Frequently Asked Questions
What is a professional organizer?
"A Professional Organizer enhances the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles and through transferring organizing skills. Professional Organizers help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper, and their systems for life." - National Association of Professional Organizers
What are your hours?
Our normal business hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. Organizing sessions are not available on evenings or weekends.
How should I prepare for my Initial Consultation?
Please don't straighten up or purchase any organizing products!
We want to see your space exactly how it was when you called. We see it like a puzzle and if you hide any pieces the end result will be missing something. Buying organizing products before we begin our work together is putting the cart before the horse, so instead, let's make educated decisions together once things are underway.
Simply prepare yourself to be honest and open about your organizing challenges. Some people get nervous about letting a Professional Organizer see their mess, but we're used to it and it's our job. There is nothing to be worried about.
How should I prepare for my Organizing Session(s)?
We promise to devote our undivided attention to the task at hand during your Organizing Sessions, and request that you do the same.
Plan ahead to ensure that you are:
- Physically Present: No wandering off to check your email, shift the laundry, pick up the kids, etc. We will not remain on the premises without you present, so if you need to leave early, that will conclude the session and cancellation charges may apply.
- Mentally Present: Get a good night’s sleep. Wear comfortable clothing. Never organize on an empty stomach. Have a drink or water bottle handy. Eliminate interruptions by:
- Making childcare arrangements
- Asking family members & co-workers not to disturb you during the session
- Putting your cell phone on silent & letting calls go to voicemail
- Walking the dog beforehand, etc.
- Emotionally Present: Be ready to make decisions, even ones that you have been avoiding for a long time. We’re here to help with that.
If you have concerns, please raise them in advance.
How long will it take? How much will it cost?
No two organizing projects are alike. We may be able to verbalize ballpark estimates for how long a project will take, but they are not guarantees and tend to change (sometimes up, sometimes down) after we dig into the project. Several factors come into play:
- The amount of objects or information involved. It's impossible to know how many decisions are lurking in each pile or box until we dig in. A 200-page book is 1 decision while a 1-inch thick pile of paperwork could be 200 decisions!
- How quickly you make decisions. Clutter is an accumulation of delayed decisions and it's time to finally make them!
- Your involvement in the organizing process. Working side-by-side makes things go faster and maximizes your chances of staying organized long-term. On some projects it's possible for Tidy Life to perform part of the work independently & only consult with you on critical decisions. This can either help or hurt our overall productivity depending on the type of project.
Our hourly rates are available upon request.
Will you make me get rid of stuff?
De-cluttering is an important step in the organizing process that cannot be overlooked, but each decision is yours. Our job is to coach you toward your own personal organizing goals as we understand them, by presenting you with logical and objective guidance to help you make decisions. You will probably find it easier to let go of things while working with us, but we will never force you.
Will I need to buy a lot of organizing products?
We will do our best to use products you already own from previous attempts to get organized, or find unconventional uses for things you have around the house.
As our work progresses it may become apparent that purchasing certain products will make a big difference, in which case we can explore options at different price points. If you are working with a budget for organizing products we can make recommendations for how to allocate it.
Are you licensed, certified, bonded and insured?
TIDY LIFE carries liability insurance for our protection and yours. If you need more details, please inquire. We currently have no need to be bonded, but are capable of securing a bond if needed in the future.
The State of Maryland does not require or offer a licensing program for Professional Organizers. We are not licensed because we don't need to be.
You may hear the term CPO®, which stands for Certified Professional Organizer. This is an optional, voluntary designation and is not required in order to start or run an organizing business. In fact, it can take several years in business to meet the eligibility requirements to even sit for the exam. TIDY LIFE is working on meeting those requirements so we can pursue CPO® status as soon as possible!
