FAQ's About Organizing Services:
Do you have questions? Here are a list of a few frequently asked questions and their answers:
What is a Professional Organizer?
There are many different types of Professional Organizers and specialties, but in general, a Professional Organizer is an individual who helps other people get organized in their homes or offices. This person uses their talents to teach others to get their lives and their spaces in order.
When you hear "professional organizer", you may immediately think of popular TV shows about hoarders. There are organizers who focus on this area, but there are many other specialties. As a Professional Organizer and the owner of Organized Haven, my Organizer's and I help anyone who is just too tired, busy, confused or stressed to deal with their clutter on their own. Some people suffer with anxiety issues over organization and just need a helping hand towards getting it done. Others have too little time to do it themselves. Some do not have the strength to move around decluttering area after area or lifting heavy items. Also, we specialize in downsizing and senior move management, helping seniors downsize the contents of their homes when moving or aging-in-place. We are the preferred Organizers for many of the local Senior Living Communities across Central Florida.
Not everyone needs the help of a Professional Organizer. Some people are naturally organized, have the time and energy to handle their organizational issues on their own and are good at putting the kinds of systems in place to minimize clutter. But organizing isn't something everyone is capable of doing. Just as there are professionals who help in other areas of our lives (for example: housekeeping, investments, legal matters, real estate, retirement, taxes), there are those whose profession is to help others declutter their homes and help them run more efficiently.
When you hear "professional organizer", you may immediately think of popular TV shows about hoarders. There are organizers who focus on this area, but there are many other specialties. As a Professional Organizer and the owner of Organized Haven, my Organizer's and I help anyone who is just too tired, busy, confused or stressed to deal with their clutter on their own. Some people suffer with anxiety issues over organization and just need a helping hand towards getting it done. Others have too little time to do it themselves. Some do not have the strength to move around decluttering area after area or lifting heavy items. Also, we specialize in downsizing and senior move management, helping seniors downsize the contents of their homes when moving or aging-in-place. We are the preferred Organizers for many of the local Senior Living Communities across Central Florida.
Not everyone needs the help of a Professional Organizer. Some people are naturally organized, have the time and energy to handle their organizational issues on their own and are good at putting the kinds of systems in place to minimize clutter. But organizing isn't something everyone is capable of doing. Just as there are professionals who help in other areas of our lives (for example: housekeeping, investments, legal matters, real estate, retirement, taxes), there are those whose profession is to help others declutter their homes and help them run more efficiently.
What is a Senior Move Manager®?
A Senior Move Manager® assists older adults and their families with the overwhelming task of downsizing when moving to a new residence. True SMMs are members of the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) and are experienced professionals, bound by a pledge of integrity, committed to safety & ethics, and dedicated to continuing professional development. NASMM members will move you expertly, compassionately, and affordably. As a NASMM member since 2016, our owner Nicole Ramer, is a Certified Senior Move Manager® that has 3 years of experience with space planning, downsizing, packing, moving, unpacking, and resettling our clients in their new homes. As a Professional Organizer and member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO), Nicole has 6 years of experience decluttering, downsizing, and organizing the homes of seniors in Central Florida. Read more about our Senior Move Management services here.
What sets Organized Haven apart from the rest?
Besides our memberships, education, and certifications through NAPO and NASMM, Organized Haven has a professional team of 10 Organizers and Move Managers that have a combined 17.5 years experience in the field! We aren't just able to help you with one need, but we are a full service organizing company capable of helping you with all aspects of decluttering, downsizing, moving, donating, or selling the contents of your home! Senior living communities, realtors, senior service advocates, families, and others trust and rely on the support of our team to serve the needs of their clients, residents, and family members.
How do I get started and what's the process?
The first step towards getting your very own Organized Haven is to have a free phone consultation. During the phone consultation we will get to know each other and where we can learn about your organizational needs. The next step will be to schedule our first in-person consultation (or organizing session) where you can physically show us the project(s) you are needing assistance with. Following this (or on the same day if scheduled) will be an appointment for your first working session, where we will work with you to meet your organizing goals. You will not need to do any organizing or cleaning before this visit... it helps to see the real picture of your space as it usually is. WE WILL NOT judge you; WE WILL help you! This is really all about you and how you would like to get organized. We will work at your pace and you will make the decisions. We will simply help you get it done and offer our support and solutions. Don't worry about getting organizing bins and other storage solutions. We will either use what you have already in your home, or decide what we need once we declutter and categorize.
How long does it take to get organized?
The length of time it takes to get organized can vary from person to person and room to room. The process is not as simple as cleaning one area and moving on to the next. There are decisions that need to be made as far as what to keep, trash, sell or donate and these decisions aren't easy for everyone. Once we've seen your space and discussed your organizational challenges with you, we will be better able to estimate the time it may take.
What do you do with the stuff I don't want to keep?
Our clients choose what they'd like to do with their downsized items. Some choose to donate items to a local charity, which we are able to coordinate. Others prefer exploring options of selling the items they are letting go of. Many of the clients that we work with have large downsizing projects and are letting go of 30% or more of their household goods. When we help our clients sell these items, we often partner with MaxSold, an online downsizing and estate sale company that is also a NASMM partner. Local estate sale companies price each item individually and offer them for sale over a 1, 2, or 3 day period where locals peruse your home looking for things of interest at the right price. The price gets discounted more and more as the sale goes on and what doesn't sell is usually donated. With MaxSold, your online estate sale works auction-style where locals have the opportunity to be the highest bidder, with bids starting at just $1. This creates heavy competition between bidders and the price increases over 7 to 10 days of your auction being live. The winning bidders are responsible for picking up, packing, and hauling their purchases away on a pre-scheduled pickup day that is also managed by Organized Haven or MaxSold's team. On average, 98% of the items listed for sale is sold with very little leftover to donate! Learn more about our MaxSold downsizing and estate sale services here. In the case where our clients prefer the sale to happen outside of their home and everything needs to be cleared quicker than 2 weeks, we can partner with a local auction house.
How much does this service cost?
We offer a free phone consultation, of which is sometimes all that is needed before the start of a project. At the time of your phone consultation, we can decide together whether or not it is necessary to do a full walk-through prior to your first organizing session. You may simply text or email photos of your project if you'd like to determine the estimated cost of organizing upfront. A full walk-through with an action plan costs $112.50 and there are no travel charges for projects within a 30-mile round-trip radius from our Organizer's homes. See our organizing packages here to get an idea of pricing. Our services are not "one-size-fits-all". Each project is completely unique, however, we have served hundreds of clients across Central Florida and we are able to estimate each based on the full scope of services needed to accomplish your goals.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Payments are due in full by the end of each session. We accept cash, check, credit, or PayPal.
Do I have to be there or participate in the project?
Your presence is not required throughout the entire duration of the project. Our Organizers can simply meet with you at the start of your project to gain an understanding of what you want accomplished in the space(s). You are welcome to spend time on other priorities, whether they be inside or outside your home. After completing the sorting process, you will have the opportunity to make some decisions and provide further direction to complete the process. This process works through all four stages of sorting, purging, organizing, and disposing, with minimal stress and time on your part!
What if I need to cancel an appointment?
We understand that things happen. If you need to cancel or reschedule, we ask that you do so with at least 24 hours notice, when possible.
Do you have a question not answered here?
For a quick answer, please send an email with your question to Help@OrganizedHaven.com.
