We’ve all been there. You can’t find your keys… for the third time this week. Where did you leave that other shoe? You’re already running 15 minutes late for work. Perhaps all your friends and family know 8 p.m. really means 8:30 when planning social events. Maybe you hate doing laundry because folding just isn’t your thing. Or maybe you’ve moved into a new place, without setting aside time to figure out how to make your new living space truly feel like home. The following five reasons are common obstacles that may be preventing you from contacting a professional organizer.
1. You never knew home organizing professionals existed.
Like cooking, carpentry, and decorating, home organizing is a learned skill that can be greatly enhanced by natural talent. There are people who possess the skills to perform these services for themselves. There are also people who are naturally drawn to these tasks and are motivated to help others by turning their skills into highly sought-after services. Home organizing is no different. Professional organizing began to rise in popularity as an industry in 1984. Los Angeles receives credit as the birthplace of the home organizing profession. Today, professional organizing has expanded around the world, and home organizers are available in most major cities. Even those who live in mid-sized cities and smaller towns have access to professional home and office organizing services in their communities.
2. You feel embarrassed about needing help with organizing.
People generally feel ashamed of their clutter. Some people are secretly afraid their unorganized space will be criticized as a personal failure. Executives who work in high-ranking positions are also more inclined to view their own disorganized desks and cluttered closets as a shameful secret that contradicts their carefully curated professional image. Some people anxiously believe others will equate their disorganization to general irresponsibility or even a lack of morality.
The good news is all these notions are generally false. For most people, the challenges they experience in maintaining an organized home are the result of never having learned a system for organizing that was personally effective. In order for a system to be effective, it must be compatible with your personality, your habits, your learning style, and, ultimately, your lifestyle. There is no singular way to stay organized. Working with an organizing professional can help individuals who struggle with maintaining an orderly space identify strategies that can make it possible to achieve their organizing goals and maintain positive, lasting results.
3. You aren’t sure how to communicate your needs to a professional organizer.
Sometimes we know our struggle, but we are unable to imagine what an effective remedy may look like. Professional organizers are able to help those who struggle with organizing understand the underlying causes of their difficulties and identify effective solutions. The first step toward addressing an issue with organizing is to contact a professional to discuss your current struggles and your lifestyle goals. Organizers are generally able to identify causal relationships and envision solutions you may not otherwise perceive in the absence of professional guidance.
4. You don’t know where to find a professional organizer.
The best place to learn more about professional organizers and to find one nearby is a basic Google search. Look for customer feedback on search engines, business directories, and social media platforms. Remember to read each review critically and to look for common complaints or common points of praise. Real estate agents, home renovators, and moving companies are other valuable resources that can often recommend a professional home organizer in your city.
5. You are convinced you cannot afford a professional organizer.
Each professional organizer’s target clientele and price range varies. The same is true of each organizing professional’s methodology and service offerings. Some organizers offer consultations that allow the client to take the knowledge he or she gains from the organizer and DIY his or her own space. Other organizing services allow the client to be completely hands-off. These services often include all necessary organizing supplies and a team to complete the project without much interaction with the client. Reach out to multiple professional organizers to determine whether they are able to offer the level of guidance and service you require to achieve your desired outcome.
The idea of inviting an organizing professional into your home may seem intimidating as people generally consider their homes to be their intimate space. Nevertheless, you can rest assured that professional organizers generally maintain a standard of professionalism. Therefore, they generally do not pass judgment, nor is the aim to deliberately make you feel uncomfortable. If you are feeling anxious about working with a professional organizer, we recommend having an honest conversation about your concerns prior to allowing the service provider to enter your home.
We offer professional, courteous, and discrete service to corporate Executives, entertainment industry professionals, and business owners in the New York City area who would like to create a more organized, balanced, and peaceful living space, workspace, and lifestyle. Visit our Services page for more information.
Rolanda L., Professional Organizer 