Q. How are fees paid?
A. Checks, cash and PayPal are accepted for payment. Credit cards can only be accepted via PayPal at this time. Payment is expected at the end of each session.
Q. What should I expect during my initial consult?
A. The initial phone consult is the opportunity for you to tell us about your project and for us to ask a series of questions about you, your situation, and your organizational needs. The initial phone consult is 30 minutes and free of charge. We will then email you our Terms of Service and you can decide when you’d like to schedule an onsite consult.
The initial onsite consult lasts 2-3 hours and is a chance for you to meet us, and for us to learn more about your specific challenges. We’ll spend time asking you more questions about your current situation and past issues you’ve had with disorganization. We’ll help you set your goals for your space and assess how you learn best. We will also ask you to give us a tour of the areas you would like to address. This process usually takes 30-60 minutes. The other 1-2 hours will be spent jumping right into your project. By the end of the session, we can give you an estimate of how long the project will take. Onsite sessions are billed at the hourly rate.
Q. Are you going to make me get rid of all my stuff?
A. Although we may gently encourage you to get rid of items, the ultimate decision is always made by you. It is our job to guide you through the process and show you reasons you may or may not want to get rid of certain items, but we will never force you to get rid of your possessions.
Q. Will you help me get rid of items we’ve sorted through and I no longer want?
A. At every session we will take away either items to be donated to charity or recyclable items that are accepted at Iowa City’s City Carton location at no extra charge (one drop point is free, additional drop points will be billed at the hourly rate). If you have items that you want to consign or want dropped at a different location the hourly rate will apply. Additional fees may apply – an example is Landfill fees for items taken to the dump.
Q. I have OCD and ADD and have been disorganized all my life. Can you help me?
A. People who are chronically disorganized or who have other mental health issues related to disorganization almost always benefit from working with a mental health practitioner in conjunction with a professional organizer. It has been shown that those who commit to working with a mental health professional experience far more success in staying organized after their professional organizer leaves than those who do not.
So, yes, we can help you, but the process may be slow (our process is significantly different from any of the extreme makeover “reality” TV shows that are so popular today), and it will take a firm commitment from you to follow through with your mental health care plan. All clients who fall into a Level 2 or higher on the Institute for Challenging Disorganization’s Clutter Hoarding Scale will be required to be treated by a B.E.S.T. (Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique) practitioner. Practitioners in Eastern Iowa.
Q. Do you charge sales tax?
A. Iowa sales tax applies to landscaping and photography services and prints. You will see of 6% or 7% charge depending on your locality. Iowa sales tax does not apply to organizing services.
Q. Will you haul away yard waste?
A. Yes. Yard waste from non-invasive, and no more than lightly-chemically treated plants will be removed at no extra charge to the client and composted at the owner’s composting site.
Branches, invasive plants, and very large loads will be taken to the City landfill. The client will be charged the hourly rate, landfill fees, plus $10 per load. Alternatively, if the client’s town participates in a yard waste program, we can bag yard waste and take it to the curb for pick up. The cost of the bags (and/or tags depending on locality) will be billed to the client.
