NAPO is the National Association of Professional Organizers and is dedicated to the field of organizing. Formed in 1985 as a not-for-profit professional association, NAPO is dedicated to sharing information about the growing organizing industry, its trends, and its concerns. NAPO works to set and define quality standards for the organizing profession. NAPO's members include organizing consultants, speakers, trainers, authors, and manufacturers of organizing products. It surprises some people that such an association exists, but professional organization is a serious business requiring ongoing educational and professional development. Many people make their livelihoods by improving the organization of others as professional organizers.

Professional organizing, like many professions, benefits the consumer through education and organization. NAPO members sign a code of ethics and are likely to be the best of the best. Much of what we know individually in the increasingly sophisticated area of professional organization comes to us through the benefits of membership in NAPO. As the “organizing authority,” NAPO members have access to a larger list of resources and to other professionals and their ideas.

You and the professional organizer you will work with are a team. The organizer cannot perform effective services for you unless they know what is important in your home or office and how that home or office functions. It's in your best interest to find someone you can share that with. Ask for references and check them. We believe in education, and we recommend you work with someone committed to their profession. Determine what the investment will be up front. Think about how their professional knowledge and the organization they instill into your life will benefit you and save you time and money in the long run. Approach your search for a professional organizer as you would any other service professional. Think through the services you are looking for and assess your search for the person with professional affiliations you feel most comfortable working with. Ask questions and be comfortable not only with the answers but how they answer. Will this be the right fit? Base your final decision on a professional organizer who has the expertise, skill set and personality which best suits you to help you achieve your goals.

Your professional organizer will need some direction from you about what is important and what isn't, and they will have to have some idea of how your life runs. Share that. Based on what is involved, the meetings will require your involvement. And although there are some standard techniques in the industry that can be employed, Solutions by Scott offers a customized approach with each individual. That can only happen with input from you, the client. We will work with you to develop some guidelines on not only what you hope to accomplish but how we will work together. You will contribute to creating the process based on your needs. Solutions by Scott generally works side-by-side, and we do our own installations, assemble furniture, and are directly involved in most of the physicality of the process.

A professional organizer is someone who is trained and experienced in helping you reduce the clutter, “noise,” and complications from your home and/or business life. Disorganization is usually just delayed decisions. An effective professional organizer helps you make those sometimes difficult decisions with an eye to helping you adopt that positive behavior.

There are several concrete benefits to hiring a professional organizer.

1. Many people are almost paralyzed by their environment and want to simplify their lives. Gaining control of the “things” in their lives, and learning to manage their time and their belongings, allows them to operate more efficiently, effectively, and confidently.
2. In many households, and even to some degree companies, some of the traditional roles have changed. Change with it, but know how, and be prepared.
3. America is getting faster. Telecommunications such as e-mail, faxes, telephone technology, and other “improvements” affect our lives and our environment in ways many of us haven’t grasped yet. What appears to be easier may not always be easy to manage. Allow us to help you get ready for it. The second part of that question is easy: If you're thinking about the need of a professional organizer, it's probably time to hire one. We live in a complicated time where an unusual amount of "things" come flying at us from all directions. And most of it we didn't ask for. Additional responsibilities, mail, schedules, work, children's activities, bills, and throw in a hobby or an interest and life easily becomes overwhelming. Don't let the bureaucracy of your life get in the way of living your life.

Because of the personal and business nature of much of what has to be organized, it is not realistic to expect that the organizer can work completely autonomously. Therefore, a relationship with this type of consultant is important. The professionals at Solutions by Scott have a strong educational background, and we approach our counsel with that training every day. We are familiar with adult learning styles, we respect confidentiality, and we have plenty of patience.

That may vary from organizer to organizer. Professional organization is a business where money changes hands in exchange for services. It's always prudent to have a full, written understanding of what is going to be delivered. Solutions by Scott provides a letter of agreement for clients.

Professional organizing is one of the fastest-growing professions in the country, and it could not have come at a better time. Despite that, some people are still unsure how much they may need a professional organizer and what to expect for what they pay. From experience, our initial consultation and general appointments are approximately four hours. We do offer various seasonal specials, and these will be published in our newsletter "Organize. Simplify. Thrive" or on our web site on the Specials page. Please ask us how to earn free service when referring a friend or colleague to Solutions by Scott.

Yes, Solutions by Scott has full insurance coverage and can provide documentation upon request.

First, we will send you a list of questions that we will ask you to review and complete. These are based on years of experience and help us to understand a more complete picture of your individual situation. We know that no two homes or offices are alike, and this gives us some idea of how we can best help you and work efficiently when we arrive. On day one we'll tour your home or office, assess your spaces, ask questions, measure, and together we get started on your project. Should your project require items to be installed, Solutions by Scott is skilled to do the demolition and installation for most of our projects.

According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, the top five client groups are:

1. Individuals at home
2. Home office based businesses
3. Small business owners
4. Individuals at their jobs
5. Executives

Clients cut pretty evenly across most demographics because people are creatures of (often bad) habit. Each day, professionals, businesspeople, homemakers, students, parents, CEOs, and secretaries work with professional organizers. If you've ever delayed throwing out junk mail, sorting through your closet, been late for a meeting or your child's soccer practice because you misplaced something, consider calling us.

I am a member of the following professional affiliations and possess the following formal education:

• Immediate Past President of NAPO Washington, DC-Metro Chapter (served as President from 2006-2008).
• Awarded 2008 Professional Organizer of the Year by NAPO-WDC.Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®) Inaugural Class 2007
• Director of Technology, Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO).
• Chronic Disorganization Specialist Certificate, National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) - devoted to exploring methods, techniques, approaches and solutions that benefit the chronically disorganized.
• Member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).
• Master’s Degree, Education, University of Missouri - Kansas City.
• Bachelors of Music, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• Member, Top Shelf Advisory Panel, Closets Magazine.
• Member, Potomac Executive Network (PEN).

Solutions by Scott's fees are based on an hourly rate. Although professional organizing costs money, it's an investment in your future. There is a big difference between an investment and an expense, and getting part of your life back is an investment. Fees customarily include travel to and from your business or office.

The timelines for each organizing project vary from person to person. The timeline is usually based on what has to get accomplished and the level of commitment you put forth. Well do our best to move the process along as quickly as possible.

Absolutely! Some of our most challenging cases have said the same thing. We will develop a plan you can live with that will be realistic to maintain. Again, we will do everything we can to instill a learned behavior from which you, as a client can benefit.

Solutions by Scott offers hours seven days a week in the morning and early evening during weekdays with other times on the weekends. Since weekend appointments are the most popular, we may require prepayment of services which is non-refundable. We will do our best to accommodate your schedule unless we have existing client appointments. It is recommended you schedule your appointments at least two weeks in advance.

Simply call us at 202-249-8330 or contact us online. We can discuss your needs, answer any specific questions you have and decide the best way to proceed.

As a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), Solutions by Scott adheres strictly to its Code of Ethics. We treat every situation discreetly and confidentially, and we respect your boundaries. A copy of the Code of Ethics is included at the bottom of the FAQs.

Yes we do! Currently we accept check and cash on the day of your appointment. Weekend appointments must be pre paid. To pay by credit card, you'll receive an email invoice prior to your appointment. Payment is due at that time. If we need to cancel your appointment, funds will be refunded. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and bank debit cards.

We may require prepayment for credit card transactions and to secure weekend appointments. A 50% deposit may be required for first time clients, and payment of services by cash or check is due at the completion of each session.

Travel to and from your home or office in the greater Washington, DC area is not charged. For areas beyond that we charge a flat fee plus mileage. If we are involved with the disposal or donation of items, we charge a flat fee.

Cancellation is required 48 hours before the appointment without incurring a charge. Otherwise, a fee for the full session may be charged. We are offering a professional service to you, and both of our times are valuable. We base this policy on our need for mutual respect and the fact that this profession involves external appointments that require some planning.

Not necessarily, but they may help you come to some realizations about what is and what is not important. We will help you find and create a home for your most important belongings, and more importantly, we can determine what may be placed out of the way for the time being and until you need or want it. Overall, we save our clients money, save time, and most say their lives are more fulfilling. Some of the more extreme "organization" shows can be a little radical. In reality, you are the client and these are your possessions. We just want to help you organize and cut through what doesn't need to be directly in front of you every day. And if you are interested, professional organizers know places where your goods can be donated or consigned to help other people.

This Code of Ethics is a set of principles to provide guidelines in our professional conduct with our clients, colleagues and community. As a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, I pledge to exercise judgment, self-restraint and conscience in my conduct in order to establish and maintain public confidence in the integrity of NAPO members and to preserve and encourage fair and equitable practices among all who are engaged in the profession of organizing.

Clients
Working Relationships

• I will serve my clients with integrity, competence, and objectivity, and will treat them with respect and courtesy.
• I will offer services in those areas in which I am qualified and will accurately represent those qualifications in both verbal and written communications.
• When unable or unqualified to fulfill requests for services, I will make every effort to recommend the services of other qualified organizers and/or other qualified professionals.
• I will advertise my services in an honest manner and will represent the organizing profession accurately.

Confidentiality

• I will keep confidential all client information, both business and personal, including that which may be revealed by other organizers.
• I will use proprietary client information only with the client's permission.
• I will keep client information confidential and not use it to benefit myself or my firm, or reveal this information to others.

Fees

• I will decide independently and communicate to my client in advance my fees and expenses, and will charge fees and expenses which I deem reasonable, legitimate, and commensurate with my experience, the services I deliver, and the responsibility I accept.
• I will make recommendations for products and services with my client's best interests in mind.

Colleagues

• I will seek and maintain an equitable, honorable and cooperative association with other NAPO members and will treat them with respect and courtesy.
• I will respect the intellectual property rights (materials, titles, and thematic creations) of my colleagues, and other firms and individuals, and will not use proprietary information or methodologies without permission.
• I will act and speak on a high professional level so as to not bring discredit to the organizing profession.