Kathleen Coupland battles chaos, be it piles of old clothes, stacks of CDs, or any of the other clutter that can fill up a house’s nooks and crannies.
She’s a specialist in organizing. And this is the busiest time of year for her and her fellow professionals who help homeowners and businesses fight disorder, whether they’re motivated by New Year’s resolutions or the need to cash in on their old junk.
The Atlanta woman has helped people sort out back rooms buried in clothes that only a tailor or time machine could make usable again.
She’s helped people with grocery store amnesia who keep buying the same spices and cleaning products until their pantries are hip deep in half-used jars and spray bottles.
She even helped a school teacher who was too embarrassed to have guests over because her apartment was a dumping ground of books, crayons and pencils.
“I think of myself as a fixer,” Coupland said. “I can come in and sort out what you need from what you don’t.”
Terri Stephens, the owner of Dawsonville-based Real Order, said that the new year is the busiest time for professional organizers.
“If people aren’t calling us because they’ve made a resolution to clean up their act, they’re calling because they have out-of-town company coming for a visit,” Stephens said.
“Believe it or not, we’re busy even though there’s been a recession,” she said. “We have lots of clients who would never want anyone to know that they need us. So we can keep it confidential.”
A born organizer
Janet Brunton of Roswell recently called Coupland’s business, Clutter Free Yourself, for help. Her two-car garage was filled with pottery, kilns, and her grandchildren’s scooters and other toys.
“There’s so much stuff in there that I can’t do any work or get my car in or out without it being a major operation,” Brunton said. “I either have to unpack half the garage or drive over toys. If [Coupland] can’t help me, then no one can.”
Coupland said she’s been a lifelong organizer but started her own business about 14 months ago when her job as a computer specialist for an insurance company was downsized.
“My mother claims that I was cleaning and organizing things before I could even walk,” Coupland said. “I think it was a natural fit.”
Sherry Lee Denton, who lives in Hampton and is president of the Georgia chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, said her profession can make people’s offices more efficient and their living spaces more comfortable.
“With everyone working more and more hours, they have less time to keep things organized at work or at home,” she said. “We can come in, get things organized and teach you how to keep things that way.”
Strategies vary depending on each person’s need. Typically, it involves organizing closets — putting off-season clothes and shoes into labeled boxes until needed, adding shoe racks and drop-down hangers to make more room.
For one client, Coupland used a hanging cloth shoe rack with lots of pockets to organize a makeup collection that exceeded the capacity of the bathroom counter.
Most professional organizers charge either a flat fee of about $350, depending on the size of the house or office (the average is about 1,800 square feet), or about $45 an hour, area professional organizers say.
Financial benefits
Coupland said that the benefits go far beyond knowing where your shoes are or where you keep critical paperwork.
She said that businesses can save money by being better organized. For instance, some offices spend too much on printer ink or other supplies because their workers can’t find those items crammed in an overpacked closet.
“At work, you can save money if you’re not wasting time hunting for the same thing over and over,” Coupland said.
“At home, we can sort out what you need and don’t need,” she said. “With the stuff you don’t, we can sell it on the Internet or donate it to charity.”
Coupland keeps a meticulous list of the current selling prices of household goods at thrift stores. That way, she can verify an expected tax write-off on goods donated to charity.
“I can detail every item by its value,” she said. “For one client last week, I found $750 in tax write-offs.”
Stuffed animals were worth $1 each. A golf bag, $15. A cordless drill came in at $12.
“It may not sound like a lot, but it can add up quick,” she said. “We can organize and tag things for a yard sale if you want, but I find that donating the items can get you more bang for your buck.”
Tips and resources
Professional organizers offer these basic tips for those who want to start uncluttering their lives.
Keep a list: Note chores that need to be done each week, and devote at least one hour a night to those chores.
Put it away: If you haven’t used something, such as a slow cooker, exercise bike or other appliance in three months, put it in storage. If it’s a seasonal item, storage could be in your basement or closet, rather than long-term storage in a garage.
Keep track: When possible, keep stored items in clear plastic boxes, so you can see what’s in them. If not, label each box.
To find a professional organizer near you, go online to the National Association of Professional Organizers of Georgia site: www.napogeorgia.com
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