Why should I use a Professional Organizer?

Have you ever felt insane walking into your own home? Maybe you have kids, and toys and clothes and cheerios are strewn across the floor or maybe your office has so many papers floating around that you could start a paper-mache business; even when you cram a closet full of stuff and close the doors, that nagging voice is telling you that behind those doors lies an enormous, overwhelming, MeSs!

So, about all those organizing projects you keep telling yourself you're going to do...FORGET THEM, because the longer you put it off, the more  other issues in life literally pile up! You need a professional organizer. 

Hows does it work?

You can hire Ilana for several hours at a time or on a project basis.   

First, Ilana will come to your home/office/etc. and assess the area in need of organizing; she will take stock and measurements of what you have, to determine the most efficient storage solutions. 

Second, Ilana will help you decide on a budget to spend on organizing tools; this helps Ilana determine where to buy products for your space and how important aesthetics and quality are to your project. For example, you might want to go low budget for plastic storage bins that will be hidden in garage cabinets, and higher budget for areas such as offices, kitchens, and living rooms. 

Third, Ilana will purchase efficient containers and organizing solutions that maximize the utilization of your space. Once the organizing is complete and any unused items are returned, Ilana is reimbursed by you [client] for the products used, in addition to her hourly rate. 

There are so many professional organizers out there...why choose Ilana?

Trust, trust, trust! On a daily basis we bring contractors into our home to fix things, clean, etc. without giving it a second thought; but for personal organizing in particular, you need to have someone you can TRUST in organizing your most personal belongings.

Having worked in private homes for over ten years,  Ilana understands privacy and confidentiality. You may not even know what is lurking in your closets and offices, from prescription medications to private financial and  legal documents; it is Ilana's job to respect her clients and organize their possessions in an efficient and confidential manner. 

What are some examples of what Ilana organizes?

1. Gift Closets: color-code and label ribbons and put them in dispensers; sort gift bags, tissue paper, and gift wrap, and store them efficiently; sort cards, gift tags, etc. in plastic sheeting inside a binder; install movable shelving; inventory all gifts by category [book, game, etc.] and make a simple chart to check off gifts one has given and new gifts purchased.
2. Tool Area: [as part of a "garage" project]: sort all nails, nuts, bolts, etc. into a storage container in which they are labeled and taped to the appropriate containers; store all manuals and instructions in a plastic-sheeted binder; sort all tools into labeled drawers; sort all parts for household items and place them in their own containers; untangle and sort all cables/chords based on whether they are computer, phone, audio, etc. inventory a list of tools and their location in the tool shed.
3. Bedrooms: remove all trash, old, and unusable items; pile items [including clothing] into new, old, damaged, and Goodwill piles; move furniture when necessary, sort belongings and box up those which are not currently in use but wish to be kept; swapping out seasonal clothing; packing efficiently and labeling for trips and moves to college.
4. Goodwill: sort all items to be donated to Goodwill or a similar service and inventory the items for tax-deduction purposes. 

 *Ilana can give you plenty more examples, upon request

Rate: $30/hr
The going rate for a professional organizer is typically between $45 and $150. My starting rate is $30/hr because personal organizing, though something I have naturally been doing for clients, friends, and family over the years, is a service that I have just recently added to my list of services offered. As I gain more experience in the field, my signature creativity and style become more efficient.