How the Organizing Process Usually Works
You email and/or call me (this is an essential first step,
so don't
neglect it!), and we talk about what you're looking for and what I can offer. You can also
request email addresses and phone numbers of past/current clients if
you'd like to talk to them.
We set a day and time for me to come by.
I show up with organizing kit in hand. (It contains catalogs, markers, tape measure, Post-Its, folders, etc.)
I offer a free one-hour assessment/consultation. We can do that by itself, or tack it onto the beginning of our first session. During that hour, I ask you questions to fill out my new client form, or if you filled it out and sent it to me in advance (you organized fiend, you!) then we go into more depth. We also plan a strategy and choose a room to start with.
If there is a lot of trash around, such as empty food packages, junk mail, stained/holey clothes, etc., we start by throwing it out, so we can more easily see what to sort.
We sort your remaining stuff into categories, and as we go, select more items to toss, give, or sell. I coach you to keep only things you truly love, need, or use, and let go of the rest, pushing only as far as you feel comfortable.
We do a surface cleaning as we go.
We put the loved, needed, and used stuff away, in temporary containers if necessary, and identify containers to buy (or we go shopping together for containers).
We talk about strategies for maintaining the space. I make specific suggestions depending on your particular personality, likes/dislikes, and techniques that have worked or not worked in the past. My ultimate goal is to make it so you don't need me anymore.
Sometimes all it takes is one four-hour session to get control of a desk, a bedroom, and so on. It depends on the level of clutter. I always make sure to leave the area neat, even if there's work left to do by the end of the session.
We schedule the next session. I recommend spacing the sessions no more than a week apart, so we can maintain the momentum and keep the chaos from sliding back in.