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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Professional declutterer, any thoughts?

128 replies

Relocatiorelocation · 21/10/2022 20:47

I'm seriously considering becoming one...
Has anyone used one? Or would anyone like one but doesn't for whatever reason, what's stopping you? How much have / would you pay?
Any opinions welcome

OP posts:
grapestar · 21/10/2022 20:51

People who have clutter love clutter and don't want to get rid

mynameiscalypso · 21/10/2022 20:51

I would love to use one. What I would love in particular is if you took away / recycled / sold all the stuff I've decluttered as well as that's the problem I always have.

Original poster
Relocatiorelocation · 21/10/2022 21:03

@grapestar I'm sure that's true for lots of people, but some are surely miserable drowning in clutter but don't know where to start?
@mynameiscalypso can I ask what's stopped you? Is it just that they don't take everything away at the end?

OP posts:
notanothertakeaway · 21/10/2022 21:07

I think that (1) most people who need serious help with hoarding would resist support, and (2) most people who like a clean, tidy house don't need professional help

So, if you think you could eg spend an enjoyable afternoon helping someone clear a wardrobe and get paid £££ for it, then I suspect it's unlikely, sorry

MouldyCheeseandBiscuits · 21/10/2022 21:10

Taking it away and selling it would be a nightmare as hoarders often think their stuff is worth loads- when usually it isnt.

beachcitygirl · 21/10/2022 21:11

I am
Addicted to
The home edit.

If I could afford it. I would 💯

grapestar · 21/10/2022 21:11

Relocatiorelocation · 21/10/2022 21:03

@grapestar I'm sure that's true for lots of people, but some are surely miserable drowning in clutter but don't know where to start?
@mynameiscalypso can I ask what's stopped you? Is it just that they don't take everything away at the end?

I genuinely believe if people wanted to declutter they would do it themselves rather than paying someone to do it. The majority of people who live with clutter don't see it as clutter. They call it their possessions, and who are you to tell them what they should/shouldn't get rid of.

My MIL is a hoarder, she is living in absolute squalor - to her its possessions, to us its shite - she won't change even though DH and I refuse to let DC into her house because of it.

FallingLeaves11 · 21/10/2022 21:13

I would be interested, and agree would like it taken away. Mainly rubbish and donations possibly a small amount to sell. Things stopping me would how would you know what I wanted to keep/chuck.

NoYouSirName · 21/10/2022 21:13

grapestar · 21/10/2022 20:51

People who have clutter love clutter and don't want to get rid

Not true. I hate clutter and want rid!

ElbowsandArses · 21/10/2022 21:14

Agree with @mynameiscalypso : would love someone to come and help but the bit I really struggle with is responsible disposal (recycling everything that can be).

PumperQuarter · 21/10/2022 21:14

I would love this service. As above, particularly if it meant that things were sold/recycled as that's usually the blockage. Not that I am so attached to things, but that it's a bit of a pain to sell/donate useful stuff and I don't want to just bin it.

Please come declutter my life!

StopStartStop · 21/10/2022 21:14

I think there is potential for a good business there. Think about your pricing, with rates reflecting the properties you attend. I think perhaps some people who would like a professional declutterer would think they couldn't afford one. Maybe have some single-room rates.

mynameiscalypso · 21/10/2022 21:15

I assume that a hoarder wouldn't be the target market. We just have a bit too much stuff, not enough time to sort it all out, a cupboard of doom that just exhausts me and we're about to move. It's pure laziness.

NoYouSirName · 21/10/2022 21:15

What’s stopped me? I guess, feeling that I should be able to do it myself and that it’s a ridiculous thing to spend so much on.

they would need to take it all away at the end.

Thymely · 21/10/2022 21:15

I would be too embarrassed to let anyone in to declutter, I know we have a lot of junk or even stuff with some value. We have ended up with a lot of family stuff as older relatives have died and I really don't know what to do with a lot of it. It seems wrong to throw it away and also not right to sell it.

NoYouSirName · 21/10/2022 21:15

Busy people and people with executive function difficulties might be your target market

ipreferthecat · 21/10/2022 21:16

I would love this service

Time40 · 21/10/2022 21:16

As well as doing de-cluttering, you could also think about doing house-clearances after someone dies, OP. So many people are overwhelmed at the thought of having to do that, and would value having some help.

I wouldn't use a de-clutterer myself, but one of my friends did. She said it was useful, and worth the money.

Muddledandbefuddled · 21/10/2022 21:17

I've used one as have a few of my colleagues. We are all time poor but reasonably well off so would rather pay someone to help us blitz things like a cluttered spare room then slog through it solo.

It's key that they will do charity ship and tip runs.

buzzing · 21/10/2022 21:17

I would 100% go for something like this - busy life and small house, and not very good storage systems and it’s all got on top of me and feels like a mountain to climb.

my DH is a king of moving rather than tidying so he thinks he’s sorted stuff out but just created a problem elsewhere. Just this evening he’s decided to sort out DD clothes so there is now a pile of too small socks on the landing … yes, they needed sorting, but at least they were in a drawer before 😡

Agree about needing to actually get stuff out of the house - and not just binned because it’s quickest.

where are you based?!

PumperQuarter · 21/10/2022 21:18

Would you resell things and take a commission and/or allow people to use some of that revenue to contribute to the cost of the service? If so, it might widen the market of people who could afford it.

Bouledeneige · 21/10/2022 21:19

When I was moving and downsizing I got a friend who works as a PA/housekeeper to rich and famous people to help me reduce sone of my possessions. I'd already sold a lot of furniture on eBay and fb marketplace reducing the contents of my house by about 60 percent. She helped me with the smaller items, clothes, books etc as she has managed a lot of house moves for her clients.

It was helpful. Everything went in 3 piles - the dump, keep, sell. She sold stuff on eBay and took other stuff to charity shops for me. Then we went out for dinner on the proceeds of the sales.

However, I'm not sure if in these straitened times there will be enough of a market to pay for de-clutterers. We made around £120 on the proceeds for quite a lot of hours work.

Flowerytray · 21/10/2022 21:20

Im not a hoarder but really wanted to minimise and i started listening to the declutterhub podcast and joined their online courses for a couple of months. I totally get why they enjoy the job as I really enjoyed my own decluttering. They delve into the emotional side of it. I found it very interesting and I bought a label maker. Very exciting. Grin

MrsDrudge · 21/10/2022 21:20

I’d not only like someone to declutter but also to organise storage of the things I’d want to keep - so that I could continue to keep things tidy and accessible. Would this also be a part of your proposed service?

ButterflyBiscuit · 21/10/2022 21:21

Oh I'd love this. We feel cramped in our tiny house with not much storage. Would love help to get the clutter down.