How do you stay abreast of the latest organizing techniques and tools?
The owner attends the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals’ conferences, returning with new ideas and knowledge of how to better help their clients. The owner also must have 45 education credit hours every 3 years to maintain the CPO status. She also attends teleclasses to learn new ways and new organizing tools to make client’s lives easier.
What does a Professional Organizer do?
There are Professional Organizers that specialize in different areas including: home organizing, moving, paper management, bill organizing, file systems, chronic disorganization, time management, event planning, goal setting, project management, and more. They help guide the client toward a more efficient, organized lifestyle. The organizer does this through hands-on assistance, publications, phone or email consulting, and more.
Why should someone hire a Professional Organizer?
If you’ve tried and tried to get organized and can’t seem to, wouldn’t it seem logical to hire someone that is good at what you’re trying to accomplish. People hire trainers to help them with their physique, accountants to help them with their finances, consultants to help them with situations at work, and painters to paint their house. Hiring a Professional Organizer will get you going on getting organized and teach you systems on how to stay organized so you can enjoy your life.
How does Sunflower Strategies® charge?
Sunflower Strategies® offers a 20 minute phone consultation for free. Organizing sessions are usually around 4 hours. The rate is $75 per hour unless you buy a package, which offers savings. You’ll find more information on this on our “Pricing and Packages” page.
Does the Professional Organizer work alone or with the client?
This is completely up to the homeowner. If working alone, the organizer may set aside possible items for donate and disposal (upon client approval). Honestly though…more items usually get purged if homeowner is involved.
How long does an organizing job take?
This depends on many different factors. Each organizing job is a custom situation. Variables include the size of the room(s) and how many items or boxes are in the room(s), how quickly the owner makes decisions, and if it’s paperwork versus items. An example of this would be that three sweaters stack into the same size area as 300 pieces of paper! Please view our “Rates and Time Estimates” page for time ranges.
What about items being donated?
Anything the client no longer “uses” or “loves” goes into a donation bag. Then, unless the client has a specific place they want to take the donations, the organizer will take the donations to one of three appropriate charities where a receipt will be issued and returned to the client.
What is NAPO?
NAPO, the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, was founded in 1985 and is dedicated to the field of organizing. NAPO defines quality standards and provides education for its members, ensuring the highest level of excellence and professionalism. NAPO provides its members with quality education, exposure to cutting edge trends in organizing, the latest product knowledge and access to top organizing industry manufacturers.
What are common concerns of clients?
Initially, it is sometimes difficult for the client to let someone else see ‘their mess’, but the client quickly sees the benefits of hiring the Professional Organizer. Clients can be assured that organizers see clutter, big and small, on a daily basis and are not there to judge. Both the organizer and the client enjoy the accomplishments of a newly organized home or office.
Another concern of the clients is that the organizer will make them throw things away. A client’s possessions are just that – the client’s possessions. The organizers do not make the client throw things away and the organizers would never throw away anything without specific permission. Many times, it is just as much the use of space organization as it is decluttering. Getting organized is not just throwing things out. Using space efficiently is the situation more of the time.
How long have you been in this business?
Sunflower Strategies has been in business since 2005 and the owner, Susan Wade, has been a member of the Golden Circle of NAPO since 2010. NAPO’s prestigious Golden Circle recognizes members who have attained an elevated level of experience. She served on the Board of Directors of the NAPO Houston Chapter from 2009-2016, holding four different positions.
Susan is also a Certified Professional Organizer, one of only 11 in the Houston metropolitan area.
Do you bring the necessary supplies or do I purchase them?
The organizer will bring some basic supplies and will always try to use whatever is already available at your home. The organizer may suggest other organizing products that would make the organizing space more space efficient or functional. If approved by the client, the organizer will purchase (with no up charge) and be reimbursed by client.
What is the cancellation policy?
We charge $100 fee for a less than 48-hour session cancellation as it would be difficult to fill that day and income is lost for your organizer.
What is a Certified Professional Organizer?
A Certified Professional Organizer receives certification by meeting specific standards, working 1500 client hours in three years, acquiring the knowledge and experience through client interaction, and through passing a final examination.
The certification program recognizes and raises industry standards, practices and ethics.
There are only 11 CPOs in the Houston area (as of 03/21).
