How Do I Find A Professional Organizer
That’s Right For Me?

Things to consider when searching for a professional organizer that will fit your needs.

Contact:
Initial conversations can be indicators for the future success of your relationship.

  • Did you find the organizer through a referral, an ad, a professional association, an
    article, or Internet search?
  • When you first communicated with the organizer, were they responsive?
  • Did they answer all of your questions?
  • Did they understand your unique challenges and organizing goals?
  • Was the organizer non-judgmental?
  • Did you feel comfortable with them?
  • Would you enjoy working with them?

Education & Experience:
The level of the organizer’s education and experience can have an impact on your organizing success.

  • Are they a Certified Professional Organizer or CPO?
  • How long have they been in business as an organizer?
  • What did they do before they became an organizer?
  • Do they continue to educate themselves on organizing issues and trends?
  • What type of special education or training does the organizer have?
  • Do they have resources such as other professionals, publications or products that they will share with you?
  • Do they belong to any professional organizing associations such as NAPO, BCPO or NSGCD? The more involved the organizer is with their industry, the more value they can offer to the client.

Intuition:
Let your insights help guide you.

  • What does your inner voice tell you about the organizer?
  • Were you able to easily communicate with the organizer?
  • Did you feel hopeful or hopeless after talking with them?

Assessment:
Clarifying your needs will help you find which organizer is right for you.

  • What kind of organizing help you do need? There are a wide-range of organizing
    specialties. Some organizers specialize in residential or business organizing. Some organize papers while others orchestrate moves. Some organizers are generalists while others specialize in working with chronically disorganized clients.
  • What are your organizing challenges?
  • Do you need assistance with a single, short-term project such as organizing a closet or filing system or do you need help with a more complex long-term project and ongoing support such as organizing an entire household?
  • Do you have the time and financial resources to invest in your organizing goals?
  • Has organizing always been a challenge for you? If so, consider hiring an organizer that specializes in working with chronically disorganized clients.

Availability:
Even though organizing is a service industry geared towards our clients, individual businesses are structured differently.

  • Are your schedules compatible?
  • Can the organizer accommodate your needs?
  • Do you want to work with the organizer evenings or weekends? If so, is the organizer
    available then or do they only work during the weekdays?

Research:
Exploring further will enable you to make a more informed decision.

  • Did you interview more than one organizer? Organizers have varying personalities,
    business practices, and methodologies, so it might be beneficial to contact several
    organizers to compare the differences.
  • Did you ask the organizer for references? If so, consider the type of work the organizer did with those clients (was it similar to your needs) and the longevity of the relationship. What insights did the client share?
  • Does the organizer have a website? If so, did you review it to learn more about them
    and their business? What impressions did you have?

There are thousands of organizers throughout the United States and each is as unique as the clients they serve. Like you, organizers want the relationship to be successful. If they are not well suited for you, they should be able to refer you to another organizer that can better meet your needs. By considering some of these questions, you can find the organizer that is the right fit for you.