TULSA, Okla. — For many of us, an organized home is key to peace of mind. And the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has some advice before you to hire professional organizers to help you declutter and stay organized.

Amie Mitchell from the BBB said the first thing people need to do, is understand what a professional organizer does and doesn’t do.

“I think the first thing people need to know is that professional organizers are not housecleaners,” she said.

Professional organizers typically offer a wide range of services, from tackling specific projects to helping you sort through your things and deciding what to toss, what to donate and what to keep.

“Some of them have some psychology and can help with hoarding situations and different things like that but everyone’s skill level is a little bit different so you wanna do your research,” Mitchell said.

Know what you need before you start calling around. Professional organizers can help you declutter and sort, organize a move and some even specialize in information and data organization. Getting specific about your needs is the best way to find the best candidate.

You should also know your budget, some organizers charge by the hour and some charge by the project.

Other including interviewing multiple candidates, getting references and asking about background and experience and what a typical session looks like. You may need to pay a consultation fee to have them come to your home to see the project.

Make sure you know exactly what’s included, and what’s not. And see if there’s a fee for disposing of unwanted items.

When you settle on the right person for the job, the BBB says to make sure you get something in writing that maps out exactly what you can expect and what the total cost is.

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