How to Choose a Professional Organizer
Does choosing an organizer put you in a state of analysis paralysis? Good news—we’ve compiled our top tips for identifying and hiring the best organizer for your family’s individual needs. You’re just a few steps away from a dreamy new setup!
The New Age of Organization
Here’s the thing: organizing services have been around for a long time. Professional organizers started popping up in the 1970s, filling an essential gap in the market for homeowners looking to tap into the transformative benefits of a decluttered home.
In the last few years, however, home organization has moved from a “nice-to-have” to a life-changing necessity. With Target and Amazon Prime in easy reach, stuff adds up. Creating a system ensures that as things move in and out of your life, they have a place and a purpose.
We’ve spent the last seven years organizing billions of dollars of real estate for clients with homes of all sizes, and we’ve learned a lot along the way!
Maybe you’ve worked with an organizer before, only to be right back where you started in a few months. Or this may be your first time seeking out a professional. This guide will help you find that next step wherever you are on your organizational journey, including Specific questions to ask when interviewing an organizing company
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Prepare Questions
When you’ve narrowed down your list, it’s time to gather together questions for your consultation call. The goal is to determine whether it’s a good fit. Here are some questions we recommend asking a professional organizer before you hire them!
TEAM
Are your organizer's employees or contractors?
Are all organizers' backgrounds checked?
How many projects/weeks per year do you do?
What is your training process?
Are you insured?
What professional backgrounds does your team bring that directly relate to home expertise or management?
How many years have team members been with you?
What is your cell phone policy?
How long has the company been in business?
PORTFOLIO
What percentage of your business is referrals and returning business?
How often is your portfolio updated?
Was your website portfolio completed by your current team?
What makes you stand out from your competitors?
What steps does your company take to ensure privacy?
Do you have clients you can easily refer me to that are not friends or family?
PROCESS
What steps does your company take to ensure personal items are protected and not taken off property?
Do you take donations, why or why not?
Do you use my existing organizational product?
Do you take a lunch break that is paid or unpaid?
Does your hourly rate include shopping and returns?
Will you edit?
What can I expect during the process?
How do you capture my home style and design?
Do you take liability for any broken items that they unpack?
Does the quote include organizational products?
SUCCESS
How do you tailor the process to our family?
Do I need to fully unpack and do you offer unpacking services?
Do I need to be present for the full project?
Will my house staff or family be able to maintain it?
What is your success rate for sustainability?
What should we expect during the process?
Know What You’re Looking For
The easiest place to start is by identifying what you need in an organizer. There are different categories for different needs:
HOURLY ORGANIZERS: Professionals who charge by the hour come into your home and organize your things. The tricky thing about this category is that there is no specific training required to call yourself a professional organizer, so results may vary. Our rule of thumb? You get what you pay for!
DIY ORGANIZERS: Influencers and content creators in this space offer DIY hacks and “dupes” of popular products to help people get organized over time. While they are a great source of inspiration and direction, the content is better suited for smaller projects vs. an entire home reorganization.
MOVERS: Most moving companies will bring items into your space, with some even providing unpacking services, but usually, these processes are not detailed enough to be a substitution for hiring a professional organizer.
SPECIALISTS: Often certified, these organizers are uniquely qualified to assist in sensitive cases like hoarding or downsizing, which can be emotionally taxing.
WHOLE-HOME FAMILY ORGANIZERS: An emerging group of organizers dedicated to hyper-personalized, sustainable organizational solutions that view each space as part of the entire home ecosystem. Graceful Spaces falls into this category!
A significant difference between these categories is the amount of strategy and planning involved. A by-the-hour organizer takes a more reactive approach to put your home in order, assessing and tidying things as they go.
Whole-home organizers come at a higher premium because of the prep work involved in each project—perfect for clients looking for a sustainable, long-term system built just for their lifestyle and preferences.
“Working with Graceful Spaces was a dream come true. They took spaces in our new home and made them efficient, organized and beautiful! It gives me so much joy and peace every time I walk into the pantry or closet and know that everything has a place. The entire team is so sweet and such a joy to work with - I’m constantly thinking of what other projects I can have them come back for so I can see them all again!”
Think Long Term
If you’re going to invest in a professional organizer, you should maximize that investment with a sustainable solution. At Graceful Spaces, we’ve spent 5+ years building and iterating a methodology that can be duplicated to drive client results. It’s made us a leader in organization in-home services. Other firms are taking notes on our Fresh Start service and incorporating similar ideas into their offerings, while our Building Luxury service remains a unique and popular offering for clients.
How do you know if you’ve found an excellent long-term investment? Here are a few things to look for when researching an organization company:
1. They have a distinct and concrete method of organization.
2. Their process involves an in-depth understanding of your family, goals, lifestyle, and preferences.
3. They speak about the long-term—not just seasonal—use of space.
4. Their services include walking you through the new systems and how to maintain them.
5. They source products based on your needs (not just what’s in stock at Target).
6. They go beyond the surface and consider micro categories, seasonal rotation, future planning, and kid-friendly zones
7. They have pictures on their website or social of real projects, not just staged photos, and the quality is consistent from project to project.
Still have questions?
We get it—it’s a big decision! If you still have questions about the hiring process, feel free to contact our team or leave a question in the comments.
If you’d like to learn more about working with Graceful Spaces, click here to view our services or here to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing more about your project!