How to Work with a Professional Organizer
The Answers May Surprise You…
Kaila unpacking and organizing a closet for a relocation client.
I recently stumbled upon a TikTok where a woman shared her experience of working with a professional organizer, only to feel like she’d been duped. As someone who's been in the organizing world (and real estate, where complaints are par for the course), I can’t help but feel a twinge of secondhand defensiveness.
Having spent my life in sales, I’ve never fully bought into the whole “customer is always right” mantra. The truth is any successful business relationship requires respect and cooperation from both parties.
The TikToker explained that both she and her husband have ADHD, and they shelled out $2K to get their entire downstairs organized. The result? A tidied-up space, but she still felt shortchanged. What she didn’t mention were all the factors that can influence the outcome of an organizing project. How is the downstairs used? Do other family members share the space? How severe is their ADHD? And perhaps most importantly, was the organizer experienced working with neurodivergent clients?
There are several factors both parties need to consider when choosing to work together. After spending over 10K hours working in homes, here is my take on a successful relationship and outcome:
The Most Common Question I Get is…
“How much will it cost, and how long will it take?” My answer? It depends—on how much stuff you have, how quickly you can make decisions, and how realistic your expectations are for what can actually fit in your space. The more you hold onto, the longer it will take, the more product and storage you will need, and the more creative we’ll need to get to create a sustainable solution. And when I say sustainable, I mean a result that truly lasts.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Investment
People have the best of intentions to declutter before their first appointment, but follow-through often gets lost in the shuffle of daily life. We’re used to tackling projects as they are when we arrive, so don’t stress (or worse - cancel your appointment) if you haven’t done any homework. Most of our clients are busy working professionals and tend to be minimally involved.
So, if you’re ready to make your organizing journey truly rewarding, check out my top tips on being an all-star organizing client!
Kaila working out a plan for a laundry room.
Before Our Arrival
Schedule an in-home consultation. This allows us to understand your household dynamics and plan a strategy.
Keep an open mind. Often clients will want to start in an area that is a particular pain point. We look at the project as a whole, and starting somewhere else may make logistical sense or be a less overwhelming place to start.
Declutter what you can in advance. Keep a donation box handy to toss anything you see as you go through your daily routines.
If you are minimally involved during our sessions, let us know when/how is the best way to reach you for any questions. We are great at working independently, but the decision of what stays or goes is always yours to make.
We are big animal lovers! Please ensure they are secured so they don’t get out or jump and knock us over.
How to be a Rock Star Client
I can always tell when clients have watched reality TV shows on organizing or aspire to Pinterest perfect outcomes by the way they talk. While they are great for inspiration they rarely (cough, cough never) translate into real life. Shows and pics are highly edited for viewership, so your expectations must align with your budget and lifestyle. Our procedure is always form follows function to achieve a sustainable result. Your best outcome will be achieved if you keep these tips in mind:
Be Open and Honest: Your organizer needs a clear understanding of your habits, challenges, and goals to create systems that work for you. Share your struggles without shame—professional organizers have seen it all and are there to help, not judge.
Trust the Process: Organizing can be an emotional journey, especially when it involves letting go of items with sentimental value. Trust that we are guiding you with your best interests in mind. We have the experience to know what works and what doesn’t, so be open to our suggestions. Patience is a virtue - your home didn’t get disorganized overnight, so creating sustainable systems won’t happen overnight either.
Communicate Clearly: Let us know what’s working for you and what isn’t. If something doesn’t feel right, politely say so (remember we’re humans). A good organizer will appreciate your feedback and adjust their approach as needed.
Respect Their Time: Organizing sessions are often scheduled in blocks of time to allow for maximum productivity. Be punctual, and avoid last-minute cancellations. Canceling means we are unemployed that day. I can’t keep good employees without paying them.
Be Ready to Let Go: A big part of organizing is decluttering, which often means letting go of items that no longer serve you. It’s okay to feel attached, but be willing to part with things that are holding you back. Your organizer will help you through this process, but it requires a willingness to change on your part.
How not to be THAT Client…
Don’t Micromanage: If you wouldn’t tell your lawyer, doctor, CPA, etc. how long it will take to do their job, please don’t tell us either. Once I hear a client tell me in our initial phone call that it’s an easy job or should only take X number of hours, I’ll pass on the job. Micromanagement will only circumvent our process and ultimately cause frustration and cost you more money.
Pay Promptly: Paying promptly is key to maintaining a positive working relationship. I have to pay my employees on time even if you don’t pay according to the terms you agreed.
Trust Our Product Suggestions: Consulting on what products are needed is a component of our services. Quality products that will last and support your systems are an investment. If we have to run around town to every Dollar store to find cheap organizers, you’ll pay for the time to do so essentially costing you more.
DIYing Part of the Process: Inviting your friend, mother, etc. to “help” or offering to buy products on your own. Our employees have procedures and processes to follow. We can’t do our jobs when they are being undermined. You may want to save money by buying products, but they aren’t the right fit or available when we need them. This ultimately causes frustration for all involved and costs you more in the long run.
Conclusion: If you're not completely satisfied, please politely let us know! We understand that change can be challenging at first, so we encourage you to live with it for a little while to see how it settles. We put our heart and soul into our work, so we’re here to make adjustments for anything that’s not quite right. Creating solutions for a happy household is our goal!
Jolene Monaco, CPO,® is a board-certified professional organizer. She is a professional member of NAPO - National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals and a former board member of NAPO-DFW. She holds an inactive real estate license in the State of Texas and is currently on the affiliate committee of MetroTex Association of Realtors. Before becoming a professional organizer, Jolene worked for 28 years in domestic and international aerospace sales and jet engine maintenance operations.