Q & A – Space to Embrace
As the year is coming to an end, I thought it might be good to share some of the questions that I am often asked. Hopefully, your questions are on this list but if not, feel free to send them to me! Here we go!
Q: How did you get started in organizing?
A: Six years ago, we moved to North Carolina from Ohio. While in Ohio I was a preschool teacher and while I loved shaping the future of the little ones, I was ready to try something new. I decided to follow my heart and do something that I enjoyed doing and that made a difference in people’s lives. I looked into professional organizing and knew it was exactly what I wanted to do! And here I am, still loving my job and so thankful for the wonderful people I’ve met along the way!
Q: What has been your favorite project?
A: Wow, this one is a hard one! I truly do enjoy all the different project I’ve worked on, especially those last couple of days when everything falls into place and my vision for the space comes to life. One that stands out from this year was for a real estate agent that had 2 storage units full of household and staging items. Everything was mixed together and nothing was in order. The client wanted those two units moved to one large unit near their home. It was like setting up a store! We enjoyed grouping all the similar staging items together (kitchen, bath, rugs, accessories and such) and then put her personal items that are rarely used in the back of the unit. When we were done, the place looked like a mini HomeGoods! The goal was to make it easy for her to get what she needed for her staging and then to also be able to put it back when she was done. That’s our kind of fun!
Q: What stores do you shop for organizing supplies at?
A: We mainly use Target! We will often shop on line and then just schedule it as curbside pick-up. There are several of their bins that we use for multiple projects.
We also have our go-to items at The Container Store and of course Amazon.
Q: What’s the strangest thing you have come across while organizing?
A: Dead mice! We’ve come across two and both were skeletons on those sticky mouse traps. Oh, and once there was a live one that I helped to catch and set free!
Q: What do you do with the items that your clients no longer want?
A: I have vetted a lot of local non-profit organizations that truly do serve our community. I love the thought of helping those in our community through these resources. I have been highlighting them on my monthly blogs this year hoping to spread awareness. It feels great to bless others!
Q: What is your favorite part of being an organizer?
A: Seeing the weight of people’s stuff being lifted from their shoulders. So often they are so overwhelmed by the clutter that they cannot even think straight. Once it’s all in order, they have the biggest smile on their faces and feel like now that it’s under control, they can maintain it!
Q: What’s your best advice to stay organized?
A: Easy, keep logical things together and put it back where it goes when you are finished with it. Advice from my mom: A place for everything and everything in its place!
Q: What sets you apart from other organizers?
A: Two things. First, I am non-judgmental and empathetic. And second, with keeping my team small, I know that everyone is receiving the golden rule treatment: Treat others the way you would like to be treated!
Q: Is your home perfectly organized?
A: Well, if you stopped by unannounced, you would probably think it was. I do keep things tidy and in order. However, when I’m super busy, there are times that things get a little out of place and need attention. The funny thing is that after a job, I’m usually energized and whatever area I worked on with a client, I typically come home and focus on that area in my home too!
Q: What’s next for Space to Embrace?
A: We are excited to have an intern starting with us in January. We look forward to having her join us on jobs and learn the ins and outs of organizing! Spreading the love of organizing is a fun thing to do. We look forward to making more friendships through organizing this year and to make everyone’s lives a little better by creating organized spaces that are easy to maintain, timesaving and allow people to have a space to embrace of their own!
