Mess to Bliss in Albany NY Empowers Clients to Stay Organized
Liz Halvorsen, Professional Organizer in Albany NY works alongside her clients to get them from chaos to calm. With a background as a school counselor and as a certified Organizer, Liz has the patience and skills to support her clients.
We interviewed Liz to learn more about her and what you can expect from a typical organizing session.
What (or who) inspired you to become an Organizer?
I have always had a knack for keeping things neat and tidy. When my husband and I were first married we had a tiny apartment in Boston and needed to be very organized to keep the place clean. That mentality traveled with us from each house and through each child!
How has becoming an Organizer impacted your life?
I truly enjoy the excitement that an organized space gives to a client once I've completed a project. And when the client is able to maintain the space - it's even more rewarding! I like to give my clients the tools to be able to maintain an organized lifestyle.
How has your past career or education tied in to becoming an Organizer?
I came into being a Professional Organizer after working as a school counselor for over 10 years. Having the skill set to listen and be empathetic while working with clients is key.
Who are your clients?
I love working with busy working families but I am open to working with any individuals who want to make a change in the space(s)....for the better.
What drives your clients to hire a professional organizer?
Most of my clients have been referrals from friends or family that have worked with me. However, sometimes clients call or email because they are at their wit's end and are so frustrated. I listen and help create a plan to get them from chaos back to calm.
Is there a popular season or off-season for professional organizing in Albany?
In upstate NY, Spring and Fall tend to be the most busy. People like to work on garages and basements during that time. Clients want to be able to park their cars back in their garages before the snow falls!
Tell me a little bit about how you approach organizing--or your philosophy?
My approach to organizing has a similar process for each client. I start with a phone consult and then once I meet the client I get a tour of their home and the space(s) they need help in. Each client is unique - but the techniques are similar. Listen, coach and continue the momentum of getting the client where they want to be.
What sorts of challenges can you help with? What opportunities are individuals likely to miss if they try to complete the organization work themselves?
Helping the client make ample use of their space is something that can be a challenge for some clients. Vertical space tends to get missed a lot. Once I work with them and help them set up systems they can maintain the client then feels empowered to keep the space organized.
Recent Projects
Is there anything you wish your clients knew before contacting you?
Clients often apologize to me for how their space looks - Do Not Apologize! There are many people out there that lead busy, complicated lives and stuff sometimes gets away from them. You reached out to me for a reason and I am happy to be the coach/cheerleader you need to get your space back on track!
Are there any current projects or services that you'd like to highlight?
Now that the school year is back in session, I offer academic organizing services. I sit with students and talk about time management and create an inviting and functional work space for them.
