APDO | Help & Advice for Clients and Organisers

Client FAQ
Organisers FAQ

What is a professional organiser (PO)?

POs work directly with clients, offering guidance, encouragement, support, strategies and practical help to organise various aspects of their homes or offices – and their lives. Individual POs offer a range of expert services including: decluttering, storage solutions, admin and paperwork, time management, coaching, design and/or home-staging. Check out the profiles of APDO members via Find an Organiser to find the local PO who is most suitable for you.

Why should I hire an APDO member?

APDO members are all fully insured, registered for data protection and committed to the APDO Code of Ethics that includes strict confidentiality. In other words, APDO membership is evidence of commitment to professionalism and compliance with industry standards.

Do APDO members help hoarders?

The term ‘hoarding’ is used quite liberally in the media, but chronic hoarding is now classified as a medical condition characterised by:

major difficulties in letting go of inanimate objects, even when they are broken
a tendency to acquire things which they don’t ever use
rooms which cannot be used for their intended purpose
levels of clutter which could result in safety issues in and around the home

Hoarders are therefore quite distinct from clutterbugs, who are people who simply have too much stuff.

You can find out about Hoarding Disorder here and find practical advice for people who hoard here.

Some APDO members offer expert help to hoarders. When choosing an organiser, please read the member’s profile in Find an Organiser to check whether they mention hoarding as a specialism.

What does it cost to hire a professional organiser?

APDO members provide full terms and conditions, including details of prices and other business policies. There’s no standard rate for POs so please check with the individual POs that you locate via Find an Organiser. Some charge per hour, per day or half-day, or offer discounts for block bookings. POs set fees according to levels of experience, expertise and the particular services that they offer.

What do professional organisers offer?

POs provide practical and sympathetic help for clients in all kinds of homes and offices. They offer hands-on decluttering and organising to make more effective use of space and storage. In addition, individual POs offer services according to their specific skills and expertise. These can include:

Life coaching to define and achieve goals
Paper management and filing systems
Strategies to manage time
Home staging before selling property
Advice on interior design, feng shui or space clearing
Environmentally-friendly solutions
Setting up and running home offices
Study skills and organising techniques

In addition to working with clients, some POs present talks or workshops, publish books or articles, contribute to PR campaigns, or sell organising products. Check out the profiles of some APDO members to get a sense of the range of services that POs offer.

What does a client expect of a professional organiser?

Clients expect POs to have relevant skills, knowledge and experience, and to conduct their business in a professional manner. POs are expected to communicate directly and honestly with clients, to be non-judgemental, and most importantly to maintain strict confidentiality. These standards all reflect the principles of the APDO Code of Ethics to which all APDO members adhere. APDO members are advised to provide clients with their business terms and conditions in order to explain their services, limitations and other policies.

What do PO’s offer?

Life coaching to define and achieve goal
Paper management and filing systems
Strategies to manage time
Home staging before selling property
Advice on interior design, feng shui or space clearing
Environmentally-friendly solutions
Setting up and running home offices
Study skills and organising techniques

What does a client expect of a PO?

How can I decide if organising is the right career choice for me?

Are you passionate about organising and/or have you developed a range of organisational skills? Do you have a keen desire to help others create positive changes in their homes and offices? If you answer ‘yes’ to both these questions and feel that you have relevant personal skills, you could be suited to become a professional organiser. If you’d like to find out more, why not join us for one of our training days.

How do I become a professional organiser (PO)?

There’s no direct career path to becoming a PO – APDO members come from a variety of backgrounds, including health, social work, education, design, property, hotels, management and admin. If you’re considering a career as a PO, it’s important to remember that in addition to working with clients, you will also be running a business. A passion for organising and helping others is a good starting point but you’ll also need to master essential business skills. APDO offers training, networking and other opportunities for professional development.

Does APDO offer training for POs?

Yes, APDO offers two very popular one-day courses – the first and only training of this kind in the UK: Starting a Professional Organising Business (introductory level) and Developing Your Professional Organising Business (intermediate). Courses take place for small groups (maximum 14 participants) throughout the year in London and Manchester. Training is informative, interactive and inspiring, and feedback is consistently excellent. Places for APDO courses tend to sell out early so we advise you to book well in advance.

What are the benefits of joining APDO?

Being an APDO member offers many benefits including; marketing your business via our website and social media, networking online and in person, and discounts for mentoring, training and conference. Membership also demonstrates evidence of your commitment to professionalism and compliance with industry standards. Most importantly, APDO members form a professional community, working together to promote our industry. Do get in touch to find out more.

How do I join APDO?

Check out the different types of membership and get in touch if you have any queries via our contact form.