Sensible Organizing Solutions

FAQs – Click the question to reveal the answer below it…

[accordion] [spoiler title=”Why hire an SOS Professional Organizer? Can’t a friend or family member help me get organized?”]

Yes… You know the right friend or family member can help when they are:

• An excellent project manager who can keep you focused and on task
• A confident leader who can help you make swift decisions
• Educated in the principles of organization and current techniques
• Connected with many professional resources
• Well studied in the psychology of clutter and chronic disorganization
• Able to remain totally objective throughout the project
• Non-judgmental and compassionate; won’t feed into your feelings of guilt or shame
• Generous with their time and efforts; won’t make you feel forever indebted

— all while making you laugh and have fun during the project! Know someone?

[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”I’ve purchased several organizing books and have tried out a few tips, but still can’t seem to get my home or office to stay organized. How would hiring Jana be different?”]

Read a book for inspiration and education. However, books can’t lead you through an organizing project like an experienced organizer. Can a book do this?

• Listen compassionately to your unique situation
• Make recommendations to suit your lifestyle and brain type
• Sort, load and deliver your donations to a charity
• Follow up by phone, text and/or email to offer accountability & tips
• Send an occasional note to check on your progress
• Ensure your confidential documents are shredded appropriately

And… books won’t do a much of the work for you! Your SOS organizer can.

[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”Why should I choose SOS over another Professional Organizing service?”]

SOS has a proven track-record (since 1998) of creating outstanding results with many who have been in a similar situation as you. Besides the client testimonials and project photos on this site, SOS can provide you with references of clients willing to talk with you on the phone or by email about how Jana Hartwell helped them get unstuck.

If you want to work with someone who can make things happen for you as quickly as possible, without sacrificing quality, choose SOS. You will benefit from Jana’s warm, matter-of-fact, and often humorous manner. Jana can turn what you may view as an unpleasant task into an energizing, fun event.

Did I mention credibility? Jana has been an active member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) since 1998. She has served on just about every Board position with the NAPO-San Diego Chapter, including ten terms as President! Jana has been a CPO^® since 2008, which is a Board Certified Professional Organizer (one of only 350 in the nation). For over 24 years, SOS’s mission has been to help smart, busy, sometimes overwhelmed people get organized with their time, space and activites and learn to stay that way.

[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”I’m not sure I can afford a Certified Professional Organizer. Can SOS work within my budget?”]

Yes! Working with a confident, more experienced, Certified Professional Organizer will automatically save you money! Jana possesses the experience to:

• Ask all the right questions to quickly analyze your situation.
• Formulate tailored solutions within the least amount of time possible.
• Keep you focused and on task so no time is wasted during organizing sessions.
• Spend ample time between sessions creating solutions for your project.
• Empower you with tips on how to continue making progress on your own.

A timid, less confident organizer can still help you make progress, but often the project takes much longer and sometimes results are compromised.

For the best value, it is wise to hire someone who is experienced and focused enough to keep your project moving at a swift, steady pace. This will SAVE you time, which will save you money. Plus, SOS offers retainer-packages to provide you with rate discount options. These options will be shared after your first session with SOS,

[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”How will I know I am getting the best value for my investment?”]

You will know this by the results. Remember, since Jana is highly experienced and talented, results will be realized swiftly. You will see and feel a heavy load lifted (physically, emotionally and spiritually) during and after each session. Who can put a price on “peace of mind”?

The cost of clutter and being disorganized can be quite expensive. How often have you bought duplicate items because you weren’t able to find something at the time you needed it? How many times have you had finance charges assessed because you lost track of what had been paid? Have you been late or missed out on events and opportunities because you couldn’t keep track of your schedule or find your keys?

The time and money you invest now to get organized will multiply itself back to you in spades.

As the clutter is cleared, space is opened for prosperity to flow. You begin to think more clearly and creatively. Opportunities once stifled now begin to miraculously appear.

And would you believe… each time Jana works with a new client, money and treasures are found! Cash, checks, gift cards, family heirlooms, misplaced vital documents, etc. During an SOS organizing session, we begin recouping the money you invested immediately.

[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”Does SOS charge by-the-project or by-the-hour?”]

Because SOS puts a great deal of offsite time, effort and thought into your project, we charge by-the-session. A typical organizing session will be a ½ day for you (5 hours of your time blocked off), with a lunch break in the middle. Jana blocks off her entire day for your session to provide time for travel to and from your site, delivery of donation items and/or shredding or hazardous waste to the appropriate facilities, and writing session follow-up notes,etc.). It is difficult to calculate an “hourly rate” based on all of these factors, so you are charged by-the-session.

You may pay by-the-session (1/2 day, 3-hour mini-session or full day). After the first session, most clients who are serious about getting organized will choose a “Retainer Plan.” A Retainer Plan is a set of hours you have purchased in advance. The more hours you purchase, the greater discount you will receive on the basic session cost. SOS rewards you based on your commitment-level to the project. If you are ready to commit to SOS helping you see the project through from start to finish, a Retainer Package is your best option. The exact breakdown of these fee plans and discounts will be discussed during your first session.[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”I feel a little nervous vulnerable having a stranger view all of the clutter and mess in my home. What can I expect during my first organizing session with SOS?”]

It’s natural to feel hesitant and nervous about your first session with a Professional Organizer. After all, it took great courage for you to ask for help. You are taking a leap of faith that this person you’ve entrusted to enter your home will be respectful of your privacy, keep your personal business confidential, and not make you feel judged or ashamed of how things got to this point. Not to worry. Jana has seen it all and has never run away from a project, no matter how insurmountable it seemed to the client. For as long as you want the help and follow the advice given to get your project done in a safe and effective manner, Jana will happily assist.

During our first session, we will first do a “walk-through Needs Assessment” to determine what is working well and what is not working optimally for you. As you talk about how various areas feel and function, Jana will ask to look inside cupboards, drawers, closets and cabinets to assess how you are currently using your space, discuss your living (or working) habits and observe what kinds of containers are being utilized. The more Jana sees, the more she will be able to assess your options and provide sensible organizing solutions. However, it is your right to not reveal any areas you wish to keep private. We’ll proceed at your pace and comfort-level.

After the assessment, Jana will provide a brief action plan and help you get started on the physical work of transforming your space. There is nothing you need to purchase before the first session. Jana comes prepared with supplies needed. We begin the physical work during our very first session so you can enjoy some positive, immediate and dramatic results. Ideally, we will have identified items you no longer wish to keep and many of these will be boxed for charity donation or designated as gifts to others. By the end of this session, you will feel energized and empowered to continue your organizing project, with or without Jana’s assistance.

[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”How long will my organizing project take?”]

The time it takes to get where you want to be depends on many factors. Most importantly, you. While Jana will proceed at a swift pace (depending on your comfort-level), sometimes there will be delays. Delays are usually caused when the client hesitates or is not fully committed to the process. Sometimes delays are caused by what project managers refer to as “scope creep”. A drawer or cabinet may be opened and the client says “Oh yes, I would also like to have a system for filing my tax receipts (or decoration ideas or subject articles for my next book, etc.)… Could you help me?” This may open up a whole new ‘mini-project’ which may not have been discussed during the initial phone conversation or first session. To help determine how long a project might take, ask yourself:

• How long has the clutter been collecting?
• How much space is the clutter taking up?
• How motivated are you to follow through with your SOS organizer’s advice?
• How swiftly can you make decisions, once presented with options and ideas?
• How easy is it for you to focus only on what your organizer is directing you to do?
• How cooperative and supportive are other household/office members (if any)?
• How detailed do you want to get as we set up specialized systems?
• How much money do you wish to spend on containers or other organizing aides?
• How much time can you devote per day/week/month to working with your organizer?
• How much progress can you make on your own, between sessions?
• How much time will you allow to lapse between sessions with your organizer?
• Is there other work being done in or around your home that may create obstacles or delays?
• Have you allocated enough money in your budget to keep your organizer involved with the completion of your project?

Ultimately, you decide how often and for how long you will work with Jana’s guidance. You may wish to simply have her ASSESS your situation, offer suggestions and get you started on a project (The Needs Assessment session). If you have the self-discipline and focus to follow through with recommendations Jana gives, much of the manual work can be done on your own. Or, you may want Jana to physically DO much of the work (set up the filing system, clear out the garage, sort office papers, organize desk drawers, shelves and cabinet, redesign your office procedures) with only occasional decision-making involvement from you.

Each client’s situation is different so each organizing project can be designed around what works for your budget and desired level of participation. SOS is prepared to provide whatever level of service you find most helpful.

[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”How much will my first session with SOS cost?”] [/spoiler] [/accordion]