Q. What is a Professional Organizer?
A. According to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), here’s the “official” definition: A Professional Organizer enhances the lives of clients by designing custom organizing systems and processes and by transferring organizing skills. A Professional Organizer also educates the public on organizing solutions and the resulting benefits. The “non-official” answer is that Professional Organizers are often a catalyst for reducing stress, frustration and anxiety in the lives of their clients. They can help you save time, money, and sometimes even jobs and relationships. Professional Organizers help you deal with procrastination, increase productivity, and improve your environment so you can enjoy your life. Need I go on?

Q. Can you give examples of what Professional Organizers do?
A. Professional Organizers may be involved in residential organizing – from closet design, space planning, organizing kitchens, home offices, garages/basements/attics, and everything in between. They may help clients prepare for a move, then unpack and organize their new home. Some organizers work in business and corporate settings and are experts in paper and electronic organizing, financial organizing and time management. Other organizers specialize in working with seniors, students, the chronically disorganized and physically disabled individuals. Some organizers are public speakers, corporate trainers, authors, personal coaches and mentors for new Professional Organizers.

Q. I’ve been disorganized for such a long time and don’t even know where to begin. How can a Professional Organizer help me?
A. A Professional Organizer can see the big picture and envision the end result, no matter how bad things may seem to you. They have the ability to break down large projects into manageable chunks. They keep you on track so you can focus and you’re not bouncing from one thing to another, never completing anything. Working with a Professional Organizer is similar to working with a personal trainer. If your goal is to get in shape, you have to show up, actually do the exercises and not give up when it gets a little tough. In the same way, when you work with a Professional Organizer you exercise your “organization muscles” by creating organized systems, learning new skills, and practicing them until they become habits.

Q. I feel embarrassed to have anyone come to my home. Do I have to clean up or do anything special before our first appointment?
A. No, you don’t have to clean up beforehand – as a matter of fact, it’s helpful if we see how you typically live or work so we have an accurate picture of they way things really are. Professional Organizers are used to seeing all kinds of environments and we’re there to support you in your goal for improved organization, not be critical or judgmental. A NAPO-affiliated Professional Organizer abides by a professional Code of Ethics concerning client confidentiality so you can rest assured that your identity and work together will remain confidential.

Q. Do you just give me a plan or help with hands-on organizing?
A. After the initial consultation/needs assessment, you are provided with a plan of action covering the highlights of our discussions. People who are highly motivated and already pretty organized may be able to follow through on the suggestions and do it themselves. However, the vast majority of people who inquire about our services need hands-on assistance and multiple organizing sessions to accomplish their goals. There are many organizing books in the marketplace with ideas and tips on getting organized, and we often find them in our client’s homes. However, we’ve found that most people need more personalized direction, help and accountability than any book could provide.

Q. How long does it take to get organized?
A. It depends and can vary greatly. When we do the initial consultation, we discuss organizing goals and do a walk-through of your home or office. Factors that affect how long it will take are the scope of the project, size of rooms, volume of clutter, level of organization, how quickly you make decisions, your health/energy level, distractibility, interruptions, etc. During the consultation, we give an estimate of how long we think it will take based on your goals and other factors, but it is just an estimate.

Q. How much does it cost?
A. Again, it varies as no two situations are identical. During the initial consultation, we give an estimate based on the services you need and other variable factors. Professional Organizers in the Atlanta area typically charge anywhere from $45-$125 per hour. Factors that may influence rate are experience level, accreditations, professional memberships, etc. Part-time organizers may charge less than those who have a full-time career as a Professional Organizer. Choosing a Professional Organizer strictly by price may be a mistake. You’ll most likely get the results you want if you focus on value and choose an organizer with a personality and skill set that matches your needs.

Q. Will I be able to maintain the organization over time?
A. Our goal is always to transfer skills so you can learn new habits that support being organized for life. However, people vary greatly in their lifestyles, motivation and other factors that may affect their ability to stay organized long term. For this reason, we offer maintenance plans to give our clients the ongoing support they may need, particularly if staying organized is a challenge over the long haul.

Q. How do I select a Professional Organizer to best meet my needs?
A. Many people find Professional Organizers by doing an internet search, through referrals and word of mouth. Professional Organizers affiliated with the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) have made a commitment to continuing education and an industry Code of Ethics. Other related associations include the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NASMM) and the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM). Some questions you might ask are how long they have been in business, any certifications they may have, the type of services they specialize in, who their usual clients are, and what a typical organizing session is like. You will be working closely with your Professional Organizer so it’s important not to discount intangible factors or a “gut” feeling you get when speaking with the organizer.

Q. What does CPO^® mean after an organizer’s name?
A. CPO® is the acronym for Certified Professional Organizer. It recognizes Professional Organizers who have met specific standards, and proven through examination and client interaction that they possess the knowledge and experience required for certification. The program recognizes and raises industry standards, practices and ethics of Professional Organizers. While the CPO® designation is not an endorsement or recommendation, certification maximizes the value received from the products and services provided by a CPO®.

Q. I’m interested in getting help for someone I care about. How does that work?
A. The million dollar question is how does the individual feel about getting help? Are they open and receptive or resistant? I’ve found that as much as you may see the need and want to help, if they aren’t emotionally ready and don’t think there’s a problem then it probably isn’t going to happen. There may be a better time later on when they are ready to make the changes necessary to become more organized and let go of excess possessions that may be contributing to the problem.

Q. Do you work with hoarders?
A. We typically don’t work with hoarders. Our company policy is that we will not work with hoarders unless they are actively engaged in therapy and there is a collaborative (three-way) relationship between the client, therapist and organizer. Even then, progress can be extremely laborious and emotional. We usually refer clients who are hoarders to an expert at the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization or The Atlanta Hoarding Task Force, who are better equipped to handle those types of situations.