Trying to declutter, organize, and tidy a home on top of work and family responsibilities can feel like an uphill battle. As soon as one area seems perfect, another seems to fall into disarray, and round and around we go, without enough hours in the day to get it all done.
While some clutter and mess is normal for a busy home, an overwhelming mess that leaves you stressed and feeling low is one of seven sure signs hiring a professional organizer will help manage some of the load in a transformative way that makes this wish-list item jump to the top of your 'needs' pile.
Here, expert organizers reveal the warning signs you need to hire a professional to get on top of clutter and share how their decluttering tips will help you manage your home better in the long run.
Signs you need to hire a professional organizer
There is never any shame in hiring help, especially if you are trying to declutter when you feel overwhelmed. Booking a professional organizer can help you to make a start on the most stressful parts of your home, and kick-start positive habits to help prevent mess in the first place.
1. Clutter is negatively impacting your life
Clutter can be harmless, simply looking untidy or making it a little more difficult to find an item or two.
However, when it starts to impact the wider parts of your life, such as putting off hosting friends or family, consider getting an expert in advises Nicole Gabai, certified virtual organizing professional and owner of B. Organized.
She says, ‘If you find yourself saying, I want to be able to have people over to the house, I can't keep living like this, your bills are late because you can't find the paperwork, or you want to feel more at peace and not surrounded by clutter, those are signs it's time to get organized. And as the saying goes, "The best way to get something done is to begin.”’
In these cases, an expert can help you to decide what to declutter and set up new routines that help you stay on top of the mess so you don’t feel ‘house-barrasment’ again in the future.
2. You don’t know where to start
Working out where to start when decluttering is often the hardest bit. If you keep falling at this first hurdle, a professional organizer can help to save the day.
Nicole Gabai, certified organizer continues, ‘Most people need help knowing where to start or feel overwhelmed by the thought of tackling the project alone. That's why it's a great idea to hire a professional organizer.
'I believe everyone deserves access to the tools they need to gain control and create harmonious spaces that bring peace and productivity into their lives, which is why, as a trained and Certified Virtual Organizing Professional™, I offer virtual organizing services that are more accessible and cost-effective.'
3. You have a physical or mental health condition
When you are juggling a physical injury or health condition, are trying to push through anxiety or depression, or attempting to create an ADHD-friendly home, an expert organizer can help to take away some of the additional pressures.
Liora Seltzer, professional home organizer, parent mentor, and owner of What U Keep says, ‘People with ADHD often struggle with the task of decluttering and organizing. They will get to a breaking point and need professional help. Many people with ADHD will have trouble initiating a task they do not want to do, like decluttering, but having another person with them to keep them accountable will motivate them to get the job done.
‘If you have any physical limitations that do not allow you to go through the process of decluttering and organizing, you should strongly consider having a professional work with you,’ Liora adds. ‘If you were hurt, injured, or very pregnant, you should not be doing strenuous work. Decluttering and moving items from place to place can be too physically taxing for many people. This is where an expert team can help.’
Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens, Punteha van Terheyden suffers multiple chronic illnesses and daily intense pain. She adds, 'I've hired cleaners and professional organizers before when I was out of spoons (a colloquial way to refer to energy) and it was transformative. I had felt ashamed of my home but didn't have the physical capacity to do anything about it.
'Hiring a professional can set you on the right path to pick up the lighter load after they've left, or simply make your home feel like a lovely place to live and host in again. The worst that can happen is you don't ask them to come back. There's nothing to lose in trying when your health or other conditions are zapping your time, energy and joy but you desperately need to find peace in your space and surroundings again.'
4. You can’t use your home storage
There are only so many times you can cram a cabinet door closed or use a ruler to pry open an overflowing drawer before you start to go insane. If you cannot use your home storage ideas efficiently but can’t seem to break the clutter cycle, it might be a sign you need to hire a professional organizer.
Francesca Verri, home organizer, life architect, and certified holistic lifestyle coach at Verri Organized says, ‘If you can't get in and out of the drawers in your dresser easily you create stress and frustration and take it into your day. Having bulging drawers is a clear sign you need to look at what you own, determine if items still serve a purpose, let go of what doesn't, and set up efficient systems for what does. Because the thought of doing all of that is overwhelming and because people tend to be more emotional when it comes to purging clothing, hiring a professional can help.
‘A professional is unattached to your things so s/he can help with the daunting decluttering task by asking practical questions about items to help you detach from the emotion of letting go. And when you are clearer, a professional can help you set up effective and sustainable systems to stay organized – which is key. You don't want to go through all the hard work of deciding and letting go only to get cluttered again because of a failed system.'
5. You have a strict deadline
Liora Seltzer, the professional home organizer, points out that an expert organizer can also help to declutter or organize space on a time crunch, ‘If you have a strict deadline for the project, like having to move, having a baby, changes in life circumstances, or needs, that would be a good time to call professional organizer so you can get the job done, faster and more efficient.’
Hiring help during these high-stress times can help you to be more ruthless when decluttering as they offer an expert outsider's opinion on all your jumbled stuff. Working this way is a surefire solution to creating the space you need without facing any decluttering regret.
6. You struggle to create functional systems
Home organizing ideas go beyond the pretty Pinterest pictures we all admire. You have to set up functional systems that allow you to keep things tidy. If you have tried to set up better organizing habits in the past and tripped up, a professional can help diagnose and remedy the situation. Of course, aesthetic organizing tricks go a long way to motivate us to keep our houses clean, but they are useless if they are not practical.
Liora Seltzer, professional home organizer, says ‘Many times people don’t actually have trouble parting with items, but they don’t have time to go through the process of decluttering, and I don’t know how to create systems that work for them and for those who live with them. A professional organizer can help with that.’
7. Personal relationships are affected by clutter
If encouraging family to declutter has resulted in more arguments than you can count, or you start to worry about how you are perceived by friends and family, you might want to hire a professional organizer to help you through the process.
Jennifer Bell, professional organizer and owner of Bell Home Organizing points out, ‘Many people are afraid to open their home to friends and family for fear of judgment. This can lead to a lot of hurt feelings, anger, and resentment, ultimately making the organizing process more difficult.
'Professional organizers offer an objective voice, which can help when personal relationships become strained by clutter. An organizer is a non-judgmental and creative partner to help you realize your goals for your home.’
Knowing how to work with a professional home organizer is essential to having a smooth experience. Before hiring an expert, read testimonials and discuss their techniques with them to see if it is something you think would work in your home. It is important that you get on with your expert to see positive results in your home. Building this friendly relationship will help your home organizing program feel a lot more like therapy for your home than a chore to dread.
