Find an Organizer — FAQs

1. What is a Professional Organizer?
2. What can a Professional Organizer do for me?
3. Why hire a NAPO Organizer, rather than a non-NAPO Organizer?
4. Why get organized?
5. What does an Organizer organize?
6. Does the Organizer do the work or does he/she tell me how to do it?
7. I am a very private person. Will my sessions with an Organizer be confidential?
8. How do I find the Professional Organizer who is right for me?
9. How do I select an Organizer?
10. How much does a Professional Organizer charge?
11. How long will it take to get me organized?
12. Will an Organizer make me throw away all my "stuff"?
13. I've always been disorganized. Is there really hope for me?
14. Are there chapters in other cities?

1. What is a Professional Organizer?

A Professional Organizer provides information, products, assistance, and systems to help people get organized in their homes and offices. Our goal is to guide, encourage, and educate clients about basic principles of organizing by offering support, focus, and direction.

Professional Organizers have the experience, tools, and resources to help you get organized and stay that way.

2. What can a Professional Organizer do for me?

A Professional Organizer can provide ideas, structure, and solutions that increase your productivity, reduce your stress, and provide you with peace of mind. We help people who are looking to gain control over their time, space, and lives.

3. Why hire a NAPO Organizer, rather than a non-NAPO Organizer?

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) offers Organizers opportunities to sharpen their skills through ongoing education and professional development.

NAPO members have pledged to observe high standards of honesty, integrity, confidentiality, and responsibility. We are professionals who care about sound business practices and customer satisfaction.

Members of the New York chapter (NAPO-NY) are connected to a local and national network of organizing specialists with valuable resources to share. NAPO-NY Organizers have a directory of organizing resources at their fingertips as well as connections to New York's best home and office organizing suppliers.

From a purse to a production company, from a closet to a corporation, no job is too small or too large to thwart the creative problem-solving of a NAPO-NY Professional Organizer.

4. Why get organized?

Each person has unique reasons for getting organized.

Research has shown that organized people earn more, are more likely to be promoted on a job, and accomplish more, in part by wasting less time. The children of organized people perform better in school than others with the same IQ and have been found to earn more as adults. And it's even been found that uncluttered homes sell better.

In general, getting organized helps you eliminate processes that aren't actively adding to your life. By transforming your habits, you can free yourself from clutter, set up systems that fit the way you live and work, and give yourself the time and energy for the people and activities that matter most to you.

5. What does an Organizer organize?

As Organizers, our mix of experience is as diverse as New York. The services our members offer range from organizing your "junk" drawer to creating a policies and procedures manual for your business, and everything in between.

Here are some of the services that NAPO-NY members can provide:

• Office Organization & Business Processes
• Residential Organizing
• Time Management
• Chronic Disorganization
• Moving & Relocation
• Real Estate Staging
• Financial Organizing
• Organizing for Children and Students
• Organizing for Clients with Special Needs, Such as ADD
• Collections and Memorabilia
• Shopping & Personal Services
• Business & Personal Consulting and Coaching
• Public Speaking, Training, and Workshops on Organizing Topics

Let NAPO-NY put you in contact with the specialists who best match your  needs.

6. Does the Organizer do the work or does he/she tell me how to do it?

This is a personal decision based on your needs and budget. While some clients prefer working alongside their Organizers, others just need direction and an action plan to get them going.

7. I am a very private person. Will my sessions with an Organizer be confidential?

NAPO-NY Organizers are aware of the high level of trust placed in them by their clients. They should never do or say anything to breach that trust. Integrity, honesty, and confidentiality are guiding principles of NAPO.

8. How do I find the Professional Organizer who is right for me?

Here on the NAPO-NY website you can make use of an automated referral system which will provide you with the names of organizers best suited to your needs. You might also ask friends and associates for the names of Organizers with whom they have worked.

9. How do I select an Organizer?

In selecting an Organizer, it is important to find someone with the skills and experience to help you achieve your goals. The organizer should also be someone with whom you feel comfortable. If possible, interview several Organizers. Here are some questions you may want to ask:

• Are you member of NAPO-NY?
• How long have you been in business?
• How do you work?
• What is your specialty or particular area of expertise, if any?

10. How much does an Organizer charge?

Fees may be based on an hourly, daily or project rate, as well as the experience of the Organizer you are contracting, the type of organizing service(s) you need, and your geographic location. Each Organizer or organizing company sets their own fees and policies.

11. How long will it take to get me organized?

Results will depend on many factors, including the scope and specifics of the project and how quickly you can adapt to the necessary steps of the process. Your Organizer may be able to give you a more specific time estimate once you start working together.

12. Will an Organizer make me throw away all my "stuff"?

An Organizer will ask questions and make observations and suggestions to help you decide what is or is not important to you. Ultimately, you, the client, are the final decision-maker.

13. I've always been disorganized. Is there really hope for me?

Most people can make progress developing their organizational skills. The keys to achieving your goals are finding an Organizer you trust and enjoy working with, committing to getting organized, and resolving to change your habits.

14. Are there NAPO chapters in other cities?

The national NAPO website provides a list of chapters.