Professional Organizing and Interior Decorating FAQs

I’m certified by the Institute for Professional Organizers™, a professional member of NAPO and follow NAPO’s code of ethics. I also serve on the board of NAPO's Washington State Chapter. I’ve completed Coaching Essentials, 8-week course on basic coaching skills that I incorporate into my client work. This is approved coach-specific training per the International Coaching Federation. And I’ve been trained in the 5S organizing system (an approach used in lean manufacturing). 

So basically, I take this work seriously.

I also have a lot of fun doing it! I will not be overwhelmed by your basement or closet. Let’s get in there and get started! I work fast and come up with creative and practical solutions. In my previous professional life, I was trained in facilitation and can help people (you!) make difficult decisions. If I was able to help my mom downsize from five storage units to one, I can help you with your kitchen cabinets.

Great question. Pretty much everyone has some extra stuff around and may need help clearing the clutter. But my approach as a professional organizer is from a positive perspective: what is important to you? How can this space better support the activities in your life that happen here? By identifying what’s important, it’s often much easier to decide what stays and what doesn't. If you have a specific goal about letting go of items or feel like you need help reducing the clutter in your home, we’ll identify that at the beginning of the project and I’ll help you get there. It will always be your decision whether something stays or goes. Whether you are a “more is more” or a “less is more” kind of person, you will keep the items that really matter to you.

It all depends on the scope and no two home organizing projects are exactly the same. How many spaces do you want to work on? How large are they? How quickly do you make decisions? Do you want me to help pick out bins and make personalized labels? I’ve organized one pantry in three hours and another pantry in 12 hours. (Kitchens and pantries are some of my favorites!) Once I see your space, I can give you a rough idea of how much hands-on organizing time a project will take and you can select a package from there.

You can buy home organization packages at different levels. You’re not charged more than that unless you add additional hours. Every package comes with a written plan that you can use to finish up on your own if needed. Productivity consulting and group facilitation are different services, billed by the hour or by the day, and charged at different rates. Learn more.

Yes, absolutely. Check out Package A: DIY.

Please don’t! It’s much easier to create a plan that will work for you if you don’t clean up in advance.

Nope. And I’m not going to judge you no matter how much stuff you have or how it’s organized (or not organized). Really.

I love helping people organize their homes. Whether your project is an entire home, storage area, kids’ area or closet, I love it. I have also helped people set up systems to manage household paperwork and organize permanent records. You can see all of my home organizing services here.  If you’re not sure if your project aligns with my skills, reach out and we can discuss. I’m not the right fit, I can refer you to one of my local NAPO colleagues.

If you believe that you or someone you know is experiencing chronic disorganization or Hoarding Disorder, check out the resources offered by the Institute for Chronic Disorganization and their clutter-hoarding scale. I don’t specialize in working with people experiencing Hoarding Disorder but I know many organizers who do and can offer a referral should you need one.

Many projects can be accomplished without buying any organizing accessories. We’ll talk about what you have on hand and what you may need to buy at the beginning of our work together. The choice to buy anything will always be yours and you’ll be organized at the end of our project either way.

Nope. And you wouldn’t want me to. If we are designing a closet system for you, either I can arrange for someone to install it for you or you can. I’ve designed with IKEA and The Container Store shelving systems. I can also refer you to a great local company if you need something completely custom. Shelving system design counts toward the organizing hours in your package.

Absolutely. Downsizing (or rightsizing) can be an emotional experience. It means addressing a lifetime of memories (and sometimes more than one lifetime if you’ve inherited items from previous generations). I appreciate the trust that my downsizing clients place in me - these decisions are personal! Downsizing can also be energizing and liberating: identifying what matters to you now and creating a home that reflects that.

Yes, absolutely! Organizing and decorating can go hand-in-hand. When you are considering improving your space, you may also want a new couch, rug or accessories. I've found that offering both home organizing and interior decorating is an affordable and efficient way for clients to transform their homes.

Yup. A digital organization system can be just as impactful as organizing physical spaces. I work with clients on both personal and professional digital organizing projects. 

Yes! Maintenance is the most important step and I’ll make simple suggestions to maintain the work we’ve done. But you can also expect that your life changes, your space will need to change with it. I work with clients over many years as their kids get older, move out or they retire. Your organizing project is never "finished," rather it is fit for how you currently use the space.

Typically, it’s a mix of working together and on our own, sometimes with “homework” for you in between sessions. I am also happy to organize your space on my own, but will always need you to weigh in on whether or not items stay or go and where categories belong. The system needs to be intuitive to you and will require your input throughout the project.

No, but I can recommend donation or recycling partners for many items. 

I’ve worked with clients in View Ridge, Bryant, Green Lake, Magnolia, Madison Park, West Seattle and many other Seattle neighborhoods. I’ve also worked in Bellevue, Medina, Mercer Island, Kenmore and Shoreline. My family and I live in NE Seattle and I try to keep my one-way commute to about 30 minutes. If you aren’t sure how your location fits in, reach out. I can always refer you to another member of NAPO Washington State.

A death binder is the practical answer to: ohmigosh, what would my spouse/adult child/loved one do if I were to die tomorrow? It can take many forms but is often a literal binder where you collect all of the records - insurance, financial, property and more - that someone would need to settle your estate. I created my own after my mom died (and I found vital financial information on decade-old index cards). This service may not be for everyone but I truly believe that having a death binder gives you and your loved ones peace of mind. I’m also (obviously!) not an attorney, accountant or financial advisor. I provide a death binder outline and help you through the process of creating one but if you have specific questions about what records to keep and what to toss, I’ll recommend you speak to an expert in that area.