Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is a professional organizer?

    A professional organizer is someone who is skilled and knowledgeable about the principles of organizing and works with clients to enhance their lives by designing systems and processes specific to their situation.  Professional organizers help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper, and their systems.

  2. What is the process used to determine how to organize the space?

    At SOS we follow the Clear & SIMPLE™ Systems; these methods allow us to approach each organizing project with a specific step-by-step process to reach each client’s goals.  The system contains three phases: SEE IT, MAP IT, & DO IT©.  Moving through these three phases enables us to help our clients get clear on what’s causing their clutter and how to get it under control.

  3. How will working with SOS benefit me?

    Working one-on-one with SOS can help you in many ways, and the actual benefits to you will depend on your unique organizing goals.  Many clients find that they have increased productivity, decreased stress, enhanced family time, reduced clutter, and much, much more. 

  4. Will I need to purchase a lot of organizing products or supplies?

    The only honest answer to this common question is, “Maybe.”  Often we can repurpose items you already have, but we may find that certain organizing products may be necessary to create an organized space that will function for you.

  5. Do I need to be present during the organizing process?

    We have found that the best way to create change is to work one-on-one with our clients to reach their organizing goals.  We work with you to not only get the space organized but also to teach organizing skills you can use for the rest of your life.  However, in some cases, we may be able to do specific organizing projects/tasks for you once we have agreed on the system that is to be implemented. 

  6. How much will it cost?

  7. The first step in our organizing system is to perform an on-site consultation with the client.  Prior to our arrival, we will email or fax you a few questionnaires to ensure that our time spent together will be as productive as possible.  During the consultation we will:

    1. Assess the area(s) of concern
    2. Identify your Top 3 Priorities
    3. Determine a simple plan of action

    The charge for our initial consultation is $150, which includes 2 hours of time devoted solely to your project.  Following the consultation, you will have two options:

    1. Get Hands-On Help

      We will work with you one-on-one to help you reach your organizing goals.  We will walk you through the six steps involved in the DO IT© phase of the Clear & SIMPLE™ System and teach you organizing skills that you can apply to all areas of your life.  You will also receive the Get Organized, The Clear & SIMPLE™ Way 8-CD audio set (a $30 value), which will deepen your understanding of these systems.  We charge an hourly rate of $60 for all hand-on work and we do offer package pricing for projects requiring 10 or more hours of work.

    2. Do-It-Yourself

      We provide you with a detailed written plan that will guide you through the organizing process.  You will be able to follow the plan step-by-step to reach your organizing goals and create a space that will support you and your life.  We will also provide you with the Get Organized, The Clear & SIMPLE™ Way 8-CD audio set (a $30 value), which will give you guidence and teach you organizing skills that you can use throughout your life!  We typically spend one and a half to two hours preparing your personalized plan, and we charge a fee of $100 for this service.

  8. How long will it take?

    The initial assessment typically lasts 1 to 1.5 hours and during this time we will ask you specific questions to help us develop a personalized plan for your space.  The actual organizing process can take various lengths of time depending on the size of the project and how quickly the client can make decisions.  Once we complete our assessment we will be able to give you time estimates for the various steps involved in the organizing process.

  9. Will I have to throw away my favorite things ?

    We will never make you throw away items that you want to keep.  Our job is to provide an objective opinion to help you make the best decisions for yourself as to what you want to keep and what you want to let go.