Hiring and Working with a Financial Organizer
Here are some good tips on hiring and working with a professional organizer to get your home or office running efficiently and smoothly. There’s also information here for people with chronic clutter issues and even more serious needs.
What it takes to become a Certified Daily Money Manager
CDMM Five-Step Certification Process
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Submit an application
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Submit documentation of over 1,500 hours worked with clients
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Pass a background check biannually
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Pass a certification examination
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Maintain educational standards and attend continuing education to maintain certification
Why it’s important to get organized
Organization helps you to:
- Be comfortable and happy in your own home
- Have friends and family visit your home
- Stay in control of your finances and avoid bank fees and damage to credit history due to late payments
- Keep track of the household items you have on hand so you don’t re-buy things that you can’t find
- Prepare your taxes before the tax deadlines so you avoid tax penalties and interest
- Save you time and frustration spent looking for things
- Combat procrastination and will allow you to be more productive
- Improve your efficiency and maximize your time
- Shop more efficiently and prepare healthy meals
What does a professional organizer do?
Still not sure? Find out here.
Q&A about Professional Organizing
Q: Do organizers have professional qualifications?
A: Through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), Faith Manierre is the only Certified Professional Organizer in Connecticut specializing in Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD®). Faith is currently serving as a Master Trainer in CD and Organization, which is the highest certification level of ICD’s extensive educational program to facilitate the education of future students.
If you are interviewing an organizer, ask if he or she is a member of or certified by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) or the National Association of Professional Organizers. These organizations provide training, certification and resources for professional organizers. Also, training and experience play a large part in whether the organizer has familiarity with a variety of successful systems and strategies.
Q: Can a professional organizer really improve my life?
A: Organizers provide structure, resources and creative ideas for systems to improve your productivity get control over your time and space, and reduce your level of stress about the disorder in your life. It’s really the skill of focusing in on what’s important to you and helping you figure out the best way to achieve and maintain it.
Q: Doesn’t everybody have clutter to some degree?
A: Many people are disorganized at times and let things pile up if they get sick or have too much going on in their lives. Occasional disorganization is different from chronic disorganization, which is characterized by feeling overwhelmed every day and sinking deeper and deeper into a disorganized state.
Q: What is chronic disorganization?
A: The Institute for Challenging Disorganization defines chronic disorganization this way: More information about ICD
Chronic disorganization is having a past history of disorganization in which self-help efforts to change have failed. The disorganization is undermining the current quality of life, and there is an expectation of future disorganization.
Q: Are all professional organizers alike in terms of qualifications?
A: Most professional organizers can manage a variety of projects. But each one will have his or her specialty area of strength. Faith tends to work most often with residential clients, providing additional expertise in working with people who have special needs. Her style is to teach and provide education alongside her clients, helping them make lasting positive changes in their behavior and environment.
Q: What does professional organizing cost?
A: Prices depend on the scope of the project, but in general, Busy Bees charges by the hour. Faith gives a discount of 5% for pre-paying and scheduling 10 appointments up front. This is only available after the first session so there is a chance to meet and determine the goals for the project. She accepts cash, check, or MasterCard and Visa.
Q: How long does a typical session last?
A: Faith schedules sessions in three-hour blocks of time (typically from 9-12 and 1-4) unless other arrangements have been made. It’s a good idea to schedule sessions when you are at your best. Faith offers a free phone consultation to discuss your issues and concerns, and to determine if you and she are a “good fit.”
Q: What happens at the first session?
A: At the first session, Faith will ask for a tour of your home to have a visual assessment of your situation and find out what you want to achieve. After the tour, you and Faith will begin working on the problem area you need help with. Faith urges her clients not to clean up before their first session—she gains important information about you when she sees things as they truly are. Remember, Faith is there to help, not to judge.
Q: Is my privacy protected when I work with Busy Bees Professional Organizing?
A: Faith honors your privacy and she will not rent, give away, or sell your name or email. She gives you her word! In addition, she will not speak with anyone regarding your organizing challenges unless you give written consent. Faith is the only organizer from Busy Bees Professional Organizing who works with clients. Faith follows the code of ethics determined by each of the associations that she belongs to.
Q: What happens if I have to cancel an appointment?
A: Faith’s cancellation policy: “It’s important that our relationship be based on mutual respect of one another’s time. Like other professionals, I reserve time slots for my clients. If you need to cancel your session due to something unforeseen, please contact me 48 hours before your appointment. Otherwise, you’ll be invoiced for ½ of the session fee, unless you’re seriously ill or you’ve had a true emergency. It’s a business necessity for me, since I can’t re-book that time slot if I’m not given enough notice. Thank you for understanding.”