Unexpected Perks of Hiring a Professional Organizer

Have you ever thought about hiring a professional organizer? It might sound appealing, but also a little bit intimidating. I get it. Inviting someone into your home and personal space can feel uncomfortable. The good news is that professional organizers are really a nice bunch of people. We don’t arrive with an agenda or a secret plan to make you get rid of your belongings. We simply want to help. Of course, the goal is always to leave you with a well-functioning, organized space. But there are some other unexpected perks of hiring a professional organizer you may not have thought about.

Professional Organizer Services

People often wonder what it’s like to work with me. While every organizer has a slightly different approach, my goal is always to make clients feel comfortable from start to finish. In general, for standard organizing projects, professional organizers do things like:

• Unload crowded spaces so objects can be reviewed.
• Pre-sort belongings to ease the decision-making process.
• Offer guidance and support as possessions are being reviewed.
• Suggest layouts and products to improve functionality and access.
• Establish new systems.
• Provide guidance and support for maintenance.
• Connect clients with resources to support the process, such as junk haulers, shredders, resellers, closet companies, and more.

In addition, many organizers offer services that support clients through life transitions, such as:

• Helping prepare for a downsize or relocation.
• Unpacking clients into a new home.
• Managing belongings as they move between multiple residences.
• Assisting clients to keep track of their things as they go through a renovation.
• Gathering documents and preparing for tax season.
• Exiting an office or changing a work situation.
• Decorating and de-decorating around the holidays and for special events.

Many of us also offer productivity coaching, where we assist clients in doing things like:

• Identifying priorities.
• Managing the calendar.
• Monitoring and completing tasks.
• Nurturing and harnessing focus.

These are just a few examples. Professional organizers often find themselves uniquely positioned to help with those tasks for which people aren’t quite sure who to call. As I said, we want to help. If we don’t do it, we might be able to connect you with someone who does.

Unexpected Perks

Recently, I asked several fellow professional organizers what they had done for clients that made the greatest impact. I was expecting stories like “found a home for a giant object” or “helped a client clear a space in two days.” Instead, they described something entirely different: the intangible benefits clients often don’t expect. The more we chatted, the more I realized how important these “services” truly are, so I thought I would share them with you.

Permission to Let Go

Letting go can be hard. When we choose to get rid of something, it can feel like a loss. Loss of a dream, loss of a plan, loss of a memory, even loss of a relationship.

Nevertheless, letting go should be part of normal life. Most possessions serve a purpose for a season; few are meant to be kept forever. Furthermore, our lives and priorities are ever evolving. What we needed ten years ago may no longer be relevant. It can be hard to know when to let go and when to hold on.

Professional organizers deal with this issue all the time. We help people navigate the emotional process of letting go. Many clients find it helpful just to have someone nearby, giving permission to say goodbye. We also know how to donate, recycle, sell, or responsibly dispose of items when the time comes.

Takeaway: professional organizers help you let go in a time and manner that makes you feel at peace.

Emotional Support

Life is hard. Many times, we find ourselves needing to tackle an organizing project while we are dealing with other difficulties. For instance, you need to quickly declutter, pack up and move because your divorce has just finalized and the house is about to be sold. Or you need to clear out the spare room because your ailing parent needs to move in.

In some cases, you simply have more on your plate than you can handle–even good things. When the graduation, wedding, and new baby coincide, you might need a friendly ear as well as the extra hands.

Professional organizers are skilled listeners and experienced problem-solvers. Being in homes every day, we have “seen it all.” We come with no judgment and want to help you get through whatever it is you are juggling.

Takeaway: professional organizers bring relief.

Someone Who is On Your Side

When you hire a professional organizer, you are hiring an ally. We come not only to work with you, but for you. We’re invested in your goals, your priorities, and the life you’re trying to create.

Many people are trying to manage an organizing project all by themselves. Maybe their spouse or partner is resisting their efforts to get things in order. Perhaps there is a challenging situation with a child or parent. Clients are often dealing with physical ailments and mental health challenges. It’s not uncommon to be facing a lot of work with no one around to help. It can be hard to find someone who cares.

Professional organizers aren’t just focused on your belongings or your space, we’re focused on you. Yes, we want to improve the functionality of your time, space, and belongings, but that is only possible if you are thriving. Your success is our success.

Takeaway: professional organizers are focused on making your life better.

A Fresh Perspective

The longer we operate in a familiar place and/or pattern, the harder it is to see things with fresh eyes. We can struggle to see how things can get better, or how we might do things differently to achieve a better result.

Simply because we’re seeing your space for the first time, we notice things you no longer do. We look at a space without preconceived ideas of how things should be done. I once noticed a large chair in a hallway that was obstructing movement from the kitchen to the bedrooms. When I asked, “Talk to me about the chair,” the client said, “What chair?”

This is normal, as we naturally habituate to our surroundings. While this can be helpful, it can also keep us from seeing possibilities and considering alternate solutions. I always have my measuring tape in my pocket, and I love tossing around ideas with clients for how we might rearrange or tweak to make a space work and flow more efficiently.

Takeaway: professional organizers bring ideas you never would have thought of on your own.

Someone to Keep You Focused

Many of us joke that we are sort of like a personal trainer. You may know how to do pushups, but you won’t do them unless someone is standing next to you counting, “One, two, three… you’ve got this… four, five, six…”

When you are working by yourself, especially in your house, it’s very easy to get distracted. You walk into another room and suddenly you lose momentum. Or you check an alert on your phone and, before you know it, you’ve lost an hour.

In contrast, when you pay a professional, you are more likely to stay on task. After all, you are paying for our time. We’re there with one purpose: to help you keep moving forward. This doesn’t mean you don’t get a break. We are very aware of needs for rest, hydration, and attention breaks. However, we keep these breaks from hijacking the project.

Takeaway: professional organizers will keep you focused so you achieve your goals.

Company While You Work

All of us feel differently about working on organizing and productivity tasks. Some of us love them and find them to be a good way to alleviate stress. Some people don’t mind them but have more pressing tasks to deal with. Others would rather go to the dentist than declutter a drawer. This is fine. We’re all different, and we have varying interests and talents.

Typically, those who hire professional organizers fall into the latter categories. Decluttering and organizing are low on the priority list, things they would rather not spend time doing.

Any time you have to do something you don’t want to do, it helps to have someone else doing it with you. Along with practical expertise, we bring conversation, encouragement, and companionship. We like to talk, laugh, share, and hear your stories. I’ve learned so much from my clients and I treasure the times I’ve gotten to spend with them. And when someone is working alongside you, the project almost always moves faster than it would on your own.

“A burden shared is a burden lightened.”

Swedish Proverb

Takeaway: professional organizers make tasks easier and more fun.

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At the end of the day, organizing isn’t really about bins, labels, or perfectly folded towels. It’s about creating a home and a life that work better for you. If a professional organizer can make that journey a little easier, the results often extend far beyond the organized space itself.

Which of these unexpected perks most appeals to you?