Some of my clients have told me that their family has balked at their decision to hire a home organizer and have wondered why they couldn’t just have a friend help them get organized instead. The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) came up with this great list of questions to help you figure out when to let a friend help you and when to call in a professional organizer instead:
- Do you know what to do and how to organize your space, but just need a friend to sit quietly by?
- Is your friend patient and non-judgmental?
- Do you work well with your friend?
- Will your friend be objective and not try to impose his/her idea of “being organized” on you?
- Does your friend have time to see you through the project and not leave you with a mess?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, then a friend will probably be all you need to help you with your organizing project. If you answered “no” to any of these questions, here are some things to ask yourself about hiring a professional organizer:
- Are you unsure as to how or where to begin organizing?
- Do you need to learn how to organize and how to set up systems?
- Do you need to figure out how to best use your space?
- Do you have a deadline for completing your organizing project, such as a move?
- Do you need the expertise of someone trained in dealing with chronically disorganized people?
- Are you dealing with medical/physical/psychological issues in addition to disorganization?
- Will you need ongoing assistance or maintenance?
- Do you need someone to help you organize large quantities of things or paper?
- Do you want or need the objectivity of a neutral third party?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you probably should seek out the help of a professional organizer. Home organizing is an investment in your family’s quality of life, and you deserve to live in a comfortable, functional and welcoming space.
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