Clear every surface in your apartment with the help of a decluttering service.
Every year, you start with great hopes of completing major organization projects like your pantry, closet or even your garage. But life gets in the way, and things look constantly messy — junk drawers, piles of clothes in your closet or lots of mail to sort through. It’s hard to find the time and mental bandwidth sometimes to go through every single thing and declutter.
A National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) survey found that the average American receives almost 15,000 pieces of junk mail in their lifetime, which pile up on the counters. A UCLA study found a direct correlation between clutter and depression and higher stress levels. Clutter can quickly become overwhelming if you don’t get organized.
For those that can’t reasonably handle their junk, professional decluttering services can lend a hand and give you a blank slate. They can help declutter but also give you tools to stay organized.
What are professional decluttering services?
First things first: Professional declutters are not cleaners. They don’t mop or sweep. They aim to bring efficiency to your home, digital or physical spaces and help you organize.
Depending on expertise, they charge between $30 and $400 an hour. You can find different niches through NAPO’s directory of certified declutter and organizer professionals.
They can help you downsize before a move or organize your apartment after a move. Decluttering businesses can also help with chronic disorganization, bill paying, multimedia organization, photo album organizing, etc. They can also help further if you’re a person with disabilities.
If you have decision paralysis, they can help make those decisions, remove unwanted clothes, set up systems for each room, and label things to bring a little order to your home.
The more information you can provide about your needs, the easier it will be to find a decluttering service that sets you up for success. Ultimately, you can walk away with a more effective, intuitive system that you can use after they’re gone.
When is it time to call a professional decluttering business?
If things get out of hand, it’s time to seek professional help. Sometimes help from a friend or family can help solve your apartment chaos, but it’s OK to ask for more assistance. Here are eight signs that it’s time to hire professionals to help you declutter your home.
- You’re starting to lose things permanently in your apartment. While some say, they know where everything is within the chaos. But if clutter is taking over your apartment and you keep losing things, it’s time to consider hiring a professional.
- Junk drawers are in every room. If you keep ignoring all of your junk drawers and avoid them due to anxiety, it’s probably time to hire someone to help.
- Your mental health prevents you from organizing. Whether it’s debilitating anxiety or you feel overwhelmed, living in clutter can exacerbate your symptoms. It’s OK to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all.
- You can’t keep up after a life change. Maybe you moved, got a new job, or there’s a new baby, and you need an extra hand organizing the kitchen or your closet. Sometimes you can’t find the time, so it’s time to reach out to a professional.
- Smaller digital tasks overwhelm you. Maybe you have boxes of old photo albums that need to be digitized or phones to be backed up. There are digital declutters that can help you get your digital world organized.
- You’ve tried to get organized, but things are still piling up. You got the plastic containers and the clothes donations in bags, but it’s still not working. You simply have too much stuff and aren’t quite sure how to display it effectively.
- No tabletop is left uncovered. If mail, packages and boxes are taking over every surface in your apartment and you’re not going through it in a timely manner, it’s OK to pause and ask for help.
- Your “junk room” has expanded to other rooms. The spreading of junk without a solution can be a sign that you need better organizational systems in your home.
What to look for in a professional declutter?
When in doubt, ask a friend for a referral. But if you’re starting from zero, it’s important to understand your needs. Since clearly a trip to The Container Store didn’t work for you, you need to identify what areas you need help with.
Like any other vendor, you need to find someone that fits your lifestyle and understands your mess. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as Netflix’s “The Home Edit” coming to your house! But they understand your embarrassment and fear, and they most likely have seen it all.
Ask about their services and areas of specialty during the interview period before you hire them. Get referrals from others, if possible, and get clarity on the fee structure. Most professional organizers price their services per hour. Make sure to compare prices.
Some have specialized services for people with disabilities, seniors, hoarders and those with ADHD beyond the simple closet or garage organization. Declutter professionals will work with you to decide what you want to keep and to identify where unwanted items will go.
In the end, you need to stay open-minded during the consultation and project to ensure you get the best result. You need to be honest with the decluttering business to get the tools you need to succeed.
Time to get organized with the help of a decluttering business
Ready to declutter your home? Hire professional decluttering services if you feel overwhelmed by your clutter and need help clearing surfaces. Be part of the process as the declutter professional shows you their thought process and possible solutions.
Your new system should help you deal with each room and reduce clutter moving forward. This will be key to keeping your home organized for the long term.
Source: rent.com