Most people don’t think to call a professional when they decide to organize their home. They might check out a book from the library, watch a few Youtube videos, or jump in head-first without any research at all. But if you’ve tried the DIY route a few times with lackluster results, you might want to bring in a professional.

That being said, how do you decide when to hire a professional organizer? Keep reading for seven signs it’s time to ask for help

When Should You Hire a Professional Organizer?

Not sure if you’re ready to hire a professional organizer? Here are some common signs it’s time.

1. You’re undergoing a major life change.

When your life changes, your home often does, too. A major life change is always a good time to hire a professional organizer. These life changes might include…

Bringing home a new baby
Transitioning back to work after maternity leave
Accepting a new, more demanding job
Reconfiguring your space following a divorce
Preparing for a new school year
Downsizing when your older children move out
Experiencing the death of a loved one

When you’re in the thick of a major life change, the last thing you’ll want to deal with is a hectic home. A professional organizer can help you minimize clutter and prepare your space for this new phase of your life.

2. You struggle to maintain a tidy, clean home.

If you’re a parent or busy professional, chances are you’re familiar with this cycle: You deep clean your home on the weekend, go about your jam-packed week, and return home on Friday to a messy home, just to start the cycle all over again during the weekend. It’s exhausting! While some people might chock the mess up to a busy schedule or lack of energy, it’s most likely caused by a disorganized home.

When I work with clients, we not only declutter and organize their spaces; we also create systems that help them keep those spaces organized. Everything has a place, and there’s no unnecessary clutter. That makes for quick and easy tidying during the week instead of a massive deep clean every weekend.

3. You feel overwhelmed by stuff.

We accumulate a lot of stuff throughout our lives. All that physical clutter can lead to mental drain and overwhelm, which only makes it harder to sort through the mess. If you feel like you’re drowning in stuff, it might be time to hire outside help.

A professional organizer can help you determine what you should keep versus what you should get rid of. It can be helpful to have an outside perspective, especially when you’re sorting through things you have an emotional attachment to. The right organizer will guide you through the process, not pressure you into getting rid of things you love. Then, once you’ve pared down your belongings, they’ll help you store and organize them in a way that’s less overwhelming.

4. You’re moving or remodeling.

There’s nothing like a big move to make you confront the reality of your physical space. Packing brings you face-to-face with every last one of your belongings, even the ones you forgot you had. That makes it the perfect time to declutter!

Not only will professional organization make the moving or remodeling process easier, but it can also help you get a fresh start in your new space. You don't want to carry your clutter into your new home. It’s better to get organized before you move and step into your new home with a truly clean slate.

5. You don’t have the time for a major organization project.

Organization is hard work. It’s time consuming, it’s overwhelming, and there’s a good chance your home will get messier before it gets tidier. Most people just don’t have the time to devote several weeks to organizing their home. That’s where a professional organizer comes in!

While I do want my clients to feel in control of their space, it’s always my goal to make the process easy and enjoyable for them. When DIYing home organization, it can feel like the project takes over your life. When you work with a professional, you can keep on living while the hard work happens behind the scenes. Plus, a team like mine can achieve in a couple weeks what might take an individual months. That’s a lot of time saved!

6. Your daily life feels hectic and stressful.

Your home affects just about every other aspect of your life, from work to your relationship to your wellbeing. If your day-to-day life feels hectic, stressful, or downright disorganized, the problem might be your physical space.

Organizing your home is about more than making it look better. It’s about setting up your home to work with your life. A well-organized home should allow you to flow through your day without stressing about messes or getting distracted by clutter. It should make it easy to get ready for work, cook meals, and entertain friends. Aesthetics are a bonus, but functionality is our priority.

7. You want a major transformation.

I’ll be the first to tell you that many small organizational projects can be completed without professional help. But if you want a true transformation – in your space and your life – I highly recommend hiring a professional organizer.

There are tons of benefits to hiring a professional versus doing it yourself, including…

It’s less of a disruption to your life. Organizing takes time and energy, things that most of us just don’t have a lot of these days. Like any other task you outsource, professional organizing is more efficient and less disruptive than doing it yourself.
It’s more effective and transformative. You’re more likely to commit to big changes if you have a professional guiding you through the process. Plus, it’s nice to have an outside perspective when you’re getting rid of unnecessary belongings.
It’s more likely to stick. You don’t just want an organized home for a day, you want it forever. When you work with a professional, they’ll set up your space in a way that makes it more intuitive and easier to maintain.

Organization is life-changing work, and there’s no better way to ensure great results than by hiring a professional.

The Best Time to Hire a Professional Organizer

If you’re even considering hiring a professional organizer, chances are it’s time to make the call! Too often, clients come to me only when they’ve reached their breaking point. They’ve read all the books, followed all the Instagram accounts, and tried to DIY their way to an organized home. By the time they reach out, they’ve created a lot of unnecessary stress and strain for themselves.

Don’t wait until you’re exhausted and overwhelmed to hire outside help. The right home organizer can declutter your home without disrupting your daily life.

Ready to unfuss your home? There’s no time like the present.

If you’re on the fence about hiring a professional organizer, start here! Sign up for my email list for tips, tricks & a free home organization guide (coming soon!).