How do you work?
To schedule a free 30-minute introductory phone call or Zoom meeting to discuss your project and/or organizing needs, we ask that you visit our Contact Us page, choose the service you are interested in and fill out a questionnaire. Upon submitting your answers, you will receive an email with a link to schedule your introductory phone call or Zoom meeting.
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (which you are doing right now), our client testimonials and Polices & Procedures before the scheduled meeting.
Your introductory call may lead to scheduling a Moving or Estate Clearance consultation or an Assessment. Moving and Estate Clearance consultations are a no-fee in-person visit in which we determine the scope of your project and provide an estimated cost for your moving or estate clearance project. An Assessment (for which we charge a flat fee) is a 90-minute session in which we identify your primary goals and obstacles, define and prioritize your unique projects, and create an Action Plan.
It is important to note that we commence work after a retainer is paid in full.
How much do your services cost?
It depends on the services you need. We charge hourly and depending on the size of the team or the role of the team member, we inform you of the hourly rate. If you have a budget in mind for your project, let’s discuss it during the introductory phone call or Zoom meeting. We do not charge for in-person initial consultations for moving and estate clearance projects.
What is the difference between a consultation and an assessment?
A consultation, for which there is no charge, is an on-site meeting to discuss your moving or estate clearance project, identify the project scope, and prepare a low and a high estimate for both time and cost.
If your goal is to get organized, you will likely need an Assessment for which we charge a flat fee. At the end you receive an Action Plan that outlines your needs and an estimate of the time and cost to achieve your goals. For hands-on organizing and project management, we charge an hourly fee.
Does the cost of your services include the mover’s fee?
No. Vendors and services are not included in the cost of your project. But we do make an effort to get estimates or quotes from the vendors and service providers we recommend. We only coordinate vendors or service providers with your approval.
Should I get organized before I move?
We do not recommend investing the time and energy to organize spaces you are about to leave. But we do recommend editing your possessions BEFORE you move. Preparing for your move by editing your possessions reduces the amount of stuff to move, reduces the moving COST and reduces the amount of time required to Unpack and Organize in your new home.
I’m interested in getting some help for my move. When should I contact you?
Ideally, 4 to 6 weeks before your expected moving date, especially if you need hands-on help to prepare for the move. We want your transition to be as stressless as possible, but in order to achieve that result, we need time to plan and prepare.
What is moving preparation?
Moving preparation is getting ready for moving day. It involves sorting, editing and decision making about the items you plan to take with you or discard. There are also several key tasks in preparing for a move. Does your building or home require a Certificate of Insurance from movers? Do you need to schedule an elevator? Does your town or HOA require a permit for moving trucks? Will you need to schedule a rigger for removing large items? Every moving project needs preparation and in some cases involves many parties, not just movers. We help identify the challenges and always have a solution.
Why don’t you pack?
It is much more cost effective to have the moving team pack while we oversee them. The moving team that we work with are experienced and efficient packers. The cost of the supplies and their labor is included in the moving quote.
Can you help me sell things before we move?
We can recommend options for selling items but we do not maintain an eBay or Etsy presence.
Why do I need your help on packing and moving days?
Packing and moving days are stressful. Depending on the size of the move and the size of the packing and or moving team, it may be difficult for you to manage all of the activities required. A partial list of what we do on packing and moving days includes documenting damaged items, labeling boxes for contents and destination in your new home, answering moving team’s questions, ensuring items are packed properly, getting refrigerator and freezer contents packed, creating an inventory and double-checking that all rooms, drawers, closets, cabinets are empty.
How much should I tip the movers?
We suggest two options:
1. $100 for each mover per day.
2. 15%-20% of the total cost of the move.
If you choose option 1, please note that you may not see all of the movers working on your move, for example, the mover packing your boxes and furniture in the truck. We always ask the foreman how many men are on the job.
Tips are given in cash to the foreman at the end of the job. The foreman distributes the gratuities to the moving crew.
Ultimately, we recommend you tip commensurate with the service you receive.
I’m probably the worst you’ve ever seen and I’m nervous about having an organizer see this mess.
Let us see you at your “worst,” we cannot be scared off and you will not be judged. It takes courage to ask for help and we believe this kind of courage must be honored, embraced and given the utmost respect. Our desire is to help you define your goals, identify the resources required to achieve them and, if need be, create systems you can maintain on your own. We’ll guide you through the process and cheer you on from start to finish.
Are you going to make me throw out all my stuff?
No. It is not our job to make you throw out your stuff. Our job is to help you figure out what is most important to you and help you create systems and processes that make those things accessible. Frankly, we are more concerned with YOUR relationship to your stuff than the stuff itself. You, and only you, can determine what to keep and what to let go of. Our desire is to support you while you make those decisions.
Can you organize without me?
Yes and no. In moving and estate clearance projects, we can organize without you present, but that is after we have a plan and scope for your project. In organizing sessions, you must be involved because you make the decisions and your input is vital.
How do I know if it is time to get organized?
One indicator is that your lack of organization affects your daily life. For some, clutter may make it difficult to accomplish simple tasks. Disorganization can sneak up on you, especially if you’ve experienced some kind of sudden change, either positive or negative. In any case, if you notice that disorganization is a daily problem, we urge you to contact us. We’re happy to help.
How do I know if I need an organizer to help me?
Have you made several attempts on your own, but end up feeling frustrated and upset that you haven’t been able to accomplish your organizing goals? If you answered, “Yes!”, then you need a professional organizer. You may simply need an Action Plan to achieve your goals or you may need some hands-on help. In either case, contact us so we can help you
How long does it take to get organized?
We don’t know. We estimate the time required during an Assessment. But you are the most important factor in determining how much time is needed; your stamina, availability, and commitment to the process all influence the time required to accomplish your goals.
Do you provide on-going services?
Yes, if you need ongoing support to maintain your systems, we can definitely help
Interview with Janine Sarna-Jones, Founder and President
How did you get started in this business?
In 1991, I began my first “real” job after college as a Photographer and Photo Archivist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. Soon after, I asked if I could organize the office in order to efficiently manage the areas I was responsible for. I swear, that office had not been organized since the 1970s. When I finished, my supervisor told me she knew someone who could use my help after work and on weekends. That person became my first client and launched a part-time pursuit. For the next several years, I helped a handful of clients with various projects while working full-time in my career at the Smithsonian.
In 1998, while reading Julie Morgenstern’s Organizing from the Inside Out, I realized I had been organizing all along, both in the Photo Archive and in the work I’d been doing “on the side.” The realization hit me like a thunderbolt. I began to think about the joy I felt helping my clients gain control over their lives and compared that to my work as a photographer. I soon realized that my love for supporting people through the process of making a change for the better far outweighed my love for photography and my role in maintaining Native American culture and history. In 1999, I ended my photography career and transitioned into organizing full-time. In 2001, I fully immersed myself in the organizing community, began to work with and learn from veteran organizers, and founded Organize Me.
What makes you an expert in this field? Do you have a degree?
I am in the 2007 inaugural class of Certified Professional Organizers©. I have been an active and committed member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), the NAPO New York Chapter (NAPO-New York) since 2001, attending every annual NAPO Conference since 2002. I served as President of NAPO-New York from 2005 to 2007, was elected to and served a three-year term on the NAPO Board of Directors from 2007 to 2010, and continue to volunteer for a variety of committees locally and nationally. I was a member of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) from 2003 to 2021. From 2004 to 2008, I was regularly featured in Parenting Magazine as the Mom Squad’s Organizer. I have also spoken for different organizations and companies on topics, such as Organizing, Downsizing, Move Management and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I have been featured in magazines (Parenting and New York magazine), radio (Martha Stewart Radio on Sirius), and podcasts (Fast Company, Smead Organized Life, Coffee Break with Sabra, among others) and online newsletters (Brick Underground). I am also a Certified Specialty and Senior Move Manager, member of the National Association of Specialty and Senior Move Managers (NASMM). I am also a member of the National Association of Black Professional Organizers (NABPO).
What kind of organizers are you?
In the beginning, I was a solo professional organizer working with individuals one on one. Today we are a team of move managers and professional organizers. We do not subscribe to any particular organizing methodology, but we do have policies and procedures that we adhere to in order to effectively manage your projects. When helping our client get organized, we believe it is essential to create systems that honor the way YOU think and operate and that anyone who truly wants a change of any kind is capable of achieving it. When we work with our clients on their organizing goals and projects, we love helping them reduce stress and discover their own self-efficacy. Essentially whatever your goals are, we make an effort to provide the expertise and resources required to achieve them.
Who are your clients?
We strive to include diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the center of our daily work. We commit to using these practices in our business and community. We live in a city of great diversity – gender, race, culture, age, sexual orientation, abilities, skills, experience, values, and hopes. Our clients are diverse individuals and families facing a transition of one kind or another, like moving, preparing a home for a sale, or clearing a home after the death loved one.