Thinking About Hiring a Professional Organizer? Check This Out

There are so many decisions to make as an adult. Immediate ones to make day in and day out. And other ones to make as you continue to think about the future - future days, weeks, months, or years. As we get older, the decisions continue to increase. I know when everything seems to be happening at once, I ask myself questions like, “do I have to do all of this now?” What has to be done first, and what can wait?” The daily demands will definitely consume the future thoughts if we let them. 

Finding time between all of life’s demands can leave us feeling burned out and with decision fatigue. Most of us would rather spend time with family and friends, engaging in our hobbies, and doing things we love. But we can’t put the responsibilities and decisions completely off to the side because that’s when it becomes overwhelming and too much. So how do we find the balance? Because that’s what it’s all about, right? Balance. 

If you’ve ever listened to the podcast or read the books from the Lazy Genius Collective, then you know their philosophy is to become a genius about what matters most and lazy about what doesn’t. And for those things that don’t matter as much to you, let others be the genius and help you out. 

When you think about things that you can either tackle yourself or hire someone to help, common ones always come to mind - yardwork, taxes, house cleaning, plumbing and electrical to name a few. But one that hasn’t been as common and is starting to gain in popularity are home organization professionals. 

It sounds cool right? Someone to organize your house. The Netflix shows have brought the concept to life. When people hear ‘home organization,’ it’s like, ‘oh yeah, that show on Netflix, the Home Edit, right?” Or “what’s that show where she asks you if your belongings spark joy?” But what people don’t often realize is that there are people who specialize in this work and love to help others bring form and function to their daily lives. 

So when should you hire a professional organizer? It can be when you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. During a big life transition such as welcoming a baby or moving. Or when you’ve tried strategies before and they don’t stick. But it can also be when it’s affecting your mental health or you need accountability. 

If you’ve thought about it but still aren’t sure, maybe the thoughts and perspective of someone who has worked with a professional organizer will help. 

Check out this interview with one of our consistent clients who has found the benefit. 

Q: What motivated you to hire a professional organizer? And specifically Authentic Living?

I had not thought about hiring a professional organizer until Laura and Kendra formed Authentic Living and asked my husband if they could do a job for us. Our basement was de-cluttered and organized - and I love it. Fast forward a year and a half and I decided it was time to re-organize the kitchen pantry. I was up to cleaning the pantry out and painting - but I did not have a good vision for how to re-organize to improve the look and the efficiency. So I hired Laura and Kendra. 

Q: What were your initial goals? Did Authentic Living help you achieve those goals?

My overall goal was to have a fresh coat of paint and re-purpose the space so it would be easier for anyone to use. Authentic Living did an awesome job helping me achieve my goal.

Q: What were your expectations going into the process? Did Authentic Living meet, exceed, or fall short of those expectations?

Going into the process I wanted Authentic Living to help me figure out what items should remain in the pantry, and how they should be placed so we can use the space easily and not mess it up again. Authentic Living did exceed my expectations.

Q: How involved in the process were you?

My husband and I took part in an initial consultation. At that meeting Laura and Kendra took pictures and measurements of the pantry. The four of us spent time talking about what was important for us to have included in the finished space. This was the best part of the whole process as my husband and I were able to vocalize our needs. Laura and Kendra were very receptive to making sure that these needs would be met.

Q: Did Authentic living help you establish specific methods or strategies for sustainability?

Yes. We talked about bins, containers and shelves to use in the re-organization. The way Kendra organized and labeled the items that were used has set up dedicated areas for similar type items. For instance, we have a bin for dry goods, a shelf for condiments, a section for canned goods, etc…There are even spaces and bins dedicated to  “overflow” items so I have a place to store extras when I buy in bulk. This is key for us maintaining our pantry in an efficient manner. So far- it is working out great.

Q: How did your space change after the project was completed?

Our space is well organized. The changes to the pantry led to additional changes in a few cabinets. This has improved efficiency in this part of our kitchen as well. Our kitchen is small and it is much easier to use after the project was completed.

Q: Have you been able to maintain the newly transformed space?

Yes. We moved a few items within the new organization scheme to help us access items that are used on a more frequent basis. Other than that, it is really easy to maintain as everything has a place that is easy to get to and is marked well for anyone who uses the pantry. We have been able to maintain the changes in the cabinets as well.

Q: Were there any moments you disagreed with their approach or suggestions?  How were those resolved?

I thought we worked well throughout the process. I value their expertise. They always provided a basis for the suggestions they made to ensure they were meeting our needs. I also appreciate their dedication to collaborating with us to understand why we felt some things should be done a certain way. It felt good to have someone able to listen to what we wanted and then be able to make that a reality for us.

Q:  What did you learn about yourself or your habits through this process?

I learned that even though I am a well organized person who keeps a clean house - it was good to have Authentic Living come in and help me understand how to improve a space in ways that I would never have thought of on my own. Since working with them, I am now viewing other spaces in my house in a new light. I even bought a couple of bins to add to my family room as I store craft supplies for our grandkids. That small change has made a huge difference in how we use space in the family room and it looks good.  I would not have thought to do this before working with Authentic Living. 

Q: Has the experience changed your approach to organization or decluttering? 

Yes. As far as the decluttering- I now start a clean out project by making 3 piles- keep, donate and throw out. That one thing makes decluttering a lot more efficient for me.

Q: Are there any new habits or routines you’ve adopted as a result of working with the professional organizer? 

As far as organization goes, I have never used bins and containers in the manner Authentic Living set up in our pantry. As I am preparing to re-organize some closets upstairs, I am now thinking about how to incorporate the use of bins and containers.

Q: Do you feel the cost of this service was worth it? Why or why not?

Yes. It was money well spent. Working with Authentic Living gave me the opportunity to discuss my needs and preferences with someone who listened, asked questions, answered my questions, and put into action a plan for my kitchen that resulted in a product that was much better than I could have done on my own.

Q:  Inviting someone into your space can be vulnerable and at times people feel judged or like they need to have things looking a certain way before others come over. What was working with Kendra and Laura like and did they make you feel comfortable?

Kendra and Laura made me feel very comfortable as they worked in my space.  I wasn’t worried about things looking a certain way when they first came over. I knew they were coming to help me find a way to achieve that look for my kitchen so I was pretty sure they weren’t going to judge my space as it was. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is unsure about hiring a professional organizer?

If you have a project that seems overwhelming, take the step to meet with a professional organizer and share your needs and concerns about doing the project on your own. Ask questions about how their service will benefit you. If the company is like Authentic Living, they will listen and ask questions about what you want. Then they will explain their process and discuss details to develop a plan that will work for you.   

So, if you’re on the fence or unsure about hiring a professional organizer to help you get back on track or get started from the beginning, hopefully this interview helps highlight the benefits and you’ll give it a try.