Frequently Asked Questions as a Certified Professional Organizer®

How did you get started as a professional organizer?

I’ve always enjoyed organizing—especially for other people! When I babysat in middle

school and high school, I would spend the time after the kids went to sleep organizing

the playroom or alphabetizing music and movies. In college, my sister’s closet was

always a fun project (for me, not her) whenever I visited home on breaks. I was also

regularly recruited to help rearrange and pack cars for friends at the end of the

semester. I absolutely love doing it—and always have!

How long have you been organizing professionally?

After eight years working in corporate IT, I “retired” to stay home with my two boys in

December 2017. While that was great, once we survived the COVID lockdown and they

were both in preschool, I decided it was time to get out and finally pursue my dream job

of professional organizing. I booked my first client in February 2021, and I’ve been busy

ever since!

Why should I hire a Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®) instead of just an

organizer? How does this certification benefit me as a client?

A CPO® is trained to create sustainable systems, respect confidentiality, and adapt to

different personality types and lifestyles. When hiring a CPO®, you’ll have peace of

mind knowing you’re working with someone who is proven, tested, and dedicated to

best practices—not just a hobby organizer.

In addition to years of paid work alongside clients, I also had to pass a three-hour exam

covering topics not just about organizing and learning styles, but also business, project

management, finance, and ethics. A CPO® is a true professional in all aspects of the

job.

Is it OK if my house looks like a ‘before’ photo when you get here?

It’s honestly better if it does! Working with me won’t put you in the position of needing to

“clean” before the cleaner arrives. I need to see how you live to make sure that the

systems we create are sustainable and realistic for your everyday life. I can’t come up

with solutions for problems I can’t see.

What’s your guilty pleasure when it comes to clutter— is there anything you

struggle to let go of?

The item I feel most guilty keeping is my wedding dress… I absolutely love it, and it

sparks so much joy just knowing I have it. Am I going to wear it again? Probably not.

Will it remain entombed in a box for the rest of time, for my grandkids to decide what to

do with? Probably.

When it comes to sentimental items, I generally suggest only keeping things that are

truly important to you personally. I often run into people who keep every single thing

related to milestone events like weddings—but if you stop to think about it realistically,

the RSVP cards, table numbers, and extra unsent invitations are likely never going to be

used (or even looked at) again. Choose one or two items that are truly special, and

confidently part with the rest.

Have you ever organized something super weird or unexpected?

At this point, I don’t think anything could truly surprise me. I think I’ve seen it all— a

room full of Amazon boxes, an O-RAMA collection, quilting supplies with wool straight

off sheep, an entire room of Magic cards, a home-based lash salon, a storage unit full of

golf clubs... just to name a few. Everyone lives unique and interesting lives, and I’m

always excited to take on the challenge of creating systems for whatever brings you joy!

What challenges do you most enjoy solving for clients?

I think the most rewarding jobs are those for people who feel truly “stuck.” They know

they can do it themselves, but the relief of having the project completed in a single

day—rather than breaking it up over weeks or months—is truly gratifying. The best days

end with an overwhelming sense of relief. Nothing makes me happier than helping

people.

Are you a color-coding fanatic or a “whatever works” kind of person?

It really depends on what it is. Color-coding makes me happy, so yes—my books are

organized by color (and category), and my T-shirts are in ROYGBIV order. But if that

doesn’t make sense for your space or how your brain processes things, I’m not going to

push it.

The key is being able to find everything when you need it. If everything has a

home—and you know where that home is, that’s what really matters.

If I finally let go of my identical 15 USB charging cables or multiple phones from

seven years ago, will you just toss them in the trash?

No! I try to avoid filling landfills as much as possible. I have a long list of nonprofits that

accept donations of all types, and I also know where to take unusable electronics, old

engine oil and batteries, stained towels and sheets, old license plates, and just about

anything else we uncover, to be given a new life. As long as it fits in my minivan, I’ll

happily take care of it—at no additional charge during each session.

Junk drawer: yes or no?

I don’t think anyone should have a “junk drawer” because junk isn’t useful. A

miscellaneous drawer is what I have in my kitchen ��. It’s a home for the random items

traditionally found in a “junk” drawer, but it’s not junk—and I know exactly what’s in there

if I need it, and I don’t use it as a catch all when tidying up.

Can you stop my kids from dumping toys everywhere?

I wish! I can’t stop the chaos (just ask my own children), but my main goal is to give

everything a home that makes sense for your family in your current stage of life. I’ll use

systems tailored to your household so that even toddlers can learn to put things back.

Your house may occasionally be messy, but it won’t be disorganized—which makes

clean-up so much easier.

If organizing were an Olympic sport, what would your signature event be?

Either matching socks or folding sheets. One time, I organized a linen closet that had no

fewer than 10 sets of unfolded king sheets. I definitely felt like I deserved a medal for

that one!