FAQ
What is your service area?
We serve most of the Pioneer Valley. Contact us to find out if you're within our service area!
What do professional organizers do?
Organizers can help with a multitude of things around the home, such as coming up with new or creative ideas for storing, sorting, categorizing, or displaying your items, tidying, decluttering, refreshing or reimagining your space. We can be a supportive presence while you edit your items and decide what needs to go. We aim to customize our services to meet our clients unique needs and styles. In our consultation call, we can discuss your goals and challenges, and what would feel most helpful to you. To learn more about all our services, check out our ABOUT page.
How long is a session?
Each session lasts a minimum of three hours, which allows us to make meaningful progress without becoming overwhelmed. It's good to remember that organizing can sometimes be an emotional or exhausting process. We will be there to support you and we encourage you to take breaks as needed.
Do I need to be present during sessions?
No, you don’t have to be there during our sessions. If you provide clear instructions and are reachable by phone or text, we can work independently. Just note that we won’t make decisions about letting go of your personal items without your consent, so if editing or letting go of things is necessary for your project, you will need to be present for at least that part.
How many sessions will we need?
During our consultation call, we can give you an estimate based on your goals. Typically, organizing an average cluttered room takes about 1-2 sessions, but the total number will depend on various factors, including the space's condition and your processing speed.
What should I do before you arrive?
You don’t need to clean up before we arrive! We are here to help with that.
However, if you think your space is overdue for a deep cleaning or there are deeper issues like mold or pests, please let us know during our consultation. If you have firearms on the premises, please ensure they are safely locked and stored.
It can be helpful to have supplies like clear storage containers, uniform hangers, and trash bags ready. For specific product recommendations, check out my Resources page, or ask me during our consultation.
Do you offer junk and/or donation removal?
Yes! We are happy to take items you are ready to let go of at the end of our session, as long as the contents can fit comfortably in the back of our vehicle and be things we can lift safely. We will not transport heavy items, items that have mold, or other contaminants. We will process your items for you, figuring out what donation sites are best suited for your items, and what can be re-homed or recycled. If you have items we are not able to remove, we are happy to help you organize outside help.
What is your confidentiality and privacy policy?
Your privacy is extremely important to me. We respect the trust it takes to allow someone into your home which is your sanctuary and personal space. We will never share your personal information or details about our work unless you give consent or it's legally required.
What is your refund policy?
Payments are non-refundable.
How and when should I pay?
Payment can be made at the end of each session through cash, check, or Venmo. If you are booking multiple sessions or a larger project, we ask for 50% deposit upfront to hold your dates.
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel or reschedule for any reason, please do give me as much notice as possible. Cancellations within 24 hours incur a 50% fee. Same-day cancellations or no-shows require full payment.
What is your sick policy?
Because we sometimes work with the very old and the very young, we like to take extra precautions to avoid getting or spreading illnesses while at work. Please let us know if you or anyone in your home has been sick within the last 48 hours, and we will do the same. If so, we can discuss safety precautions or reschedule.
Do you offer gift certificates?
We don’t provide surprise gift certificates due to the personal, sometimes sensitive nature of organizing. If you want to gift sessions, we can do a consultation with everyone involved first. Gifted sessions are non-refundable and must be redeemed within one year.
Do you take photos?
We may take photos for internal records and can ask if you want Before & After photos. We won’t share any images for marketing without your consent.
Do you provide mental health support?
We are not mental health professionals, but we understand that organizing can be emotional. We approach each session with care and understanding. We can discuss any additional support you may need during our consultation.
Do you provide notes from our session?
We may take notes for our records. We can share any written suggestions or next steps by email after our session, upon request.
Are there any projects you can't take on?
We do our absolute best to help everyone who is interested in working together, but sometimes our schedule is full or we may not be the best fit for a project. If that's the case, we will let you know as soon as possible and, if we can, suggest other helpful resources. We also can't take on projects in spaces with mold, water damage, pest infestations, or other unsafe conditions.
Are you insured?
Yes! Secret Garden Organizing is fully insured. Want to see a certificate of insurance? Just ask.