Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

The first step is a free 20-minute consultation — by phone, or via video so I can get a peek at your space (or you can send photos ahead of time, which is really helpful!). I'll ask how you found me, what you feel you need help with, and what your timeline looks like. I'll also share my rates (scroll down), including any potential travel charges if you're outside my 30-minute radius. If we both feel like it's a good fit, we'll schedule a first visit and I'll send you an organizing agreement to review and sign before we meet.

What happens when you arrive for the first session?

We’ll do a brief walk and talk through your space so I can get a sense of things — your needs, priorities, and the scope of work. Then I'll check in about where you'd like to start. If you can't decide, I usually have a pretty good Spidey sense for where we can dive in!

Do I need to clean up or prepare anything before you arrive?

Absolutely not. Everyone has stuff — and I've seen it all (and I have my own stuff, too). You don't need to do a thing unless you feel motivated to. Think of me as a Mary Poppins/midwife for stuff — I'm there to guide you through it, not judge you.

Will you make me throw things away?

Nope. You're always the final decision maker. I won't remove, donate, or discard anything without your say-so. The speed at which we work depends entirely on your own decision-making process — and that's completely okay. If you need more time with certain decisions, we’ll slow down. If something feels too emotionally charged (like memorabilia), we'll talk about it. If it's too challenging to get past, we simply move to a less charged area and we'll revisit it later.

What if I get overwhelmed during a session?

Sometimes it happens, and it's completely normal. If I notice you're getting bogged down or tired, I'll suggest a water or snack break, or a short walk around the block. We always work at your pace.

I'm really embarrassed about the state of my space. Will you judge me?

Not for a single second. I've been doing this for over 20 years, and I've seen every kind of space imaginable. The embarrassment you feel is one of the most common things people tell me — and it's also one of the biggest barriers to getting help. Please know that reaching out takes courage, and I'll meet you right where you are.

Is your home perfectly organized?

I'm a real person with my own stuff and my own "stuff" challenges (memorabilia!). But here's what I want you to know: my goal isn't to make your home look like a Pinterest board — unless that's what YOU want. My goal is to help you make sense of what you have and organize things in a way that works for you — so things have a home and you can find them when you need them.

Do I need to get supplies?

People often feel like they need to go out and buy a bunch of bins, baskets, and organizing supplies before we start. My advice? Let's wait and see what you already have first. You'd be surprised how much we can reuse, repurpose, and work with before spending a dime. I don't purchase materials on your behalf — I don't want to mark anything up — but I'm happy to suggest organizing supplies like bins so you can order them yourself.

What's helpful to have on hand are small and medium boxes for donations — used boxes are totally fine. I bring packing tape and tall kitchen garbage bags if you don't have any.

How long will my project take?

Honestly, it depends — mostly on you! I work at a good pace, but since you're always the final decision maker, the pace of our work reflects your own process. Some projects take a few sessions, others take more. What I can tell you is that we'll make real, visible progress every single time we meet.

What do you do with donations and discards?

That's up to you! Many clients prefer to make their own donations to a church, organization they care about, or make trips to a transfer station. I'm happy to take one carload of donations that are acceptable to Goodwill per visit. I bring tall kitchen garbage bags for soft items (clothing) and suggest you have small and medium boxes on hand for other items that can be donated but aren't easily transported in a bag. I'm not able to haul furniture or large/bulky items — but I can recommend a local hauler who does larger pickups, sorts items between donations and discards, and works with local charities.

Do you work with people who experience chronic disorganization?

Yes — I'm a member of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) and have worked with many people who struggle with disorganization. I'm currently a generalist rather than a specialist in this area, and there are situations that are better served by someone with more specialized training. If that's the case, I'll happily point you toward the right people and resources.

What are your rates?

I use a sliding scale based on annual household gross income. I operate on the honor system — I trust you to select the rate that reflects your situation. No documentation required.

Up to $125k — $100/hr
$126k - $175k — $115/hr
$176k - $225k — $125/hr
$226k - $275k — $140/hr
$275k+ — $150/hr

For in-person sessions I ask for a minimum of three hours per session. I accept payments via Zelle, and cash or check at the time of service. I do not accept PayPal or Venmo. Travel of 30 minutes round trip is included in my fee. For sessions where travel exceeds 30 minutes round trip, I'll send a separate invoice for the additional travel time, billed in 15-minute increments at my hourly rate. Payment is due within 48 hours of receiving the invoice.

Do you offer virtual sessions?

Yes! We can meet via FaceTime or Google Meet. We'll review the space you'd like to address together and talk about your goals. I can guide you step by step in real time, or help you create an action plan during or after the session that you can work through at your own pace. Follow-up sessions help keep you on track.

Where do you work?

I serve the greater Seattle area — as far north as Snohomish, the Eastside (including Bellevue, Mercer Island, Medina, Kirkland, Redmond, and Issaquah), and south to Renton and Kent. There may be other locations I’ll go to as well — just ask. Virtual sessions are available anywhere!

What is your cancellation policy?

A deposit equal to one session (3 hours) is due at booking to reserve your spot. Here's how cancellations work:

48+ hours notice: deposit is fully refunded or applied to a rescheduled session
Within 48 hours: 50% of the deposit is forfeited
Same-day cancellation or no-show: full deposit is forfeited

True emergencies — sudden illness, accidents, unexpected loss of childcare — can always be negotiated.