Peace of Mind Organizing

Show All Answers

How can a professional organizer help me?

If you crave order and can’t seem to create it in your home, a professional organizer can help you achieve and maintain that order and the peace of mind that comes with it. At Peace of Mind Organizing®, we bring expertise and an objective eye to your situation, and we help guide you to discard unwanted objects that are cluttering your life. We also take away your donations, organize the belongings you decide to keep and create systems to help you stay organized. By hiring a professional organizer, you’re making a commitment to work toward creating the environment you yearn to live in.

Why should I hire you?

Peace of Mind Organizing is owned by one of the most experienced and credentialed organizers in the St. Louis area. I am a leader in the local organizing community, having served three terms as president of the St. Louis chapter of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO-St. Louis) and twice served as its membership director. In 2008, I became the St. Louis area’s first Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO), a credential conferred by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers®, and have taken the continuing education courses that have allowed me to recertify every three years. I was the first organizer in the St. Louis area to become a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization®, after a rigorous, 20-month course of study. (I let that certification expire in 2015.) I’ve taken extensive training through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), NAPO, and other organizations. I’ve hand-selected all my team members, all of whom are skilled, kind professionals who demonstrate their commitment to our profession by being members of NAPO-St. Louis. My lead organizer, Beth Hunyar became a CPO® in 2024 and has received the Foundation Certificate in Chronic Disorganization from the ICD. My other employee, organizer Lydia Boda has also received the ICD Foundation Certificate in Chronic Disorganization. Subscribe to my blog and newsletter for a better sense of the philosophies behind the company.

I've never been able to stick with an organizing system. How will this be different?

Trying to use an organizing system that doesn’t mesh with the way you think is like trying to shove a square peg into a round hole. When you work with organizers from Peace of Mind Organizing, we’ll start by establishing your goals and vision for your space. We’ll ask you questions and make suggestions based on what we think will work for you. We won’t force any system on you, but instead will work with you until we find one that’s right for you. And we’ll work with you to change the habits that have made it difficult for you to stay organized in the past. We can also provide support until the new system is firmly in place.

Will you make me throw away my things?

Anything you discard will be your decision alone. My team members and I never throw anything away without permission. If clutter is a problem in your home, you’ll almost certainly need to part with unneeded or unwanted items in order to attain your goals. We’ll help you identify those items and guide you in your decision making. But we won’t make you get rid of anything. More than 35 years ago, I encouraged my now-husband to toss out all his class notes from college and he lived to regret it (and he still reminds me about it!). I learned a valuable lesson: never try to influence people to give up irreplaceable items. But we’ll cheer you on as you decide to give up things that no longer are supporting your vision for your space!

How long will it take?

That depends on the size and scope of the project, how quickly you make decisions about editing your belongings, and whether you’re working one-on-one or with a team. If you’re willing and able to do homework between sessions on multi-session projects, the process will go faster.

If you choose to bring in an organizing team, reaching your organizing goals will take significantly less time (and be less expensive).

How much will it cost?

The cost of your project depends upon its size and scope. We charge by the organizer, by the hour. If you hire a team, we can give you a ballpark estimate for what it will cost after we see your home. You can also choose to hire one of my team members to work with you one-on-one for $110 an hour, generally with a minimum three-hour session. We don’t provide estimates for one-on-one work.

If you live more than 45 minutes from my Central West End home (or the home of the team member you’ll be working with, if you’re working one-on-one), you’ll be charged for travel time in excess of 45 minutes each way. (That time will just be added to the session time.) If you live in the Metro East area, there is a travel charge of $25 per organizer per session.

Is it worth the money?

When you hire a professional organizer, you make an investment in your future. Being disorganized is expensive. It hampers your productivity and costs you time when you can’t find what you’re looking for. If you’re disorganized in paying your bills, you might be paying late charges and higher-than-necessary interest rates on credit cards. Just think what you could do with the time you now spend dealing with your stuff. Freeing your time and your mind by overcoming your barriers to getting and staying organized can pay dividends you can’t even anticipate now. We can help you get there.

(Take a look at the Testimonials page and you’ll see that our clients really value our services.)

All our services come with my Peace of Mind Guarantee. If, after your first session, you don’t feel you’ve gained more peace of mind, I’ll refund your money.

Will I stay organized?

We will work with you to establish organizing systems customized to the way you think and live and we’ll teach you the skills needed to maintain order. We can also work with you to create new habits to set you up for success.

If you’re having trouble staying organized after the hands-on work is completed, and you need help staying motivated, just get in touch. We’ll figure out how to get you back on track. If you need more support to stay on top of your particular organizational challenge, you can hire us for maintenance work or periodic spruce-ups.

Should I tidy my house before you come in?

Please don’t! We will want to see the full extent of any disorder in your home and get a chance to see how you live with it. It’s important that we see the piles that habitually appear, so we can figure out how to make them disappear and stay away. Piles provide valuable clues!

Is our work together confidential?

Absolutely. We recognize that clutter and disorder are personal and respect each client’s privacy. As a Certified Professional Organizers® Beth and I are required to adhere to the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers’ Code of Ethics. All Peace of Mind Organizing team members are members of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals and abide by the NAPO Code of Ethics (NAPO). Both these ethical codes stipulate strict client confidentiality.

Will I have to buy new furniture or a lot of organizing products?

Not necessarily. If you’re like a lot of people who crave order, you’ve amassed a large number of organizing products. We will strive to use items you already own. You may need to purchase some organizing supplies (we’ll bring along some of our favorites). If lack of storage is an issue for you, you may need to purchase some type of furniture or shelving. Of course whether or not to purchase items will be completely up to you.

Can I check client references?

Certainly. Just ask me for references. (And also please check out my testimonials page.)

What are your qualifications?

I have taken extensive education and training from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (formerly NSGCD) and the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (formerly National Association of Professional Organizers). I have invested in training in coaching, estate organizing, conducting needs assessments, and the Freedom Filer filing system. See the credentials page for details of my professional training and education.

In November 2008, I passed the certification exam administered by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers and became St. Louis’s first Certified Professional Organizer.. In order to sit for the exam at the time I took it, an organizer was required have had 1500 billed clients hours in the last three years (or 1250 hours and 250 substitute hours of training). In order to maintain my certification, I earn 15 hours of continuing education units a year. I’ve recertified five times. Passing the exam entitled me to use the initials CPO® after my name. I’m one of only nine CPOs in the entire state of Missouri.

My lead organizer, Beth Hunyar became a CPO® in 2024 and has received the Foundation Certificate in Chronic Disorganization from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. My other employee, organizer Lydia Boda has also earned the ICD Foundation Certificate in Chronic Disorganization.

I select my team members for their organizing skills and, even more importantly, their people skills. While I don’t work personally with most Peace of Mind Organizing® clients any longer, I’m integrally involved behind the scenes in all client projects.