The perfect way to find out what a professional organiser uses in their kit / bag is to look inside one! My own kit that I used for over 10 years with clients has been opened up, and I can’t wait to show you the items and tricks that I used to make organising things SO much easier!

1. What Do Home Organizers Charge

'As a Certified Professional Organizer, I am committed to staying current with industry trends and developing my client-facing skills, and I rely on NAPO to support me in continuing my education.' Wendy Buglio, CPO, member since 2007. Rev-a-Shelf D Shaped 5 Shelf Pantry Lazy Susan - contemporary - cabinet and drawer organizers - by Hayneedle Rev-a-Shelf D Shaped 5 Shelf Pantry Lazy Susan - The Rev-a-Shelf D Shaped 5 Shelf Pantry Lazy Susan is ideal for fully organizing a pantry or a large cabinet in your kitchen. This unit has D-shaped shelves.

This was the actual bag that I took to clients homes each and every day over the 10+ years I was a professional organiser, and it was SO handy to find everything I needed quickly and easily.

Because everything was to hand (no zips or things to open to get to anything), projects got done more quickly and without interruption (a huge waste of time is having to look for things when you are in the middle of something).

So, why not take a peek inside and you may just be inspired to create your own organising toolkit for your own home!

Let me start by introducing you properly to the kit – here’s a quick picture of it with everything inside ready to go:-

and here’s everything laid out for you to take a look at more closely:-

I always find it quite surprising how much fits inside this kit – it’s a bit like Mary Poppins’ bag, isn’t it!

Of course, the pic is quite small, so let’s go through each item in turn and I will explain why it’s in there for you…

What’s Inside a Professional Organiser Kit?

#1 – Catalogues – I love having a few catalogues for the shops I use most for organising products. Buying more products is always the last step in getting organising, but if things are needed, then it’s really important to be able to flick through them to show examples of what would work, or to create a shopping list to go on behalf of my client.

My favourites are IKEA, Next, John Lewis. If you prefer to go paperless, then using your mobile phone with wifi access would be great as well.

#2 – The Caddy** – This particular caddy was a great bit of kit I actually picked up in my local TKMaxx a while ago. As soon as I saw it I knew it would be ideal for my organising jobs, because it’s easy to carry around, everything has its own section/pocket, and it’s easy to find everything at a glance.

So much better than using a bag that has lots of pockets to open etc…

#3 – Decluttering Category Printables – Every time I declutter, I need to make sure that the piles created are easy to define. You don’t want to be throwing away that which should be sent to a charity shop – do you! As such, I made a set that I could use again and again – and they are FANTASTIC!

They are easily visible during decluttering projects, and avoid me having to write out all the categories each time (dependent on the space available I usually use masking tape and stick each category to the wall above the space where that categories items will be placed.

{ Worth a Read: Decluttering Category Printables You Can Print Off and Use}.

#4 – A4 Plastic folders** – Plastic pouches of various types come in really handy when sorting paperwork into piles, and for containing paper found when organising a space (such as receipts and letters).

#5 – Bin Bags – Always necessary for organising as rubbish and charity shop items. You can use bags for each category. A great tip here is to use different coloured bags for each category, as then you won’t accidentally take rubbish to the charity shop.

#6 – Post it Notes – Useful for labelling items when sorting out, labelling shelves for the short term, and writing notes on items.

#7 – Sticky Labels** – Sticky white labels can be used to label things a little more permanently.

#8 – Different types of sticky tape

• Masking tape is less tacky and can be used to tape things for the short term
• Parcel tape secures cardboard boxes well
• Double sided tape always comes in handy for items that may have broken, or for making sure photos and pictures don’t slip around in a frame.

#9 – Screwdriver** with changeable heads – You never know when you may need to put furniture together, take something apart, mend something etc… and having a screwdriver that’s small but has detachable heads means you don’t have to carry around loads of different ones.

#10 – Label Maker** – A great device for making labels quickly and easily – that look great! – I label shelves, boxes, drawers etc….

I also now use a couple of different label makers in my home – one is a more retro embossing one that I have completely fallen for as it fits my home style perfectly. You can shop around for different colours and styles, and look at different fonts if you have a preference.

This is the fun bit!

#11 – Spare labels – In case I run out in my label maker I always have extra tape to put in. I also carry a variety of colours in case a specific one is needed

#12 – Hard cover folder with paper inside – For writing any notes down as they arise, for making room plans etc…. – the hard cover means there’s a hard surface to write on when walking around.

#13 – White/Blu tack – For sticking posters to a wall, or schedules to the insides of cupboard doors etc….

#14 – Batteries – For the label maker, and anything else that you may carry around that has batteries (digital tape measure, camera etc…)

#15 – Scissors – I usually carry a small pair and a large heavy duty pair to tackle any cutting jobs

#16 – Bulldog clips – Useful for holding papers together – and also can be hung from a cupboard door or wall. You can buy clips again to match your style if they are staying around for a while, or go plain if they are purely functional.

#17 – Hammer – For that furniture again!, and for putting up art/pictures etc…

#18 – Envelopes – Always useful to have handy. You can carry smaller items together so nothing gets lost (great for putting broken jewellery inside, also good for collecting receipts when tackling month end items in a home office etc…).

#19 – Tape Measure – Perfect for ensuring things will fit if you are trying to move furniture around or are thinking of buying new items for a space (measuring the inside of cupboards will ensure you don’t buy wrong!)

I have intel i5 windows 10 64 bit 2gb ram will ps3 emulator run on my pc. I have 32gb of ram intel i7 6600k with gtx 1070 8gb ram can you tell its good play game with pcsx3 or direct pc games.

#20 – Various Pens – (Highlighter, Permanent Marker, Pencil, Biro, red marker pen) – for labelling, making notes, hanging artwork etc… You are going to be writing on paper, wood, plastic etc… so you need pens that will mark each type of surface well.

#21 – Rubber bands – Useful for containing groups of items such as pens, rolls of wrapping paper etc…

What Do Home Organizers Charge

#22 –Picture Hanging Kit – Lots of different nails and hooks – love these kits as they contain everything you need in one place!

#23 – Anti Bacterial Wipes – Things ALWAYS are messy before they get better – and often shelves and surfaces are dirty when everything is taken off them. Having wipes means it’s easy to wipe clean surfaces as you go.

#24 – Hand wipes and Anti Bacterial Gel – To clean hands after all that hard work!

#25 – Mobile phone – You can use as a timer and also to take before and after photos so you can see how much you’ve achieved.

#26 – Rubber gloves – I always advise gloves (thick if necessary) if tackling a particularly dirty or unknown area such as a loft or cellar. Unknown areas mean there could be broken glass, dirt, mould etc… that you don’t want to hurt yourself on.

#27 – Laminator and Laminating Pouches** – Useful for creating schedules on a wall that’s wipeable, displaying kids artwork and protecting it etc…. – I sometimes take if I know this will be needed.

Quite a few bits I’m sure you’ll agree!- after all, a professional organiser has to be ready for anything as you never know what you may find at someones house that needs sorting.

It really is one of the most useful kits for anyone to have when they tackle a project in their own home as well – everything is to hand, everything has its place, and you can be more focused on the job at hand!

You can have loads of fun adding what you need into a kit like this – so have some fun and get started, and I’ll make it easier for you right now: –

Are you tempted to create your own kit?

I’ve collected everything together for you below – so just click on any item** you want to find out more about, and you can grab it right now – Hope this helps!

I love being able to use this kit for my own projects as well as when I was working with clients

And I’m sure you will too!. If you have any other items that you think should go into this kit, then please leave a comment below.

BUT – if you’re now ready and inspired to tackle an organising project in your home, the best first step is to declutter. You can read all about my decluttering method HERE or clicking the NEXT button below. Enjoy!

If you have a container for everything, and spring cleaning comes once a month, you may just have what it takes to become a professional organizer. A lot of people will call a professional for help to make their lives super efficient, and one of our favorite professionals is Jeffrey Phillip. He’s made a living out of designing and de-cluttering people’s homes, workspaces and storage space. He’s kind of like an organizational Superman. And this week, in our How to Quit Your Day Job series, Jeffrey gave us the scoop on how he honed his skills and how he turned those skills into a successful business. If a 200-square-foot apartment and a finely organized walk-in closet get you excited, start taking notes, because this could be you.

THE ORGANIZATION PRO: JEFFREY PHILLIP

Jeffrey studied fashion, marketing and event planning in college. Naturally, he always thought his career path would lead him in one of those directions. But he figured out that those professions just weren’t doing it for him, and he was able to get real with himself. He asked himself, “What am I most passionate about?”

He said, “Looking back, I see now that the parts of those jobs I loved the most were always creative in nature and involved me organizing something in the physical space of the office, streamlining our systems and processes or dealing with the logistics for a client project.” Since 2008, Jeffrey has made it his business to clean up, streamline and bring some style to people’s lives.

THE TIPS

Put in the Practice. Even without specific classes for organization, Jeffrey continued to learn from practice. He said, “One of the best ways to continue learning and enhancing any craft is to dedicate time to it and understand one’s relationship with the craft, test out new ideas and discover unique solutions.”

Do the Research. Jeffrey went searching for resources and research before making the full leap to being a professional organizer. One of the first things he discovered was the organization NAPO (the National Association of Professional Organizers), which offers several classes and conferences.

Even with this professional guidance, he said he spent a lot of time focusing on himself. “I also spent time figuring out who I was as an organizer and designer and what kind of impact I wanted to have when working with clients.”

Take Inventory of Your Traits. To really harness the clean, orderly potential of a person’s home you have to have vision, design skills and a knack for organization, but it’s more than that. Jeffrey said you need “empathy, compassion, patience, ingenuity, creativity, a keen eye for finer details, an understanding of efficiency, a good sense of business acumen and the necessary skills for running and marketing a service-­based business.”

Find the Balance Between Function and Aesthetics. The job of an organizer goes beyond decorating. Jeffrey tries to find ways to make that client’s life function more smoothly, so he focuses on their needs. He told us, “Then, I bring in my influence of blending style and efficiency, so everything has the right flow and function and sings as one cohesive space.” He said that every solution has to be observed from all angles to make sure it’s lasting both functionally and aesthetically.

Deeply Understand the Business Side of Things. Don’t forget you’re running a business. Learning business acumen may not be nearly as fun as learning the names of new Pantone swatches, but if you’re going to keep your head above water and be really succeed, you’ve got to learn the business stuff too. Even though Jeffrey grew up in a family that owned and operated a business, figuring out all of those startup necessities had a steep learning curve. He studied up on laws, regulations, insurance, trademarks and all of the things you need to legitimize and protect your business.

Why didn’t he just pay someone to do that? “Yes, I could have outsourced a lot of these things and gone on the word of the first person I spoke with, but I always want to understand how it all works so that I can fully protect myself by knowing how each piece of the company functions. It is invaluable knowledge to understand how your business works from the bottom up.”

Don’t Give Your Services for Free. Chances are, everyone in your life could use some organization. Early on, you might think that you need clients and they need your services, so you’ll do it for free, just until you build a clientele. But your clientele are the people who will actually pay for your services. Jeffrey said,“I feel that for people to start taking you seriously you need to charge them.”

“Your rates may be on the lower side when you start building your portfolio and clientele, but it is important to start somewhere and adjust your rates as you gain more experience.” Start out with an easy website showing pictures of your work and let everyone know that you’re open for business. Jeffrey said that after he made his first website, he emailed to everyone he knew. “When you take yourself seriously and present yourself professionally, others will see you that way and treat you with the proper respect. It goes back to that old Field of Dreams quote, ‘If you build it, they will come.’”

Contribute Content and Network. Jeffrey spent a lot of time spreading the word about his business through blogging, networking and social media. “Through my networking, I found myself invited to charity events, where I then started donating packages to silent auctions; that’s another great way to acquire new clients and give back to some important causes.” Networking also led him to getting more stories and quotes published and catching the eye of bid names like O Magazine and West Elm.

He said, “I always try to consistently make new connections and not rest on any laurels. There’s a lot to be said for earning the work and a solid reputation.” The best way to get new clients and boost his reputation is still good old-fashioned word of mouth. He said, “The testimonial of a happy client is priceless.”

Keep Yourself Organized. Any entrepreneur knows that this part can be tricky. Life gets messy, and when it does, Jeffrey takes the time to tidy up. He tells himself the same thing he tells his clients: “Maintenance is so important when it comes to organizing. If things get out of hand, you just need to dedicate some time to getting things back in order.”

He keeps his work life organized by ridding himself of all paper and relying a lot on Evernote: “It has truly become a database for my life. I use it for all my note taking, planning, even for my recipes!”

Keep Learning. Jeffrey gets a lot of inspiration from magazines, television, blogs and each one of his projects. Each experience leads to new solutions that he can continue to use in the future. One big thing he’s learned is to look at the big picture and understand people: “It’s about seeing the entire slice of life that happens in the home, which includes everything from what people cook, how they exercise, how they dress, etc. I think it’s important, as well as helpful, to know and understand trends and human behavior.”

Get Ready to Know Yourself. Jeffrey has learned perhaps the most about himself. Starting his own business meant that he had to find his strengths and weakness. He now knows when to say yes and when to pass on certain opportunities. But beyond his entrepreneurial side, he said, “Starting and building a business is an evolution that not only impacts your professional life, but lots of areas of your life outside of work too — from how you socialize to when you go to the gym or yoga to how and when you spend time with your family. There is always so much to learn about yourself, about your work and about those around you. I just try to stay open to the new experiences and possibilities that await me.”

PERFECT YOUR SKILLS

1. An Introduction from Marie Kondo: The #KonMari method of organizing has taken the world by storm, and rightly so. Even if you’re not looking to go pro, her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is the perfect place to channel your inner OCD and seriously clean up your life. Want to get a peek inside? We covered some of her tips right here. (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is $9 on Amazon)

2. The Fundamentals: Remember when Jeffrey mentioned NAPO? We’re loving their course, “Fundamental Organizing and Productivity Principles.” This course gives you basics of organization theory and also covers time management (which is super important for business owners). You’ll also learn about the different types of clients you’ll probably work with and how to get the most out of those relationships. ($180 [$280 for non-members] for a 6-hour class)

3. Must-Have Training: Now we’re getting down to business. If you’re realizing that you want to turn your passion for organization into a profession, this course is great. It’ll teach you about the business know-how. From potential earnings to tips on the craft, you’ll walk away with business goals laid out and some marketing tips. ($44 for a 10-hour course)

4. The Nitty Gritty: When you go pro, you need to be ready for anything and everything — chaotic closets, cluttered pantries, messy drawers and everything in between. Simplify 101 has a list of courses to help you tackle those individual projects, from organizing paper clutter to closets. (Online and video classes range from $19-49)

Pro-tip: For weekly organization inspo, follow Jeffrey’s Instagram. We’re big fans of his #TossItTuesdays.

What passion would you like to see covered in our Quit Your Day Job Series? Let us know in the comments!

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