How to find a NAPO organizer near you…or near a loved one

An acquaintance recently asked me for help in finding an organizer near where her mother lives, in another state. It is a situation that I cannot help with “virtually” (via telephone, email, or Skype), nor is it one where they can afford my travel expenses to go help hands-on.

Since my goal is to help everyone get organized anywhere, at any budget, here’s what I recommended, and what I tell anyone who asks:

If I can't help you get organized, I know someone who can! Click To Tweet

  1. Feel free to give me your zip code (or that of your loved one). I will take a look at the NAPO member directory for the area in question. If I know someone personally I will simply recommend them to you.
  2. If I don’t know any of the local organizers personally (which I didn’t in this case), go to www.napo.net (National Association of Professional Organizers).
  3. Click where it says “Click here to find your local NAPO Organizer or Productivity Professional”.
  4. Enter the zip code and choose a radius. (In this case, because I had already seen there were none closer, I suggested she start with a 25 mile radius.)
  5. Choose “Residential Organizing” (or Business, if that’s what you need).
  6. Under “Optional”, find “Special Populations” and choose “Seniors”. (Or whatever special requirements you think you may have. In this case it was an elderly mother who was being moved to an assisted living facility. There are many other specialties available.)
  7. You will end up with a list of candidates. Now, click each candidate and look for the following: How long have they been in business? Do they have a website where you can learn more? (etc.) The more experience they have, the more they probably charge. And experience might be what you need, but newbies are not necessarily to be avoided. (In this case I advised looking for someone who specializes in seniors, and who has some actual experience in that area, keeping in mind that “specializing” can range from simply having an interest in, to having some actual experience in, to also having special training in an area of expertise.)

I find, when looking at someone’s website, that there is usually something that tells me “YES” or “NO”, whether it be something they said about themselves in their “About” section, how kind they look in their photo, their testimonials, the design of the website itself, or their organizing philosophy. Some publish rates, and some don’t. Choosing an organizer is a highly personal decision.

I hope this helps someone.

Have YOU had a good (or bad) experience in choosing a professional organizer? What do you look for?

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Copyright 2014 by Hazel Thornton, Organized For Life.
Social media links directly to this page are encouraged!
Please contact me for other types of reprint permission.

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4 Comments

  1. Peggy Geiss on August 31, 2014 at 4:10 am

    Hello Hazel,
    Just a quick “thank you!” for adding your wonderful info, insightful comments, and general overall positives to our NAPO chat. I learn a lot from you!
    Blessings, Peggy

    • Hazel Thornton on August 31, 2014 at 8:51 am

      Aw, thanks Peggy! It’s nice to feel appreciated!

  2. Jana Hartwell, CPO on August 31, 2014 at 9:45 am

    Hazel,
    This is a fantastic post about how to use napo.net to find an organizer. May I post it in it’s entirety with all of your authorship info? I’m happy to post it on my Facebook page as well.
    All the best,
    Jana Hartwell, CPO
    Sensible Organizing Solutions
    Immediate Past President, Membership Director of NAPO-San Diego Chapter

    • Hazel Thornton on September 3, 2014 at 8:32 am

      Thanks, Jana! Yes, of course you can post it. If you link to it, on my website, no additional steps are necessary. But if you want to cut and paste it, I need to sent you a short bio to post with it. Email me, OK?

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