Home organising: tasks, preparation and prices
A home organising service helps sort belongings and find useful places for them. It may cover a wardrobe, kitchen, paperwork or several rooms. Useful quotes depend on whether you want to declutter, use existing storage better or establish a new system.
Separate tidying, sorting and organising
Tidying returns belongings to their places. Sorting decides what to keep. A system also establishes where things will live and how to find them. Identify the work you actually want.
Practical help and organising coaching may be combined but are not automatically the same service. Coaching puts more emphasis on your future independence. Cleaning, full clearance or furniture transport should be agreed separately or requested as the appropriate service.
| Goal | Suitable scope |
|---|---|
| Tidying | Use existing places and put things away |
| Sorting | Decide what stays or is passed on |
| Organising system | Define storage, categories and use |
Wardrobe organisation or help with several rooms
Name the areas and main priority. A full wardrobe differs from an empty room after moving. Storage size and count, approximate box volume or the kind of filing are often more useful than total floor area.
For several areas, set priorities. Start where practical benefit is greatest and assess the next stage after initial results. A short factual brief is sufficient initially; a complete inventory or private documents are unnecessary.
Agree collaboration and decisions
Agree which tasks you do together and which the organiser may handle independently. Decisions about personal belongings remain with you or an authorised person. Nothing should be discarded, sold or donated without clear approval.
Plan manageable stages with a visible result, such as usable wardrobe space or clear filing. Ask for a handover showing where things are and how to continue. A complicated system helps little if daily use is difficult.
Check existing storage first
New boxes are not always needed. Check what stays, existing storage and suitable dimensions first. Then decide whether extra inserts, labels or furniture are useful.
Agree purchases, material budget and approval before ordering. Procurement, delivery, assembly and returns may cost extra. The system should suit its users rather than simply look good in a photograph.
Clarify donations and disposal separately
Sorting and removal are separate tasks. Agree what happens to unwanted items and who handles it. A small included transport allowance does not automatically cover bulky furniture, many boxes or disposal charges.
Donations and resale need an actual recipient. An expensive original purchase does not guarantee resale value. Specify quantities, transport, fees and responsibility for items that are not accepted.
Compare prices on the same basis
Compare actual working hours rather than half-day or full-day labels. Ask whether rates apply per person and what preparation includes. Room planning, travel, materials, purchases and disposal may be charged separately.
Calculation example: a quoted CHF100 including VAT per person-hour for four person-hours gives CHF400 in labour. This is a hypothetical example, not a typical market rate. Add only agreed extras; clarify minimum time, breaks and extensions as well.
| Item | Comparison point |
|---|---|
| Labour | Active person-hours and minimum time |
| Planning | Visit, plan and approval included? |
| Materials and travel | Procurement and actual travel charges |
| Removal | Quantity, transport and fees |
Prepare the enquiry and start
The initial enquiry needs the goal, areas, short scope, collaboration, location and timing. Materials or removal are asked only when relevant. Do not tidy everything beforehand, making the actual need hard to assess.
Paperwork can be organised without copying bank access or private contents into the enquiry. Agree confidential handling and keep important documents until retention is clarified. After handover, accessible places and a simple routine help you use the new organisation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does home organising cost?
Scope, approach and included services determine the quote. Compare person-hours, planning, materials, travel and any disposal together.
Must I buy new storage boxes?
Not necessarily. Check existing storage and what stays first. Approve extra purchases separately.
Who decides what is removed?
You or an authorised person. Agree approvals before disposal, sale or donation.
Is disposal included?
Only within agreed limits. Transport, bulky items and fees may cost extra.
Must I attend the appointment?
It depends on the task. Personal decisions need your involvement or clear authorisation; approved tasks can be done independently.
Does it include house cleaning?
Not automatically. Organising, cleaning and full clearance are different tasks requiring clear agreement.
