Will you just make me throw everything out?

Never. The decision to get rid of an item is always YOURS. I’ll ask the tricky questions that will help you address why you may be holding onto things you don't need, and help you to let go. Some people want to get rid of 80% of their stuff, others find it very hard to give anything up. Everyone's needs are different and I respect that. You are always the boss - I'm there to facilitate the process.

You've probably not seen a house as cluttered as mine – I'm embarrassed to let a stranger see it. Will you judge me because of my mess?

Not at all! Everyone thinks that their house is the worst, and that's never the case. The truth is, I don't look at your home the same way you do - I'm a set of fresh eyes looking at it without emotion or judgement. I promise, you won’t shock me.

What is a typical session like?

To begin with, we have a chat about your situation and expectations of the session. We'll have a look at the area and items concerned, and discuss time-frames and ideal results. Then we get stuck into the decluttering itself – getting everything out and spreading it around to see what we're dealing with. This part can be a bit confronting because things definitely look worse before they start to get better!

Once the items have been sorted and removed, we then organise those remaining into an efficient and logical system. This is when we set up new habits that will help you maintain your clutter-free space long after I'm gone. When we get to a point that you're satisfied and/or you think you can continue on your own, we wrap up and clear up the area.

Finally, I take everything you no longer want off your hands – all the donations, e-waste, shredding, everything – leaving you with a clear home! (Additional charges may apply for this, depending on the nature & amount of waste)

Then what do you do with my stuff?

I distribute your unwanted items to various groups in need. Organisations I support include Catherine House, the Women's and Children's Hospital, the Animal Welfare League & the RSPCA, MOSH Australia, and various charity op shops. Confidential paperwork goes straight into my locked Shred X shredding bin, unopened food goes to Foodbank or the Hutt St Centre, eWaste goes to Electronics Recycling Australia, and recycling goes in recycling bins. Specialty items (for example leadlight equipment or miniature dollhouse supplies) require a bit of research but I always find a good home for them. You don’t pay for the time it takes me to do this - it’s all part of the service.

If there's a particular charity or organisation you'd prefer to support I'll do my best to donate to them.

How involved will I be?

That really depends on the nature of the stuff and your relationship to it; things like paperwork are pretty dry and self-explanatory, whereas wardrobes can be very sentimental. At a minimum I’ll need you with me for the first hour, because it takes some time to wrap my head around what I’m working with and what our goals are. Beyond that some clients like to work with me one on one, while others are happy to leave me to it. I need to ask lots of questions to make sure we get the optimum results no matter what we’re doing, so I need clients to be available to me throughout the session even if they’re focusing on their own work in another room.

How do you charge?

I charge a competitive hourly rate, because the one variable that I’m not in charge of is the speed at which my clients are comfortable making decisions. Once I have assessed the situation and we’ve discussed your expectations, we agree on a time frame for what we want to achieve in the session. I'm very honest about what can be achieved in a particular time-frame, and if we need to go beyond the original agreed time we'll have a chat about it long before we proceed. I understand that everyone has different budgets and different needs, and I will work with you to achieve the result that is right for you. Payment is accepted on the day through bank transfer or EFTPOS.

I'm a bit worried about having a stranger in my house - how do I know I can trust you with my stuff?

As a member of the Institute of Professional Organisers, I abide by their Code of Practice and keep all client information confidential unless required to disclose information by law. I have a current police clearance and hold public liability and professional indemnity insurance. I’m also trained in mental health first aid so I’m comfortable having those tough conversations. If you need to keep anything confidential, I completely respect your privacy and right to do so - just let me know.

I’m worried about a friend or family member who is hoarding their stuff - can you help them?

Hoarding is a behaviour typical of certain psychological conditions and needs to be addressed by a qualified health professional. If you suspect that someone you know needs help with this, encourage them to speak to their doctor. I can refer you onto other Professional Organisers who specialise in assisting with hoarding behaviour.