Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions I get asked most often...
What is a Professional Organizer?
A Professional Organizer is someone that helps you to overcome clutter and disorganization, to make your life less stressful and your time more efficient. Although there is no formal certification body in Canada, a good Professional Organizer should be a member of Professional Organizers in Canada.
Why hire a Professional Organizer?
Because you will be so much more successful when you have help! A Professional Organizer not only helps you organize your mess, but he/she also creates easy-to-follow systems to help you keep it that way. Your Organizer is there to help you through the entire process, or to get down and dirty and do everything for you. She/he will sift, sort, clean, file, de-clutter, and de-stress to help make your home a better place to live.
What are the benefits of getting organized?
EVERYTHING! You will find you have more time, less stress, and that you actually know where everything is! You’ll save time and eliminate headaches, making your life easier and, more importantly, happier. Your environment plays a huge role in your attitude, outlook, work success, family harmony, and even overall health. When your life is in disarray, it is reflected in all areas. Life is just plain easier and more enjoyable when your environment is organized, clean, and it’s easy to find things.
Which areas do you service?
I will tackle anything from your children’s playroom to your kitchen pantry, from the CEO’s office to the cubicle farm. Almost any area of your home and office are covered. You can see a full listing of spaces serviced on the Services page.
I don’t need to organize, I need to downsize! Can you help?
Absolutely! Organizers are great at downsizing. I can help you decide what to keep and what to do with everything that doesn’t “make the cut”. We can downsize, de-clutter and organize for a harmonious, smaller home.
Will you work with me or just coach me?
It’s up to you. If you don’t want to touch a thing, you don’t have to. Of course, I can’t decide what to do with your stuff without consulting you, so in almost every case the client works with me for much of the time. Your success will be more lasting if you participate in making it happen.
How long will it take to get organized?
A lot of that depends on how “challenging” your situation is. In my experience, an average room will probably take 1-2 full days to complete, and an average one-person office will probably take 2-3 days. That being said, small jobs (like a closet or a bathroom) will likely take less, and big jobs (like a large basement or very full garage) will likely take more. Of course, a lot depends on how well you complete your homework. If you only think about organizing during appointments, it will go much more slowly than if you tackle the small projects your organizer assigns between sessions.
Will my sessions be confidential?
Absolutely! All meetings, conversations, and questions are between you and I, and no one else. To see other guidelines I stand by, please read the bottom section of my About page.
What are your rates?
While rates can vary widely, you can count on the average rate for Professional Organizing in Canada to be in the range of $50 to $170/hour. Please see the Services page for details about my rates.
What if I only need you for a few hours?
No problem! There is a minimum of 4 hours for each project.
I live outside of Ottawa/Orleans/Kanata. Do you charge for travel time?
Not usually. If you are outside my usual travel zone (about 30 mins from central Ottawa), I may need to charge a little extra to cover time, gas, mileage. There’s no charge for Kemptville or Brockville, as I’m there frequently. I’ll let you know if there would be a small travel fee.
What takes place at the initial meeting?
I get inspired by the mess! I will come to your home or office and evaluate the space(s) as-is, and formulate a plan of action. Then we will discuss what problems you have with the space(s), what you would like to see change, and what is currently working for you. There is no charge for the first 30 minutes of our first work session as that’s our time to get to know each other a bit and make a plan.
How do I get started?
Simply contact me here and tell me what needs to be addressed, what rooms/areas you’d like to get organized, and any other details you can include. I will get back to you and we can set up a time for our first work session. If you can send me a couple of quick photos of the space in advance, that can be helpful, but isn’t required.
What payments are accepted?
I accept cash and cheque. Payment is due at the end of each work session (each day).