything.

5. They make you color code and file fold all your clothes.

I am a very visual person. Categorizing my clothing by type and color makes things easy to find and gives me a sense of pride about my wardrobe. I also practice file folding because I can fit many more items in smaller spaces and I’m able to see all that I have at a glance.

I will sing the praises of these methods to whoever will listen, but I’ll never assume that my taste is the same as others. I try to balance my expertise with the lifestyle of my clients. If my organizing preferences don’t match the needs of the homes I’m working in, then we work together to find the right solution. I’m not the one living in your space, so I try to create systems you will like and maintain. Many other organizers I talk to express the same sentiment about their work as well.

The only way you truly fail is if you never try.

There may come a time when you reach your threshold and decide to invest in professional organizing and decluttering services. I hope that by debunking some common misconceptions you’ll feel more comfortable and confident to reach out to someone in your area. 

Many professional organizers now offer virtual organizing sessions besides in-person services. If you’re curious about how virtual organizing works or have questions about the industry contact me anytime!