LIVING WELL: How to hire a personal organizer

It’s not uncommon for individuals to hire a personal trainer to help improve their health.

Nor is it out of the ordinary to hire a nutritionist to help a person improve their eating habits.

Along those same lines, individuals might hire a professional organizer to help them establish and maintain a sense of order they find difficult to do on their own.

The new year has arrived and once again thousands of people are adding “get organized” to their list of New Year’s resolutions.

For many, come February or March such resolutions are long since forgotten, and the messes that sparked the resolution in the first place remain largely untouched.

Relying on the services of a professional organizer can help individuals to finally conquer clutter and other organizational tasks.

When choosing a professional organizer, there are some things to keep in mind.

Not all professional organizers provide the same type of assistance

Some organizers only help corporate clients, while others may have certain niches, like organizing closets or filing systems. It’s important to ask prospective professionals what their areas of specialty might be.

Meeting with professional organizers can narrow down the one that will work best

This can be done over the phone or by e-mail.

Some professional organizers offer free, in-person consultations.

Others may charge for a consultation but credit the fee to the first bill if they’re hired.

Professional organizers may have a pricing plan in place, and others may be flexible

Some charge by the hour, while others use a per-project rate.

Upon learning about the organization project needed, the organizer will be better equipped to give a rate. Pricing may also vary depending on geographic location and how much competition is in the area.

Some professional organizers are trained to work with individuals with ADD or compulsive hoarding

If organization is being done as part of a psychological or medical treatment plan, a doctor may be able to refer an organizer who works with patients.

Other organizers hold certifications in certain areas, such as interior design or feng shui. Questioning the organizer can help a prospective client learn about the organizer’s certification and style.

To begin searching for a professional organizer, one may want to use the resources of the Professional Organizers of Canada. Membership does not guarantee a quality job or that the organizer will be the right fit, but it is an indication that the organizer has a commitment to continuing education and an industry code of ethics.