Home organizers near you

A professional organizer helps you declutter and organize your home — or specific rooms like your home office, kitchen, closet, garage, etc. They focus on making your space more functional to optimize efficiency, productivity and peace of mind.

Home organizers typically offer the following services:

• Decluttering and purging

• Space planning and organization

• Customized storage advice

• Paper and digital management

• Moving preparation

Home organizers can also function as advisors, guiding you through the process of letting go of items that no longer serve you. While they generally don't offer house cleaning services, a professional organizer can walk you through the tough decisions about what to keep and what to get rid of. 

After decluttering, you can sell, donate or hire a junk removal service to get rid of your clutter. Some professional organizers may even include the removal of large or small items in their fee. 

The bottom line: A home organizer can provide a clean slate and organizational tools tailored to your lifestyle, resulting in a comfortable, functional home that is easier to maintain.

When looking for a home organizer, make sure you: 

• Verify their license and insurance: Professional organizers should have a business license and general liability insurance. Requirements depend on your local area so be sure to do your research.

• Get several estimates: Ask for an itemized estimate that describes the containers that will be provided, the number of rooms or items covered and any coaching services offered. 

• Read their reviews: Think twice about hiring someone with multiple negative reviews saying they were hard to work with, pressured the client, made them feel judged, arrived late or seemed overwhelmed by the scope of the project.

• Look at their portfolios: Home organizers should be able to tackle any space, but it's nice to see projects similar to yours in their portfolio. Before-and-after photos can help you assess their skills and ability to meet your needs.

• Find out if they have guarantees: A satisfaction guarantee can protect your investment if you don't like the end result.

• Ask important questions: Find out if you need to be involved in the organization project, what happens to unwanted items, how long the project might take and whether any cleaning services are provided. 

For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page.

The national average cost to hire a home organizer ranges from around $220 to $607,* according to Thumbtack data. Some organizers charge by the hour, while others offer package deals for larger projects. Several factors can influence the cost of this project, including:

• Scope of work: A small project like decluttering a single closet or pantry costs less than organizing a garage — or an entire house. Extra tasks like sorting, packing or hauling away items can also add to the total cost.

• Experience and credentials: More experienced organizers with special training may charge more, but they often work faster and create better organizing systems.

• Property location: You’ll typically pay more for professional organizers in big cities than in smaller towns.

You can potentially cut costs on your project with these tips:

• Consider package deals: For bigger projects, a package rate may be more affordable than paying by the hour. Get free cost estimates from multiple organizers to compare prices.  

• Ask about discounts: Some professional organizers may offer discounts for seniors, students or other groups or special circumstances.

• Prepare the space: Do some basic decluttering before your organizer arrives to save time and money during your session.

*Data on file at Thumbtack. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.

Here’s how you can determine whether hiring an organizer is worth the cost:

• How much does the clutter bother you? If a disorganized home causes you to feel anxious and overwhelmed, hiring a pro could help you manage and maintain good mental health.

• Does your home's disarray disrupt your life? If you end up running late or wasting time because you can't find what you need when you need it, home organization services could save you valuable time.

• Do you buy items you already own but can't find? If so, this service could end up paying for itself.  

• Can you do it yourself? We don't all have the knack for getting — and staying — organized. Many professional organizers coach their clients to help them stay organized in the long term, an additional value. 

It's not common to tip a professional organizer, so most won't think twice if you don't offer one. Instead, a home organizer will evaluate the scope of the project and draw up a contract to make sure they're paid fairly. You don't owe anything other than the contracted amount.

Still, if you feel like the organizer exceeds your expectations, it's okay to ask if they accept tips. Tipping about 10% to 20% is enough to be generous but not insulting. If the organizer works for a company, they may decline the tip due to their employer's policy. 

Alternatively, you can show your gratitude for their work by writing reviews and offering to be a reference. Helping a pro grow their business is a great way to show your appreciation.

While organizers help tidy their clients’ homes, they don’t do the same tasks as professional house cleaners. Here’s a look at services they don’t typically offer:

• General cleaning: Organizers don’t usually mop, sweep or vacuum.

• Laundry: Organizers may help with storage solutions for clothes and linens, but they don’t handle the washing.

• Dishwashing: Although they will likely organize kitchen storage, they don’t usually wash dishes.

 Instead, home organizers typically offer the following services:

• Storage organization: Helping clients create and implement a system for storing and organizing their clothing, kitchen goods and workspace.

• Decluttering: Identifying and disposing of any unnecessary or unwanted items or trash.

• Organizational coaching: Offering guidance on ways to keep a space organized.

If you're looking for someone to clean your home, hiring a house cleaner might be the better fit.