Need it gone? · Every state
Professional organisers: when you need one
A professional organiser works alongside you, sorting and deciding, then sets up systems that hold after they leave. They are not a rubbish removal service. Book a few hours on one room before a full day. Look for members of IOPO, the Institute of Professional Organisers, the Australian professional body.
What is free?
Free- Work through one room at a time, and ask someone blunt but kind to sit with you while you decide
- A friend who has no attachment to your things is worth more than any system
The things an organiser helps you decide about: sentimental things, paperwork & documents.
What is cheap?
Low cost- Book a professional organiser for a few hours rather than a full day — enough to get one room done and to learn how they think
What does paying get you?
Paid- An organiser works alongside you across the house, sorting, deciding and setting up systems that survive.
What does a professional organiser actually do?
They work beside you while you sort and decide, then set up systems simple enough to survive after they leave. They do not clear a house in bulk and they are not a clearance service. The deciding is the slow part, and it is the part an organiser is trained for.
How much does a professional organiser cost?
They charge by the hour or by the half day, and rates are set by the individual rather than by any scheme. Book a few hours on one room first: it gets a room finished and shows whether their approach suits you. Ask what the rate includes and whether donation runs are billed on top.
How do I choose one?
Look for members of IOPO, the Institute of Professional Organisers, the Australian professional body with a code of conduct. Ask what happens to the things you let go of, whether taking donations away is charged separately, and for a reference from a job the size of yours rather than a testimonial.
What about hoarding?
Hoarding disorder is a recognised mental health condition and it needs a different approach from a hard rubbish run. Ask any organiser what training they have in hoarding specifically, and be wary of anyone marketing a hoarding cleanup as pure haulage. A forced clear-out usually makes things worse for the person living there.
Where does what you let go of actually go?
That part changes by state. Pick yours.