Frequently Asked Questions

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What cities/areas do you service?

Typically we service the greater Adelaide area - with small travel charges applying for especially long distances (over 25km) from the CBD.

Regular trips are also taken to service the Mildura (Victoria) area, with no travel charges applying if the appointments are within the times of our scheduled trips. Non-scheduled appointment times will be accommodated as much as possible depending on availability and may or may not incur a charge (most likely not - we're pretty flexible).

That all said, we are happy to organise anywhere in Australia! Just contact us to find out the costs specific to your location.

Will you make me throw away all my things?

No way!! We are not the bosses of your stuff! We will guide you in how to make decisions that are best for you. If you want to keep absolutely everything that's not ideal, but it's fine - we'll then just help you organise it all so you have control of it and not the other way around. We ask the tough questions (after all, that's what we're there for!), but don't make you do anything you don't want to.

I have a family member whose hoarding has reached hazardous levels - will you come and help me throw out their stuff?

Again, NO!! It's very dangerous to touch a hoarder's things. Please don't throw away their clutter, they most likely have strong emotional attachment to it all and it would be disastrous if you did that. They need to do this themselves, with your support. Encourage them to speak to a psychologist about their hoarding - they need to resolve the issues that cause them to hoard before they are ready to let go of anything. If they're getting help with the cause, and they want to then seek help reducing their stuff, then yes, we'll come and help then.

Do you do initial consultations to assess the situation before you actually start?

No, in most cases we've found them to be a waste of time. We ask as many questions as we can before your appointment, then when we come we're ready to get to work immediately. We've been doing this long enough to be able to get all the information we need from you before we start. You save time and money that way! But of course if you want us to do an assessment consultation, we're happy to oblige.

I'm sure I could do this myself - why should I get a Professional Organiser?

Sure, if you can do it yourself, then do it! But if you're reading this, it's probably because you've got something you've been putting off resolving. There are reasons why you haven't done it already! You probably feel overwhelmed and lack motivation and time, and have no idea where to start. We've done this heaps; we know where to start, we know the tricks to make it happen faster. Very importantly, we are your motivation to do it! We'll be on your doorstep ready to go with two (or more) extra hands to do it all - what greater motivation do you need than that?!

What can I expect from my consultation?

It all revolves around you. Firstly, we ask all the right questions to find out what's bothering you the most, and what's causing the bottleneck of clutter or tasks (that might be different to what you think is causing it!). Then we chat to you about all the options and decide on a plan of attack. Then we roll up our sleeves and do it! During the 'doing' part, you'll be taught what we're doing and why so that you can apply it yourself when we leave.

Do I need to be present for the organising session?

Preferably, yes - after all, it's your stuff we're sorting through! However, there are certain situations where we can work alone. When working with mostly paperwork, we can do the bulk of the work without your presence if necessary. But if we're organising a wardrobe, kitchen or living area, your input is vital. So as long as you're readily available if we need a decision made, you can decide how involved in the hands-on work you wish to be.

How long does it take?

Ah, when we get those questions the answer is always "Well, what's your budget?". Because for the majority of organising projects, how long we take actually depends on how much you can afford to spend on the project. The beauty of the way we work is that we don't restrict you to any minimum. If you have an office that is floor-to-ceiling filled with boxes of paperwork, you could be looking at loads of hours of organising. Now, if you can afford all of it; great. If you can't, we'll still have a go at it. We'll set up the system, begin the sorting and storage, and teach you along the way. Then when we have to leave, you're all set up with the skills, tools and motivation to finish the project yourself.

But, we can make a great dent in your average home office, spare room or wardrobe in around 4-6 hours and really get you off and running.

Do you quote?

Nope, for the same reasons outlined above - and it's extremely hard to gauge how long a project will take until you're in the middle of it. So we just work with your available time and budget instead. You dictate the cost, and we'll work flat out to achieve as much as possible in our available window of time.

Do Professional Organisers have accreditation?

No, the Australian industry as yet does not accredit its members (but it won't be long before it does; as soon as it's available you can be sure Clear Space will be getting accredited). Rebecca is a member of the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers (AAPO) and complies with its code of ethics.

What if I'm too embarrassed for you to see my mess?

Almost every client we've had has hidden their face in shame and asked "Is this the worst you've ever seen?" and the answer is a resounding "NO!" because firstly, there is no 'bad' or 'worst', there's just a situation. Secondly, we've seen it all - nothing can faze us. Not to mention that Rebecca was not born organised, so if she hasn't seen it in a client she probably did it herself so would be the last person to judge you!!! Finally, we work under a strict confidence agreement - noone will know anything about your home or your situation. Noone will even know you're a client of ours unless you tell them yourself.

So it's normal to be embarrassed; just remember that we're professionals and are there to help, not judge. We won't raise our eyebrows, or laugh (although it will be our goal to get you laughing about it by the end of the project!) or have any judgment at all.

How long do I need to wait for a consultation?

This one is hard to answer, because it depends on how big your project is, and how busy we are at the time. It's usually not very long. Your best bet is to give us a call as soon as you know when you want to book us and we'll bend over backwards to meet your needs.

I want to get organised during school holidays - is it a problem if my kids are home during the consultation?

Nope, not a problem for us at all (we have kids - we're used to them!). However, they do offer distractions for you, which could extend the length of the project and cost you more. But that's the only concern we'd point out to you. If we're doing their bedrooms or the living areas it's actually great to have them around so they can get involved and be invested in the project (then they're more likely to maintain it!).

What does "Organising Family Life" involve?

Basically it's teaching you techniques to help you run your household a little more smoothly. Great for busy families who have too much clutter and struggle keeping up with housework and other activities. With our coaching, you will learn ways to manage your household paperwork, the family schedule and projects; and how to do housework in a way that it will seem like the house is cleaning itself! It follows the basic techniques that Rebecca used to teach herself how to get organised. Yes - there is hope!!!

I can't afford to get you in to help me, but my whole home is a disaster - what are my options?

If you can't afford an entire organising project, then we can just do a short consultation that will teach you the techniques involved to get started on the project yourself. We'll provide you with recommendations for our favourite books and other resources to help you along, as well as go through your home and give you ideas and a plan of action.

If you can afford enough to do one room at a time, then we can do that. Don't think that because you can't afford the whole house to be done, you shouldn't even bother. A small step is infinitely better than no step at all. And remember that you'll be learning along the way how to apply the techniques to the rest of your home.

Can you come to my workplace and help me with my office?

Sure, so long as your management is okay with it - not a problem! We can clear the paper clutter, or work with your time management, procrastination or goal-setting struggles - whatever you need help with.

Can you come to my business and help me with my employees?

Absolutely! We can work one-on-one with employees or run workshops, it all depends on your staff's requirements and challenges.

Are all Professional Organisers really perfect and obsessive about having everything all spotless and clean?

No, not at all! Although some Professional Organisers were born with a label-maker in one hand and a duster in the other, it's not always the case.

There is a myth that clean (or minimalist, or perfect) and organised are the same things - not true!! From a personal perspective, I have two young children and run my own business - my house certainly isn't always spotlessly clean! But yes, I do know where everything belongs, as does the rest of the family. It makes tidying up so much faster that way, as well as faster to find things, of course! I'm not in the slightest bit perfect, I'm human - I know what you're going through and am empathetic and understanding. That said, I do have my little habits, as we all do (I get teased by friends and family for folding and carefully lining up my family's undies, but that's not an expectation I pass on to clients!).

 

So what are you waiting for? Contact Clear Space to chat about starting your journey to becoming organised!

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