Has anyone ever hired an organization expert?

[gandpsmommy]

How much did you have to spend? Did it really help you long-term? We are getting ready to add on several rooms to our house, which I think will help our clutter situation tremendously, but I still am not by nature an organized person. I'm wondering if I could afford to hire someone to help me organize the new and old spaces so that we can really thrive in our spaces. Right now, the clutter and disorganization is depressing, and I think it is thwarting my productivity.

[Liz CA]

How much did you have to spend? Did it really help you long-term? We are getting ready to add on several rooms to our house, which I think will help our clutter situation tremendously, but I still am not by nature an organized person. I'm wondering if I could afford to hire someone to help me organize the new and old spaces so that we can really thrive in our spaces. Right now, the clutter and disorganization is depressing, and I think it is thwarting my productivity.

...honestly not spend money on an outside person but I may spent money on a book if you are visually oriented and can implement what you see/read. There are many books that address this subject. I would think they are less expensive than hiring someone. The money you save you could use on extra cubbies and shelving. :)...But if money is of no concern, perhaps it would be fun to hire someone and you could post here what you have learned from her/him?! :001_smile:

[gandpsmommy]

...honestly not spend money on an outside person but I may spent money on a book if you are visually oriented and can implement what you see/read. There are many books that address this subject. I would think they are less expensive than hiring someone. The money you save you could use on extra cubbies and shelving. :)...But if money is of no concern, perhaps it would be fun to hire someone and you could post here what you have learned from her/him?! :001_smile:

Well, I can't say that money is of no concern, but I was thinking that if it were a reasonable amount I might ask for it to be my birthday/Christmas gifts. I have read so many organization books that it isn't funny. I just can't implement them. I thought it might help to have an outside person whose job it is to make sure I implement something. But honestly, I do think that once we build onto our house, it will be a lot easier. We moved to a dramatically smaller house almost 2 years ago. Despite the fact that we sold furniture, gave away a lot of items, and put a lot of stuff in storage, we just don't have enough room for everything here. So not everything has a place, which results in a lot of piles of clutter and a general feeling of disorganization. Once we have a place for everything, I don't think it will be as challenging to keep everything in it's place. You're right, I'll just save my money for useful things like bookshelves, cubbies, and a desk, and try to use one of the great organization books I have found at the library. Our addition should be completed by fall, if we get to start on time, so hopefully next school year will be an organized one!

[Janet in WA]

I would love to hire on of those for my dh. But you know how on the TV shows, they always return later to check up on the organizee to see if they're still organized? My dh would fail that part.

[True Blue]

I have not. I visited a local professional organizers website and she charges $100 an hour. I'm willing to pay someone $20 an hour but not $100 an hour. I ended up solving my own problem anyway but I'd love to use someone in that capacity when I get stuck.

[WTMindy]

an organizational expert :-). No one pays me, but I love organizing things. Honestly, the suggestions that the experts make are so readily available on the internet if a person wants to do a little reading. I think that the first step is identifying your biggest problems. paper clutter? closets out of control? unorganized kitchen? too much stuff? and then tackle that one area. Choose one small thing and get that under control and then move onto the next. A lot of times what people need the professionals to do is to give you permission to throw things away or get rid of things. I know when I help my sister-in-law organize I will ask her things like, "When do you use that? Why is in the best kitchen cupboard. Off to the thrift store!" or "It is OK to throw away your old TV guide collection from grade school."

[chai]

I have some friends who have organizing businesses. They charge anywhere from $25 to $50 an hour. (In our area, $50 is more the norm for someone who is experienced.) If you know exactly what area you want to get organized, they should be able to give you an estimate on the total cost. They should also be willing to work with you and then give you "homework" that you can do on your own.

I exchanged services with one of these friends so I was able to get some help for "free". I'm not completely challenged in knowing how to organize, (although implementation of the plan gives me heartburn), but it was so helpful having someone work with me and tell me what to do! She had several new ideas that I hadn't considered; she was brutal about what I should throw away; and she kept me going when I really wanted to quit. I also had "homework" that I had to complete before she came again. She was a taskmaster! I've done pretty well at keeping the organization up, but I still get the clutter piles that I have to work through because I don't toss things immediately.

Since you are creating new space, I highly recommend getting help of some kind. You can decide just how involved you want the organizer to be--from just a plan to doing the whole job.

The biggest thing that I have learned from both friends is to spend the money on boxes or baskets so that you have a place for everything, and then label like crazy.

[abbeyej]

I have a friend who did it, and the difference was amazing. And yes, she has kept her house very well organized since then. I've been impressed enough that yes, I would consider asking her who she used and even spend the (gulp!) money for it. Sure, the individual suggestions and books and websites could help... But maybe sometimes having a person come in and *really* show you and get you over the hump is worth it.

Especially with a new space. Start out on the right foot with some sustainable plan.

I think it's probably like dieting or anything else... Some people naturally eat what they should in appropriate amounts and get the right amount of exercise for their bodies. That's great. Some people aren't quite there naturally, but they find the guidance of a book and some determination on their own part adequate to get them where they need to be. Cool. And some people really, really benefit from having a real live person there to get them on track, keep them accountable for a little while, make sure they grasp the day-to-day of what healthy eating looks like.

And hey, sometimes spending the money is motivating in and of itself. I have known some people who pay for a gym membership not because they couldn't exercise at home, but because the wasted money if they *don't* go to the gym works to get them out the door. lol...

I say do what you think will work for you.

And I'm sooo impressed by what the professional "organizational expert" did for my friend!