Below are the most common questions prospective clients ask about working with me.
What is your fee structure?
I charge by the hour. My current rate is $50 per hour plus a per session travel fee. If you live really close to me (roughly northeast Chicago and Evanston), I will waive the travel fee.
I typically schedule 5.5 hour sessions, with 30 minutes as an unpaid meal break. It’s long enough to complete many projects, or at least make a noticeable dent in a larger project.
Clients pay at the end of each session and most clients pay me through Venmo. If you don’t have Venmo, let me know and we will set something else up.
What is your service area?
I serve the north side of Chicago and the near north suburbs. (This is solely based on travel time, as I live on the far north side of Chicago.)
My home isn’t small. Will you still help me?
Yes, I have worked and will gladly work in medium and large homes too.
How long does a project take?
There are a lot of variables: what kind of space(s) we’re tackling, how much purging, whether I am working with you or solo. That said, typically a single room takes 1 or 2 sessions, and a closet or pantry takes 1 session (or part of 1 session).
If you’re thinking you want help with the whole house, I recommend we start with one or two sessions to tackle the space that’s causing you the most stress. After that, you can decide what pace makes sense to you. Some clients prefer a regular recurring session, where as others schedule room by room as budget allows.
Do you sell organizing products or closet systems?
I do not sell any products. Honestly, I find that most projects can be completed using only what the client already owns. If you work with me and you need or want additional organization products, I will provide you with a general shopping list and measurements, plus suggested resources that fit your budget. Some clients also invite me back to set up the new products while others prefer to do it themselves.
Do you do any design work?
I am not a designer, so I cannot advise you on color schemes, major furnishings, lighting, fabrics, etc. However, I can help you figure out how to rearrange the furniture you already own to make the space more useable. I can also help you identify unused or underused space, and provide you with ideas for reclaiming it for additional storage. I’ve definitely helped clients move furniture around, disassemble unwanted shelving, and assemble new flat-pack furnishings. I’ll be totally honest with you is something is beyond my abilities.
I feel really embarrassed about the state of my home. Maybe you won’t want to work with me.
Please don’t feel embarrassed! Managing a home is a lot of work and it’s not your only responsibility. No matter what lead you to this point, I’m not here to judge, just to help. Honestly, I’m honored to be invited into your home and given a chance to make your life easier. Also, organizing is fun for me. So whether it’s just a closet or a room, or it’s the whole house, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Are you going to make me get rid of everything?
The short answer is no. Whether you get rid of 500 items or zero items, I will help you find a way to make your space work better. But if purging is something you want to do, I will gladly help you! Some clients need me as a coach to help them decide what to keep and what to let go of. Others just appreciate another pair of hands to make the process less physically taxing.
Do we work together or do you work solo?
As the client I need you to weigh in on some parts of the process, but I can do a lot of the work solo. Assuming you want to be as hands off as possible, here is the basic process.
- Walk-through: You and I walk through the space so I understand your goals and frustrations. I’ll also have you pull all the available bins and baskets you own. With your permission, I’ll take before photos.
- Categorizing: I will pull everything out in the space. Anything obviously trash goes in a trash bag and anything I suspect belongs in another room goes in a box. Everything else is sorted into piles (like with like).
- Q&A: At this point I typically need to check in with you. We will review the mystery pile and, now that I understand what you are storing, I’ll run some ideas and questions by you.
- Optional – Purging: If you want to purge, this happens at this point. Some clients can quickly filter through the piles and tell me what is going. Others need a lot of time and assistance to decide. Others want to keep everything.
- Assembly: Unless we’re moving furniture, I can return to solo work here. Using the containers and furnishings you have on hand, I will figure out how to put away the keep items so that the space meets your goals and will be as easy to maintain as possible. If I think that a specific kind of product will make a big difference, I’ll leave you with written suggestions.
- Recommended – Labeling: With your permission, I will label everywhere. This will help you and everyone you live with learn the new system. I am low-key about this – I just make handwritten labels using paper and pen and affix them with tape or clips.
- Final walk-through: At this point I you back and we go over the new space. With your permission, I will take after photos.
Will you haul away my unwanted stuff for me?
No, I’m sorry, I do not physically remove items from your home. But I can pack everything up for you and figure out where to send it next. I can also help you load the car or schedule a pick-up service.
I hope this information helped you decide to reach out and contact me today! I’d love to hear more about how I can help you.