To ask about professional declutterers/organizers?

[sniffingthewax]

I've somehow fallen down the rabbit hole of these on instagram and I'm not really sure what the point is. Obviously you pay them to declutter your stuff and throw things away but surely you could just do that yourself? You need to sit with them and decide what to throw/keep anyway, so why pay someone to do it? Also do you just do the initial sessions and when the place is how you want it that;s it? Or do they come back for maintenance sessions?
How much do they get paid?
Would be really interested to hear if you have used one and if they were good.

Mine changed my life. An absolute kick up the arse I needed to let go of stuff I was hanging onto for all the wrong reasons.

Worth every penny

Stronger can I ask how much you paid and for how long? Do they dispose of the things or just pack them and you have to physically get rid?

Following with interest, specifically for my kitchen cupboards of death

Of course you could do that yourself. Just like you could do your own cleaning, accounts, gardening and DIY - but these are all tasks that people pay others to do.

The thing with decluttering is that a lot of people find it freaky difficult to let go of things, so declutterers really are there as support and to challenge the reasons why people are hanging on to a twelve year old winter coat with holes in the sleeves, or an old broken record player that belonged to their grandad.

I think they are quite pricey. Worth remembering when I dither about selling stuff. Better to give to charity and save the money I'd spend on a decluttering service than try to sell!

I've had a massive clear out recently and did look at getting in a pro, but decided to just bite the bullet.

Tbh my house is generally quite tidy, there were just a few rooms that needed a clear out.

Anyway, my tactic, that really worked was "4 boxes". I bought 4 large storage boxes on Amazon.

I had a box to put things to definitely keep, another to recycle, one to throw and an "undecided" box.

I just meant I didn't have to dither over the "maybe" stuff and plough on quickly.

Once done and the room sorted (and being in the mood to get rid of things) I found it really easy to go through the maybe items and make a decision re: their final box.

Then I cleared out the boxes (put things away, tip, recycling etc) and started on the next room.

The boxes stack, so when finished I've just put them in the loft (empty) for the next clear out (or house move).

Hope that's helpful.

I recently read one of Marie Kondo's books and it changed my life. I followed all her steps and went through every single item in the house within a month. I was ruthless. My husband was beyond upset but after 2 weeks he did get on board and saw the positive in what we were doing. We went through all boxes in the loft, every single piece of screw in the garage... The result is that the house now looks amazing. I am strong-willed and practical so I can manage a proper decluttering session on my own however my husband is someone who definitely needs a professional to help him. If I had the cash I'd pay someone to come help !

I used to do this for a living back in the pre-Marie Kndo days. I'm thinking of going back to it.

Everything was very much client-led. There was a lot of discussion before the actual decluttering and organising commenced. The client had to be very clear about what she wanted from the experience, it would never work if I had just turned up and did it all for them, everybody had different wants and needs.

What is the going rate what? Do you charge per hour or per room?

sniffingthewax start with the APDO website, find a declutterer near you and they’ll usually have a website with their rates and availability.

I hired one for two rooms in our home a few years back and am considering bringing her back for some office paperwork I can’t seem to get through. Very much worth the money.

I could do it myself but it would take forever, be emotionally draining, and I wouldn’t do it as well as she can.

I'm going back a bit but £30 per hour, £60 for two of us. Mind you, that was central London rates.

I know someone who had a professional declutterer. I said can't you just do it yourself? isn't it a waste of money?

She said the fact she was paying for it was what made it work. The declutterer is there, you are aware you have limited time you have paid for and that psychologically makes you focus and get on with it in a way you wouldn't otherwise.

I thought that was interesting.

That's very true Dorothy. Also, many people just feel so overwhelmed that they don't know where to start. Having somebody come in and formulate a plan is invaluable for them.

I had more than one client crying their eyes out & gasping inbetween sobs 'I've.....got...so...much.....stuff...and...I....don't ....know....what....to....do'

If you actually need to declutter and not just rearrange things then you do need to be present, and it's very hard going mentally and emotionally. We can guide, suggest and help you focus but we could not and would not make arbitrary decisions on throwing away your possessions.