Facts vs. Fiction
As professional organizers we encounter a variety of questions. We want to take a moment to share with you some common facts and fictions about organizing and hope it gives you a better understanding of the services we provide and what they can do for you.
Fiction: Hiring an organizer is expensive
Fact: Organizers save individuals and businesses time and money, bringing them peace of mind and allowing them to be more effective in whatever they do. No more un-cashed cheques, lost banking info, uncollected invoices, needless purchases for what you already have or unused gift cards etc. The question is, can you afford not to get organized?
Fiction: My office is so messy you will be shocked.
Fact: Like with many things we are usually much harder on ourselves than is called for. Disorganization and clutter are relative and for some individuals a little mess can be a great deal. For others they may say "I only need a little help" yet they can barely get through the hallway as there are piles from wall to wall. There are some hoarding issues that may cause a real safely hazard yet this is rare.
Fiction: I will be forced by my organizer to throw everything away
Fact: Getting organized is not about getting rid of everything. As an organizer our job is to help you through the process of deciding what stay and what goes. We are an objective party and will work with you to help determine what truly belongs and where it should go so that you will get the best use out of your belongings.
Fiction: I should be embarrassed, no one else is this disorganized.
Fact: Clutter is more common than you think. Almost everyone I meet knows someone that has an issue with clutter in at least one area of their life. We live in a society that encourages us to shop and buy all sorts of things, even when there is no real need. As a professional organizer we are not there to make you feel embarrassed about your clutter we are there to help you clear it that is after all what we love to do.
Some have tried to get organized in the past and failed, yet this is not because they are not able to stay organized it is only because the organizing system failed. Everyone and every business is unique and a professional organizer will take your lifestyle and the way the space is used into consideration. To help you be successful at staying organized we will design a system for your needs specifically.
Fiction: Hiring an organizer is expensive
Fact: Organizers save individuals and businesses time and money, bringing them peace of mind and allowing them to be more effective in whatever they do. No more un-cashed cheques, lost banking info, uncollected invoices, needless purchases for what you already have or unused gift cards etc. The question is, can you afford not to get organized?
Fiction: My office is so messy you will be shocked.
Fact: Like with many things we are usually much harder on ourselves than is called for. Disorganization and clutter are relative and for some individuals a little mess can be a great deal. For others they may say "I only need a little help" yet they can barely get through the hallway as there are piles from wall to wall. There are some hoarding issues that may cause a real safely hazard yet this is rare.
Fiction: I will be forced by my organizer to throw everything away
Fact: Getting organized is not about getting rid of everything. As an organizer our job is to help you through the process of deciding what stay and what goes. We are an objective party and will work with you to help determine what truly belongs and where it should go so that you will get the best use out of your belongings.
Fiction: I should be embarrassed, no one else is this disorganized.
Fact: Clutter is more common than you think. Almost everyone I meet knows someone that has an issue with clutter in at least one area of their life. We live in a society that encourages us to shop and buy all sorts of things, even when there is no real need. As a professional organizer we are not there to make you feel embarrassed about your clutter we are there to help you clear it that is after all what we love to do.
Some have tried to get organized in the past and failed, yet this is not because they are not able to stay organized it is only because the organizing system failed. Everyone and every business is unique and a professional organizer will take your lifestyle and the way the space is used into consideration. To help you be successful at staying organized we will design a system for your needs specifically.
Q & AQ: How far do you travel for your clients?
A: I travel within Metro Vancouver Area. Covering the areas of Langley, Whiterock, Richmond and West Vancouver and everything in between. Destinations outside of this can be arranged as needed and costs discussed prior. (Mileage fees apply to all service and errand work, unless where specified as part of a package.) Q: How do I get and estimate? A: Generally estimations are free with your initial consultation. Virtual consultations are at no cost, yet 'in-person' consultations are billed at consulting rates. For in-person consulting there is also a trip fee that applies depending on your location. In-Person Consultations are for a minimum of 1 hour to meet and or review your needs, (Estimations are based on what we learn about your needs and goals) Clients understand that in many cases there are factors out of our control and thus we can not provide a guaranteed timeline in our proposals. We will be happy to discuss this with you prior to commencing any project.) Q: Do you have insurance? A: Yes, Tidy Tiger Solutions carries liability insurance for your protection. If during a project any situation presents itself as risky, we reserve the right to cease work if we feel it is in your best interest or is outside of our coverage. We will communicate with you on this as needed, if needed. Q: Do you have training in psychology? A: Coaching and organizing is not to be considered as therapy or counselling. There are some good organizers that have specific training in areas such as ADHD, Chronic Disorganization and Hoarding, etc. Many organizers, like Michelle, spend years helping a broad variety of clients that at times will suffer from all or some of these challenges. Michelle has trained in Life Coaching which is an added value to her clients and like most organizers actively studies human behaviour to learn and utilize many great techniques to help motivate people in order to help bring them to success. Our clients are all very unique. Should a situation require counselling this may be suggested. |
Q: What do you do with the stuff I don't want?
A: There are many options including selling, donations and disposal services. We have a great resource list that we share with our web visitors and we keep resources on hand to help find the right ‘home’ for the stuff that you don’t want. We can also assist with clearing out certain hazardous products as facilities exist to dispose of them safely. We care very much about your safety when it comes to personal information and will encourage all clients to have confidential information shredded securely as well. Q: What about the physical work? A: We pride ourselves at being versatile and Michelle, the owner is not afraid of a little hard work and stays physically active. Of course safety is number one and where as any work comes up that requires heavy lifting or the work of laborers, we can arrange this for our clients so they can rest easy. Q: How long have you been in business? A: Tidy Tiger Solutions was created in 2008 and the Owner, Michelle Panzlaff registered as a member of POC (Professional Organizers in Canada) in early 2009. Over 22 years of work experience and a passion for organizing started this business and since its beginnings our mission has been to grow through ongoing learning and development in the organizing field. |
“Thanks again for the wonderful work you did in my home office yesterday. I have not been able to tackle the job, even though it is just steps from my bedroom and has been haunting my sleep for quite a while now. It is so good to have things organized and the unnecessary items removed. As we discussed yesterday, the amount of time I talk to myself about how bad I let things get was much longer than the time it took to actually get things done. So good to have fresh eyes to look at everything and see some positive come out of the office again.” Brigitte
