How to Choose the Right Pro to Declutter Your Home

A cluttered home can be a huge stressor, but addressing the mess can seem overwhelming for many homeowners. Luckily, you can hire help. Several professionals can help you declutter your home and logically organize your belongings. If you’re tired of living in a disorganized home, here’s how to hire a decluttering service to help make your house a home again.

Who to Hire to Declutter Your Home

When you’re ready to declutter your home, there are two main pros you might hire. Professional organizers base their businesses around decluttering, while many professional cleaners offer decluttering services. 

Professional organizers help customers declutter their homes and logically organize their belongings. They can create efficient storage systems that work in any space and can even identify additional storage spaces in your home that you might have overlooked. When it comes to decluttering, you can lean on a professional organizer as much or as little as you like. For example, you could ask them to decide what to keep and what to toss, or you could work alongside them to make those decisions.

What Services Does a Home Decluttering Pro Offer?

A home decluttering service might seem like a luxury when you first hear about it. However, regardless of budget and home size, any homeowner can benefit from working with a professional organizer or house cleaner to declutter their home. Here are some of the typical services these pros offer:

• Decluttering and sorting through household items

• Space planning and optimization

• Organizational system implementation

• Education and support

Can You DIY Home Decluttering Projects?

It’s certainly possible to declutter your home by yourself. But for many, the mental load of decluttering is too much to carry—especially if your clutter is extensive. In addition to making tough decisions about your belongings, you’ll need to purchase storage supplies like baskets, tubs, and drawer organizers. These supplies are available at many big box stores, but choosing the right items can be daunting.

A professional organizer or cleaning service can help you declutter your home without bringing emotions into the process. Plus, they can advise you on the best storage solutions and may have access to unique options that you won’t find at your average big box store.

Tips for Hiring a Home Decluttering Service

Hiring a professional to help you declutter your home can be as simple as contacting someone and scheduling a time for an in-home consultation. But if you want to ensure you’re hiring the right pro for the task, there are several steps to take before you sign a contract.

1. Determine Your Needs

Before you hire someone to help declutter your home, consider why you need help. There are several scenarios when someone might need to hire a professional organizer or cleaner to declutter their home:

• Too much paperwork

• Significant life changes, like new parenthood or cleaning the home of an aging relative

• Selling your home

• Moving out of a rental home

• Physical limitations

• Time limitations

• Lack of storage spaces

You may simply feel overwhelmed by the clutter in your home and need help figuring out where to start. Or you might feel embarrassed to invite friends to your home due to the clutter. Before you contact any pros, write down your reasons for decluttering so you can share them once you start reaching out for quotes.

2. Plan Your Decluttering Project Ahead

You’ll also need to determine which spaces you want to declutter. The more spaces that need attention, the more expensive the project will be. Some of the rooms that decluttering services can help you organize include:

• Kitchens and pantries

• Bathrooms

• Laundry rooms

• Bedroom closets

• Dresser drawers

• Children’s bedrooms and playrooms

• Basements or storage areas

Listing out the areas that need help can guide your conversation when hiring a professional organizer or cleaner to help you whip your home into shape.

3. Check Your Pro’s Qualifications and References

When you let a service professional into your home, you must know you can trust them. Check that they are licensed, bonded, and insured to protect you in case of damage or other liability issues. If you’re working with a professional organizer to declutter your home, check whether they are listed in the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) database. 

You can also ask to speak with customers who have previously worked with the professional organizer. Ask your network for recommendations on who to hire and if you can visit their home to see the work.

4. Interview Pros and Get Multiple Quotes

Once you know what type of services you need, it’s time to find the right pro for the job. Don’t just settle for the first pro you find. Instead, speak to several professionals and get quotes in writing that you can compare. When comparing quotes, make sure they cover the same types of services and the scope of work, so you’re comparing apples to apples. A cheap quote can be tempting, but it's not worth it if it doesn’t cover everything you need.

5. Get a Contract and Arrange Payments

After you’ve compared quotes and chosen the right pro for the job, you’ll receive a contract. Before signing, check that the contract includes the following items that you’ve verbally agreed upon:

• The payment structure for the service

• Any organizational tools or supplies that are included

• Junk removal

• Donation drop-off

Professional organizing services cost $250 to $830, or an average of $525. However, your costs may be lower if you hire a house cleaner instead. The cost to hire a cleaner ranges from $120 to $240 per visit, or an average of $170, though the costs can increase when you add on a decluttering service.

Questions to Ask a Professional Decluttering Service

Before you hire a home decluttering pro, ask several essential questions. The following questions offer an excellent start, though you may want to add more based on your requirements.

• What are your credentials?

• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?

• Can you provide examples of your recent work?

• How do I need to prepare for the decluttering service?

• Will you provide organization supplies?

• How involved will I need to be in the process?

• How long will the decluttering process take?

• Will you take care of donations and junk removal?

• What payment methods do you accept?

• How can I leave a review of your work?

Choosing the Right Home Decluttering Service

Picking the right pro is essential whether you’re hiring a home decluttering service or an electrician for a major electrical project. To get started, search online for a local home organizer or a house cleaner near you. Then, contact the pros that best suit your needs to request quotes.

After Your Decluttering Professional Has Finished

Once the project has concluded, wrap up any loose ends that remain. This might include making a final payment, leaving a review, and agreeing to be a reference for future clients. You can also ask the pro for advice on maintaining your newly clutter-free home.