Additional Notes
Unlike the Clean Sweep show which brings in a whole crew to redo an entire house in three days, the actual downsizing, moving, and organizing process is much slower. Keep in mind that in order to get the successful results we both want, there may be a few aches and pains along the way.
By the time you are seeking our help, you are probably overwhelmed by the clutter and deadlines you are facing. The decision-making process saps energy and may cause stress for you and your family. If you have decided to pay for professional organizing services, ideas, and suggestions, I am sure you want our very best effort in helping you. It is important for you to understand that sometimes the process can be a little unpleasant.
More often than not, clients are reluctant to part with items that have been in their family for a long time. Our goal is to help release you from the guilt of holding on to unwanted or unneeded items to get the results you want. It is not because we are insensitive to the personal items you have collected, but it is our goal to allow you to create a calmer, less cluttered future.
If we are a part of the organizing of your new space, we want it to look great and teach you how to use the systems we put in place. Organizing is just the first step. Keeping your home organized after we leave requires both you to make some lifestyle changes. If you are unwilling to take the recommendations that we suggest and be firm in sticking to them, then your home is very likely to fall into clutter once again.
An important lifestyle change may be how you handle new purchases and storage or distribution of items that may eventually be passed on to other family members. You may also have to learn to curb your purchasing habits and be willing to part with items that are unneeded or have no sentimental value.
Organizing takes concentration, multitasking, and focus. There will be times you find a long lost item and you want to stop and reminisce. Our organizers will ask you to refocus on the task at hand. Having your full focus on the organizing process will make it go more quickly. It is best not to double-book yourself with other events and people on organizing days unless we have discussed this beforehand.
Rates
We are often asked to quote how much a particular job will cost. Due to the many variables in each job, we do not estimate jobs over the phone. Since we bill organizing jobs at an hourly rate, we try to estimate the time a job will take during the scheduled consultation.
How long a job will take depends on:
- The amount of clutter.
- The number of boxes of paper to sort and organize (papers require more detailed attention).
- How well you are able to work with us, make decisions, and purge.
- Whether we will be building or putting together shelving, bookshelves, organizing tools, etc.
- Your willingness to do suggested homework after we leave.
- The amount of interruptions you have (phone, email, texting, visitors, kids, etc.).
Estimates are for organizing services only and do not include additional expenses such as mileage, surcharges, supplies, shopping, etc. Final billing may vary from the initial estimate or quote based on additional expenses.
After the initial consultation, our organizing jobs are billed hourly, with a minimum of five (5) hours per day for all jobs. From experience, we find that most clients get the best results by booking 8 hours a day. Hours are determined by, but not limited to projections of time spent cleaning, de-cluttering, sorting, organizing, filing, building, and installing organizing products, and time spent researching for special items requested by the client. Research and shopping time outside of the on-site organizing will be billed additionally upon approval by the client.
Clients may elect to schedule either one* or two organizers, but in most cases, two organizers create more brain power, muscle power, and more efficient decision-making capabilities. The option for two organizers on a job site is not available in all areas covered by Get Organized! services.
*For security reasons, we schedule two organizers on a job if the Lead Organizer and the client are of the opposite sex. If two organizers are not available in your area, service options are at the discretion of Get Organized! and the approval of the client.
Our typical client is one who has accumulated clutter over a period of time that is now causing undue frustration and stress, often throughout the entire home and family. There is usually a feeling of being overwhelmed and out of control. When it moves beyond just the physical space and general lifestyle clutter, we might classify it as hoarding.
We work with hoarders and their families to begin the enormous task of organizing the physical spaces of a hoarding environment, however, we do not provide professional counseling or psychological advice. Usually, the home of a hoarder requires a cleaning crew to come into the home prior to our arrival to remove trash and unhealthy debris. Due to the complexity of hoarding situations, the hourly organizing rates may increase to hoarding rates after the on site consultation, especially if the client did not explain the severity during the phone conversation. Hoarding jobs do require at least two organizers on site at all times. Please call or email for hourly rates.
Mileage Rates: Get Organized! has organizers throughout the DFW area. It is our goal to match the best organizer to each client’s needs. We do take into consideration the client’s location when assigning an organizer to a job. Clients who are over 30 miles round trip from our organizer will have an additional cost per mile (IRS mileage rate) added to the total job cost. Mileage will be determined from the location of the organizer to the client and is based on round-trip using Bing.com/Maps.
Due to the increase in fuel costs and drive time with traffic in the DFW area, any jobs that have a calculated drive time between 45 minutes and 1 hour (one way) from the location of the organizer and based on Bing.com/Maps, will incur a $25 surcharge for each scheduled appointment. The client will be billed per job, not per organizer, for mileage and/or surcharges.
Payment
We do not estimate total estimates for jobs over the phone. Our main office will be happy to go over our design hourly rates. Based on the initial consultation, we will discuss the overall budget and cost estimate.
We accept all major credit cards. Get Organized! will collect credit card information prior to the Staging Consultation. Payments will be processed on the day of the Staging Consultation and thereafter clients will receive weekly invoices for billable service hours. Payments will be due upon receipt.
NOTE: Get Organized! Services do not include additional expenses such as furnishings, furniture, shopping time and mileage, etc. Final billing may vary from the initial estimate or quote based on additional expenses approved by the client.
Cancellation Policy
To cancel your appointment with Get Organized! without incurring a charge, call 972.666.1700 (24 hours/7 days a week) at least 48 hours before your appointment and leave a detailed message. We will call back to reschedule the appointment at a mutually agreed-upon day and time. We understand sometimes this will be impossible. Each client is allowed ONE (1) NO-CHARGE cancellation or reschedule with less than 48 hours notice. Exception: If a client cancels/reschedules once organizer(s) is en route to their home, it falls under our No Show Policy (see below) and will incur a no-show fee of $100. If a client continues to have cancellation and rescheduling issues without appropriate notice, a fee of $100 will be charged for each instance thereafter.
In instances where excessive rescheduling and cancellations occur (3 or more, even with a 48-hour notice), clients will be charged a $50.00 rescheduling/cancellation fee per appointment. If it continues, we may ask the client to find another organizer best suited for his/her scheduling needs. Excessive rescheduling disrupts our service to other clients and negatively impacts our organizers' ability to earn income. Please consider your dates and times carefully when booking your appointments. Get Organized! desires to give every single client our absolute best.
No Show Policy
If organizer(s) is en route to your home or arrives at your home/office for your scheduled appointment and you cancel/reschedule the appointment or request a reduction of the organizing team that has arrived, or if they arrive at your home and you are not at home or ill or have a schedule conflict and are unable to keep the appointment, you will be charged a $100 no show fee plus mileage if applicable. Read the Cancellation Policy above for more information.
When scheduling your consultation, we will obtain your credit card information for billing purposes. We will not bill your credit card for our services until after your appointment in case you choose to pay with cash or check at the time of service. By giving us your credit card information, you accept and agree to our Cancellation and No Show policies.
Additional Notes
Flexibility is vital to the organizing process. There may be times when an organizer will come up with a better idea or request additional storage or organizational tools for your home. These changes are always discussed and implemented with your approval.
Remember we are organizing, not remodeling. If you choose to have us work with organizing products you already have in your home and not purchase specific items we have suggested, the overall results may be less than optimal.
This information is subject to change without notice.