19 Feb Professional Organizer Tip: LivingOrder is different from LivingSocial

Posted at 07:29h in Blog, Home Organization by
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This blog post is for the folks who called and emailed us about the LivingSocial deal that they purchased on Monday, February 18, 2013.

 

LivingOrder is an elite organizing and productivity firm that was established in 2002. Our logo looks like this:

LivingOrderSA - Get Organized. Save Time. Get More Done

 

LivingSocial is a coupon company that was established in 2007, originally under a different name. Their logo looks like this:

LivingSocial

 

The “special” they had yesterday offered “two hours of organizational consult” for $39.

 

 

While I’m flattered that many of you immediately thought of LivingOrder San Antonio at the mention of “organization” or “LivingSocial,” we have nothing to do with that offer. Therefore, we cannot possibly accept your “coupon.”

 

 

Here are three ways to tell we are not connected to that offer:

 

Our name is not on there.

 

Our logo is not on there.

 

Our website is not on there.

 

 

 

For future reference, I would like to offer this advice if you are looking for organization assistance. Be sure you get the answers to these questions before purchasing services:

 

Choosing the Right Organizing Consultant

So, how do you find an experienced, knowledgeable and reliable organizing consultant who is the right fit for your situation? How do you make sure that the person you’re about to invite into confidential areas of your life or business can be trusted? Simple: ask questions.

Here are a few examples of information you should be seeking:

  1. Are you a Certified Professional Organizer® or are you employed and trained by a Certified Professional Organizer®?

In order to be eligible to take the certification exam from the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO), an individual must acquire within three consecutive years 1500 hours of paid client work, during which there must have been a transfer of skills (i.e., teaching, and not just shuffling papers or buying baskets). Certification shows that the individual has experience and knowledge. To find a CPO® in your area, visit http://bit.ly/FindCPO. If you want an expert, hire a CPO.

  1. What personal training have you received from nationally known Certified Professional Organizers® or experts in psychology, project management, spatial planning or other fields related to organizing and productivity?

You want your doctors and attorneys to be up-to-date on the latest information in their fields. You should expect no less from your organizing consultant or productivity consultant.

  1. Is your company insured?

Anyone who is running a legitimate business will carry commercial liability insurance (called NAPO SURE – not just liability under their homeowners insurance policy). If they have employees, they should be bonded.

  1. What kinds of organizing or productivity projects do you do?

Organizing falls into two broad categories: residential and commercial. Within each category, there are specialties. You want to find a professional organizer or organizing consultant firm who specializes in what you need for your situation. Ask them to describe their organizing process/approach or a typical working session to see if this is a method with which you’d feel comfortable.

  1. Can you provide references?

Even though much of the work we do can be confidential in nature, any professional who has built up a client base will have at least two or three references they can provide.

For a more detailed list of questions to ask in order to find an organizer who’s right for you, visit http://bit.ly/POquestions.

6. Do you belong to the local chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO)?

If the professional organizer you’ve found online is serious about her/his profession, she will belong to the national group that supports the organizing profession, as well as the local chapter. If you live in San Antonio, visit www.NAPOSanAntonio.com for information. NAPO separates the pros from the pack; make sure you choose a pro to work with.

About Helene Segura

Helene Segura teaches go-getters how to use their time more efficiently in order to have a more peaceful life. For details about her, be sure to visit https://www.HeleneSegura.com

 
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