Professional organizing
Professional organizing is an industry that has been developed in order to help individuals and businesses design systems and processes using organizing principles and through transferring skills. Professional organizers aim to help individuals and businesses take control of their surroundings, their time, their paper, and their systems for life. Professional organizers help redirect paradigms into more useful cross-applications that ensure properly co-sustainable futures for their clients' spaces and processes.
Types of organizing
There are several categories and specializations of professional organizing: Ergonomice, Feng Shui, Office-Commercial, Office-Home, Storage/Warehouse,Closets, Garages,Attics,Basements, Kitchens, Office and Filing Rooms,Inventory/Storage Areas,Paper Organization Photographs, Memorabilia,Collecting,Time Management,Moving Techniques and Labeling, People w/ Physical Disabilities, Seniors Citizens College Students and Dorm Rooms,Downsizing, Home Staging, Clutter Control, Retirement Organizing,Paper and Document Organizing, Attention Deficit Disorder Organizing Workflow,Space Planning.
Organizing process
Organizing is a multi-step process by which a person decides on a way to store items so they can be easily placed, found, retrieved, and maintained. Everything should have its own 'home'.
The first step, requires sorting through items to determine which are most needed, which can be thrown away (or recycled), and which can be given away.
The second step is deciding how the freed space can best be used, what storage items and sizes will be needed and how to label those containers. Decisions made are based upon personal priorities.
The third step involves putting in place any additional needed storage systems for items, such as shelving.
The fourth step involves placing items in the space, giving priority to items that are most often used by making them the most accessible. Items that are used most often should be on the bottom shelves and items used seasonally are stored on the higher shelves.
The fifth step involves disposing of items that were previously selected for the trash or for giving away. Junk should be eliminated right away and thrown in the refuse containers. Items donated should be added to a container depicting the donation place; Goodwill, Salvation Army etc. You may also have a container that you will want to donate to your church or that you will save for a rummage sale.
The organizer's primary skill is in helping the client decide what should be done with their items, educating the client on organizational techniques, developing strategies and installing systems so the client can maintain the organized space for the long-term.
Growth of the industry
There are approximately 5,200 professional organizers in the U.S. and 8 foreign countries who are members of the trade association NAPO. Another well known International Organizing Association is 'Faithful Organizers'. There have been a number of several popular television programs, starting with Life Laundry in 2002, and followed by others such as Clean Sweep, Neat, Mission: Organization, Hoarders, Clean House, and NeatTV as well as magazines like Real Simple, and many articles that appear on a regular basis in a wide range of media.
Hiring a Professional Organizer
Hiring the right professional organizer is key to the success of your project. Make sure the organizer is willing to listen, to be creative, patient and non-judgmental. Let the organizer know if you are willing to think 'outside the box' for creative storage ideas. Set your goals and a budget you want to stay in, talk this over with the organizer to make sure that you both are in agreement on the goal to achieve. The cost of a Professional Organizer will very depending on project and location. Cost will normally range from $50–$150 an hour.