 How
do you work?
The
first step in any organizing job, large or small, is a complementary consultation.
Consider this a "meet and greet" interview. This takes about 30 minutes,
and lets us get to know each other a little. We’ll meet with you in the
space you want help with so that we can see exactly what the project is.
After the initial consultation, there are several different ways you can
hire Harmony Matters to help you complete your organizing project:
1) Hire us to create a transformation plan which we
will implement together over an agreed upon period of time, usually one or
two days.
2) Purchase the transformation plan only and do the work yourself.
3) Hire us to work on an hourly basis.
We prefer to work as a team from a detailed plan, because
this is the best way we have found to create dramatic, lasting results for
our clients. For some projects, hourly work may be the best approach.
Based on our initial meeting, we’ll let you know how we think we can best
help you achieve your goals, also taking into consideration your time
frame and budget.
What is the
transformation plan?
Your transformation
plan is a detailed description of how to meet your organizing goals, and includes an
overview of the project, a step-by-step description of the work needed, a
room diagram, a list of all necessary materials, and estimates of time and
cost for each step of the project. To create a transformation plan,
we begin with an in-depth interview to help us understand your needs and
goals. We also measure and photograph the space. This meeting will take
about two hours.
We’ll listen to your needs and desires,
and we'll custom design a plan for you, using our years of accumulated
experience and research, and our tricks and tips for creating functional,
ergonomic, and appealing spaces.
How long does
an average job take?
We’ve found that most jobs, like a garage or one room of a house, take at
least one full day.
Will I know
what the whole job will cost before we start?
We will try to give you an accurate
estimate, and we will keep you apprised as we work if we think we need
more or less time. We will not work more than the hours we’ve agreed to
without consulting with you first.
Do your rates
include any supplies I may need to complete the job?
No, you will be responsible for purchasing any furniture, shelving,
storage, painting, or other supplies necessary to finish the job.
However, we focus on working with what you already have and on staying
within your budget. It is entirely up to you how much you want to spend
on additional supplies.
 Why
should I hire a professional organizer?
In addition to doing the physical work of organizing, a professional
organizer
is like a personal coach. We can provide that
extra nudge to “finally get it done”, the motivation to keep going when
the job gets tough, and the creative vision to see past the roadblocks
that may have been keeping you from getting started on, or completing,
your project(s).
Organizing
is ultimately a creative process. We will share our creativity with you,
and we hope to encourage your creativity as well.
Our goal with every project is to empower and educate our clients. We’ll
be delighted if you learn so much from working with us that you don’t need
to hire us again!
Do I have to
work with you or do you do all the work?
Since most projects require sorting,
categorizing, and reorganizing your stuff, it’s hard to imagine doing this
without you. We hope you’ll be able to work along with us during
most of the
process, but if you can’t, we’ll take that into account in our plan.
So what
exactly do you do?
When we arrive to do the job, we’ll bring a
toolbox, basic cleaning supplies, our copy of the plan, and a camera.
We'll follow the plan step by step. Normally, we work in one area at a time, removing,
sorting, cleaning, and rearranging. You'll work alongside us - for
example, sorting items into "keep", "give away" and "trash" boxes - and we'll help you make decisions if you get "stuck".
We'll
explain what we're doing and why we're doing it at every step, and teach
you organizing skills as we work alongside you. Even though we're
working from a plan and have probably already made the major decisions
about things like furniture placement, we'll come up with more creative
ideas, as we're putting everything away, to make your space work well and
look great. Together, we can accomplish more in one day than you
ever imagined was possible!
How long have
you been organizing?
We’ve both been studying and practicing
organizing all our lives. We started Harmony Matters together in October
of 2006. For more information about us personally, please visit our
about us page.
How would you
describe your style?
Function is our first priority because we
know that when a space works well, it is more likely to be loved and cared
for. Our style is clean, simple, comfortable, functional, and artistic.
However, our top priority
is to work within YOUR style! That’s why we’ll go through an in depth
interview with you so that we can understand your individual preferences, and how
you want the space to look.
Do you help
with design elements – color choices, finding furniture, etc.?
We will be happy to make recommendations in
these areas. We can also refer you to reading materials, web resources,
and local designers who can help you with design decisions.
Are you licensed, or are you a member of
any professional organizations?
Currently, there is no
requirement that professional organizers be licensed or bonded. We
are members of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO),
and we are committed to the ethics and integrity that NAPO represents.
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