Downsizing Support: Professional Organizers and Senior Move Managers

You do not have to tackle decluttering and downsizing alone. Thankfully, you have a ton of options when it comes to professionals in our area who can help you get the job done. The type of professional you use will depend on your end goal for the process.

The professionals you can use for decluttering typically fall into 2 categories: Professional Organizers and Senior Move Managers. There are some overlapping services between these two types of professionals. Let’s talk about what you can expect when working with each type of business.

Professional Organizers

It is fairly easy to figure out from the name what a professional organizer does for their clients. Professional organizers help people get organized for a living. Their work is generally not exclusive to older adults. They may help people of all ages get their homes put together. 

A professional organizer’s goal is typically to help someone clean up their spaces, pare down the things they own, and live in a more organized environment. Professional organizers aren’t necessarily focused on helping you transition OUT of a space. Their focus instead is to help you live more easily in the space that you’re already living in. If you are planning to age in place, working on decluttering your home and getting more organized with the help of a professional organizer could be a great fit.

Every professional organizer has a slightly different style of working and the style they choose might depend on your goals as well. Some organizers might like to have you describe your goals for a project and then they will work independently on executing the project. Others might be excited to collaborate with you. Maybe the project will use a mixture of both strategies.

If you are researching professional organizers, before hiring someone, make sure you ask them if they have experience with older adults and decluttering. The mindset and emotions in that situation will be different than those of their younger clients. They will need to have patience and be nurturing, yet be able to help their client work from indecision to decision in an efficient manner.

Senior Move Managers

On the other hand, if you’re decluttering AND moving, a senior move manager might be a better choice for you. Senior move management companies are usually much bigger businesses and provide some additional services beyond helping you get organized. Yet, you do not have to be planning a move to work with this type of company. 

Just like professional organizers, senior move managers can work in a variety of styles. They can work with you, independently of you, or a combination of both. They usually have a lot of experience working with older adults as that is their typical clientele. You shouldn’t need to worry about their ability to navigate the complicated feelings that come with downsizing.

Because senior move managers have been in many homes just like yours, they understand how to help you work through determining what in your home is trash or treasure. They have the connections and knowledge to help you categorize your things and get them to the best next destination.

If you are moving at the end of your process, a senior move management company can seamlessly go from being your professional organizer to now your moving company and staging company. They can pack and transport your belongings to your new home AND help you decide how to set up your home in the most optimal way to support your new lifestyle.

Budget

Hiring either of these types of companies comes with a cost. Since prices vary depending on the company and the project, you’re encouraged to interview a few places. The services are usually billed hourly. They are not inexpensive. Yet if you need help with your process, they can speed things up and provide you with a much easier experience. Paying for a stress-free experience is worth every penny, if you can afford it.

You can ask professional organizers or senior move managers to help with your whole project or just assist with part of it. Maybe you’ll just need some help with the most complicated part of your project but can do the rest on your own. Give it a try and see how it works for your personality. If nothing else, you’ll probably pick up a tip or two in the process that will make things easier for the portions you work on yourself.

For some recommendations of reputable professional organizers and senior move managers in South Central Wisconsin, take a look at our Downsizing Directory. You will find these professionals under the “Professional Organizers” and “Senior Move Specialists” categories. If you hire someone we’ve recommended, we’d love to hear how your experience was. You can let us know here.