The Process
Step one is the initial consultation. We will discuss the area(s) that you would like me to work on, pricing, and what your end goal is. It may be helpful for me to look at all areas of your home, not just the part you want me to work on, so that I can get a feel for how to best help you.
I am not currently qualified to work on a hoarding situation, but I am happy to provide a list of resources that can help.
**Once the work begins, the homeowner needs to be available and involved in the process. This way we both know that the system I’m creating will be practical and sustainable once I leave.
Step two is to identify where you fall on the Emotional-Organizational scale, and then use that to outline the strategy for the room/home. This is one reason I may ask to see all areas of the home. If you have trouble keeping the living room tidy but your bedroom is fine, what is different in the bedroom? Or, if the whole house needs help, where is the worst of the mess, and where are you able to keep up with the most? This can say a lot about your own emotional-organizational style.
Step three is where the work really begins! Decluttering is the number one priority at this stage. I’m going to be absolutely ruthless here. If we’re in the kitchen, we’re throwing out any expired food, donating the 10 extra cooking spoons in the drawer, and only keeping what you absolutely need and will use.
Be prepared to do a little bit of soul-searching at this stage. For some people it can be hard to get rid of things that they’ve had for years, even though they no longer need them. Before you knee-jerk say you must keep that serving spoon, think about why you want to keep it.
**Children’s rooms need to be handled differently. Depending on the age and/or needs of the child, they may need to be involved in the decluttering process.
Step Four is the actual organizing. We’re finally at the fun part! If you already have plenty of bins, boxes, and other organizational tools we’ll use those first, but I may suggest a trip to your nearest home goods store for more, depending on what we need.
I have a strict rule here: NO CARDBOARD! Cardboard boxes are great for short-term storage, children’s crafts, loading up trash, and lots of other things. They are NOT good for long-term storage. Cardboard attracts insects, in particular spiders. If you are really working on a shoe-string budget we may start out with cardboard boxes, but I will make a strong recommendation to replace them as soon as possible.
I will be taking progress photos to document the process as we go along. These are for my portfolio, so make sure to let me know if there is any item that you do not want photographed. I will also never include you in a photo without your permission.
Step five is the clean up! I do not offer cleaning services so I’m not able to help with dusting, vacuuming, mopping, etc., but I will absolutely help carry trash to the curb, load up the car with the donate pile, and generally put the finishing touches on the room.
At the end of the process we will go over the final system, with tips and strategies for maintaining it.