What does a Professional Organizer do and why do I need one?
A Professional Organizer isn't just someone that comes in cleans up a bit, and sends you on your merry way. There are many different reasons and circumstances that lead to the place where your things are taking over a large part of your life. The emotional effect can be pretty significant. These feelings, combined with the actual physical clutter, can make it feel daunting and impossible. It can be very overwhelming. A professional organizer comes in and not only brings your home back to a place of comfort, but helps teach you and will put systems in place so it doesn't continue to happen in the future. Of course one of our goals is to leave you feeling refreshed, and with organized spaces. But we also want you to finish with a sense of accomplishment, and the confidence that you won't fall back into old habits.
What are the benefits of staging a home before listing?
When putting your home on the market, there are a few important things that will maximize the return you get on your investment. One of those is staging your home with furniture and accessories that enhance it's character, and make it much more appealing to potential buyers. When someone walks in your home, you want them to feel excited about the potential of living there. If it is messy, full of clutter, or has too many or mismatched and dated furniture pieces and knickknacks, it is off-putting and makes it more difficult for the person to use their imagination. Now picture your space clean, open, full of light, with an inviting, modern presence. It gives your property a feeling of elegance and tranquility. The process can vary, and can include rearranging or removing existing furniture, adding light and small accessories, decluttering, and cleaning. It can also mean starting over fresh and redesigning the entire space. It depends on the needs of each situation. And whether it is by getting multiple offers, or selling for more than asking price, the investment will pay off in a big way.
How much will it cost?
In reference to home organization, the amount of time it will take depends on how many goals we set, and how quickly we are able to move through the spaces together. I can work on my own for many projects, but for some we will work together as a team. I work quickly and efficiently, but will go at whatever speed you are comfortable. Some people will need a little more coaching, education and support, which can always add on to the bottom line. Here are a few of my most popular packages:
Virtual (1 hour) $75.00: This session can be done via phone, FaceTime or even through social media messenger programs. We will discuss all of your organizing questions, make plans for different areas in your home, talk about products, my recommendations and space planning/design. I will give you support and help you work through different obstacles that might be hindering your ability to be organized.
The Mini (2 hours) $160.00: This is an in home session where I give you ideas and a plan on how to organize your home. I will recommend different products, do space planning and design, and help you take measurements. As time allows (depending on the size of the project), I will help you start the process.
The Inspired Package (3 hours) $225.00. This is by far my most popular starter package. During this session we will tackle all of the above, and it will give us enough time to start transforming spaces!
The Organized Package (6 hours) $420.00: In addition to all of the above, I will be able to tackle 6 hours worth of all things organization! A lot can be accomplished with this package.
Elite (10+ hours): $70.00/hr. You will receive all of the services in the above packages, plus two additional 30 minute phone or virtual sessions to give you support, and help you continue to keep the spaces organized.
Every home and situation is different, so it is important to book an in home consultation so we can decide what package(s) work best for you. We will make a plan after discussing your goals. Home organization consultations are $50.00, and they last about a half hour.
For my home staging and design services, I charge $100.00 for a consultation. Proposals will be sent after our walk through, and will depend on square footage, how many hours expected, pieces of furniture and accessories needed, and any additional services requested.
*My standard rate is for a typical household. Extreme situations will be quoted on an individual basis
Will I need to get rid of all my stuff and become a minimalist?!
Absolutely not! While there can be a lot of freedom that comes with purging, I do not believe in a restrictive approach to home organization. Some people are to the point where they just want it out! Others are still very connected to their belongings. And there is nothing wrong with feeling that connection. I can help you organize your spaces, and that will not be dependent on what you decide to keep, and what you decide to let go.
Keep or Gift?
While going through your home, we will decide what will be kept (and organized), what will be donated or gifted, and what you can just kick to the curb! Donating the things you are ready to say goodbye to, is a complimentary service I provide.
Below are a few of my favorite organizations that I will gift your items to, where they will be appreciated and given a second life.
* Eastside Baby Corner
* Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank
* Habitat for Humanity
* Hopelink
What are the benefits of getting organized?
Where do I start? The mental health effects of clutter and disorganization have been explored in depth more recently. It can feel suffocating when our belongings start taking up so much time and space in our lives. Without systems in place, you can continually attempt to "declutter", and still feel like you aren't seeing real results. This is because it doesn't last long. Cleaning up a space, without thinking about how to keep it that way, is just a temporary fix that can lead to even more feelings of frustration. Mental and physical clutter are both things that need to be dealt with, in order to bring the peace back into our lives that we so desperately need. We sacrifice hours of our lives, devoting them to taming and dealing with our "things". Toys litter our homes, garages are packed with bins and boxes instead of vehicles, and we find ourselves in a difficult position when trying to get rid of the belongings that were originally purchased to bring feelings of joy or comfort. It has been proven that a cluttered home can actually markedly increase stress hormones circulating in our bloodstream. One of my main reasons for starting Inspired and Organized, is knowing that once we are finished, you will feel such a tremendous sense of relief, and will end up living a healthier, happier life.
How do I get started, and what should I expect?
The first step is reaching out to schedule your complimentary phone consultation. We will discuss your goals, your hopes for your space(s), your availability and your budget. If you decide we click and want to move forward, the next step would be to schedule your in home consultation. This is where we will carefully craft a plan to start tackling the goals we set in the phone consult. It will run $50.00, and lasts about a half hour. The real estate staging consultation fee is $100.00. I offer flexible scheduling options, and can tailor our sessions to what works best for you. For home organization services, I find that scheduling in blocks of 3-4 hours at a time, allows for a large amount of work to be accomplished, without facing the burnout that can come with projects of this nature. For staging, the schedule will be based on each individual project, but I will get you on the calendar and staged as soon as possible. I do take last minute requests as well. To get an idea of what to expect from an outside perspective, head over to my "About" page where you can read testimonials to see what others are saying.
Payment information
My preferred methods of payment are cash and check. I also currently accept credit cards through Quickbooks (credit/debit cards incur their 3% processing fee).
Payment is due prior to each session, and I have a minimum booking of 2 hours. For home staging consultations, I can bill the agent or homeowner directly, and am a preferred consultant with many brokerages.