Common Questions about Organizing

 

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• “What is a professional organizer?”
• “I’m so embarrassed to have you see my space – what if it’s the worst you’ve ever seen?”
• “Do you help everyone get organized the same way?”
• “Are you going to make me throw everything away?”
• “What rooms do you organize?”
• “Do you scrub floors and fix leaky faucets?”
• “Do you organize for me, or do I have to be there?”
• “Do I need to go out and buy baskets, plastic containers, and organizing materials?”
• “What if my family doesn’t understand why I want to pay a professional organizer when they’ve said they’ll help me get organized?”
• “Does In Its Place have insurance?”
• “When helping me organize to move, do you do the packing?”
• “How long will it take to get my place organized?”
• “Do you offer gift certificates?”

“What is a professional organizer?”

A professional organizer enhances peoples’ lives by

• Educating people about the costs of and reasons for clutter and disorganization and the benefits of getting and staying organized 
• Teaching people effective organizing skills and habits
• Designing systems and processes based on sound organizing principles that are tailored to meet their individual needs.

“I’m so embarrassed to have you see my space – what if it’s the worst you’ve ever seen?”

Just like everyone else, you have experienced unique life circumstances that have brought you to where you are today.  My goal is to help you get from where you are to where you want to be.  My job is not to judge you for the clutter, but to help you understand how it accumulated and to develop new systems and habits that make your space more comfortable and functional and enable you to maintain the organization.
 

“Do you help everyone get organized the same way?”

Truth be told no. Organizing is not “one size fits all.”  Each person, family, and business has its own issues, goals, and priorities, so the tools, materials, and techniques that work for you may not work for your friend or your coworker (or even your spouse).  At In Its Place, we make sure that the solution fits you and the way you live.

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“Are you going to make me throw everything away?”

One misconception about professional organizers is that they come in with a dumpster and just start throwing everything out.  As a professional organizer, I work with you by asking questions, making recommendations, and teaching you to make decisions that fit with your lifestyle and goals.  While purging is part of the organizing process, the decision as to what to keep, donate, throw away, or sell is ultimately yours.

Before	After
Example of Office Supply Closet Organization Services by In Its Place.

“What rooms do you organize?”

In Its Place provides home organizing services from attic to basement and every room in between!  Using her skills as a professional organizer, Jody Adams works with you as a:

• Kitchen organizer
• Bedroom organizer
• Living room organizer
• Bathroom organizer
• Craft room organizer
• Play room organizer
• Attic organizer
• Garage organizer
• Basement organizer
• Dining room organizer
• Home office organizer
• Closet organizer

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“Do you scrub floors and fix leaky faucets?”

Wiping off shelves and vacuuming dust bunnies from under the couch do happen during an organizing session so that items can be set up in their designated spots.  Although deep cleaning and making repairs are important, our talents are best utilized by working with you to organize your things, your space, and in providing you with new skills to lead a clutter-free life.

“Do you organize for me, or do I have to be there?”

Organizing is a process, and the end result has to make sense to you and support how you live, work, and use your belongings.  It is important for you to be involved in the process – it empowers you to understand how you function and to learn skills to maintain an organized life so that the clutter doesn’t recur.
 

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“Do I need to go out and buy baskets, plastic containers, and organizing materials?”

In most cases, it is usually best to wait until after we have started sorting your items before running to the store and buying a collection of containers.  Once the process has begun, it is common to discover that you don’t need as many containers as you thought, or that you actually have the materials you need already in your home.
 

“What if my family doesn’t understand why I want to pay a professional organizer when they’ve said they’ll help me get organized? ”

Many clients have told me they’ve had help from family members that ended with mutual feelings of frustration, anger, resentment, and misunderstandings.  Although relatives can play an important role in the organizing process, they also can be too emotionally involved in or attached to you or the situation to offer meaningful, objective assistance.  Hiring a professional organizer is no different than hiring any other professional when you need expertise and guidance to resolve a problem.  A professional organizer gives you an objective and nonjudgmental perspective, someone with whom you can process your situation, learn new skills, and make progress toward your organizing goals.  Consider hiring a professional organizer as an investment in your present and your future.

“Does In Its Place have insurance?”

Yes, In Its Place is bonded and insured.

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“When helping me organize to move, do you do the packing?”

In Its Place will work hands-on with you to sort and categorize your belongings, assist in creating a plan that allows for a smooth move from your existing space into your new space, obtain materials, and provide resources.  However, In Its Place does not typically do the actual packing of your belongings.
 

“How long will it take to get my place organized?”

Quite simply, clutter and disorganization happen over time, so reclaiming your space will also take some time.  However, regardless of how much you have to organize, In Its Place works as efficiently as possible and offers a variety of service options to meet your needs and goals and to get the job done.

“Do you offer gift certificates?”

Yes - giving the gift of organization can be ideal for the people on your list who “have everything.” In Its Place can create a gift certificate in any amount for you to present to someone you care about.  However, choosing to get organized can be a very personal and private decision for some people, and although you think your friend or relative needs to get organized, he or she may not share your enthusiasm at this time.  So that neither of you is disappointed, please make sure that your recipient would really appreciate and use the gift of organization.

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Service Area

In Its Place provides professional home organizing and office organizing services.  Our service area includes but is not limited to: Westmoreland County and the Pittsburgh region, including the communities of Apollo, Churchill, Delmont, Derry, Export, Greensburg, Hempfield Township, Irwin, Jeannette, Latrobe, Ligonier, Lower Burrell, Manor, McKeesport, Monroeville, Mount Pleasant, Murrysville, New Kensington, New Stanton, North Huntingdon, Penn Hills, Penn Township, Pittsburgh, Salem Township, Scottdale, Somerset, Squirrel Hill, Trafford, Uniontown, Vandergrift, White Oak, and Youngwood..

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