Philadelphia Professional Organizer Wants To Make Your Life Easier
Jennifer Martin, Certified Home Organizer® and owner of Spruce Organizing Co in Philadelphia wants to change the way you think about how you should manage your home. Read on to learn about her philosophy and how she can help make your life easier.
We recently interviewed Jennifer to learn more about her and what you can expect from a typical organizing session.
What (or who) inspired you to become an Organizer?
Probably like a lot of things in our lives, positive change occurs out of something challenging. I think I was always a fairly organized, orderly person, however after I had my children, I found my house falling apart. It wasn’t just the kids of course. I had a high level healthcare executive career, that took a lot of time of course, but also was burdened by the hidden mental load of managing a home and family including mine and the kids ever changing clothing, family meals, paperwork, and everything we all brought into the house. I couldn’t “afford” to let up on my job or the kids so it was my house that I let slide. I was burning out. The house was a wreck, cluttered, and I was feeling unhealthy. My home life had become haphazard. I knew I had to do something differently. What I eventually figured out was that I 1: needed less stuff and 2: needed systems.
Over the course of a year I decluttered my home and made rules that nothing new would be brought in. I began to carefully and intentionally choose a simpler wardrobe and began intentional meal planning. Life became so much easier. I didn’t realize at first that this was actually home organizing but as I read more and learned, I became obsessed with the thought of helping others reduce their stress points.
How has becoming an Organizer impacted your life?
Organizing my home and being a professional organizer has transformed my life. It has completely changed the way I now interact with everyone. I see the amazing things people do everyday and also see the toll of “trying to manage it all” takes too. Being able to relieve someone's burdens and help restore their peace of mind brings me great joy.
How has your past career or education tied in to becoming an Organizer?
I was in healthcare administration for over 20 years and so had to be very organized in managing details of data, people and facilities. It’s an analytical career in many ways and required great efficiencies. When I applied that analysis to my own life and home systems I was able to “crack the code”. Now I love being able to do that for my clients!
Who are your ideal clients (or what is your niche)?
I work with busy professionals, busy families, and retired people who need the support of someone who will manage the stressful task of decluttering their homes and then setting up systems for better use of space. Many of my clients tell me that they “know how” but really don’t want to take this on or just don’t have the time. Others don’t really know how to organize and need the support of someone who can guide them through it or just get it done for them. I love working with professional women who don’t have the time or drive to organize their home.
What drives your clients to hire a professional organizer?
I think most of my clients are overwhelmed by their stuff or lack of organization, and just need the ideas and physical labor to get their home projects kickstarted and finished.
Is there a popular season or off-season for professional organizing in Philadelphia?
It’s pretty busy all year long in a larger city. There are the traditional seasonal needs like preparing homes for sale in the Spring and then getting ready for the Holidays in the Fall. But really, people are moving in and around the city all the time, so my team and I love to help people prepare for moves or unpack them in their new home. There is no off-season for stress, so all year long people call to ask for help to get their homes in better order or under control.
Tell me a little bit about how you approach organizing--or your philosophy?
I am a functional organizer, so my job is really to make a space or whole home easier to live in. If there was one thing that I would love to change about our culture- it’s the way we view our responsibility to manage our homes.
Women in particular really still think they should inherently know how to organize their homes or that they should be able to easily keep up with it. The reality is that they are often exhausted from the other responsibilities they have or career and/or family. We have no trouble paying someone to cut our hair or mow our lawn or groom our dog, but women have guilt and shame about not knowing how or wanting to organize their homes. Sure, we can cut our own hair or mow our own lawn but it’s socially and culturally acceptable to pay for these services. It’s even expected. Most people would be surprised if you did cut your own hair!
My mission is to make outsourcing organizing as common as these other services. Organizing can be life changing. Simplifying and streamlining your home makes everyday of your life easier! Why wouldn’t you hire an organizer to do this for you?
What sorts of challenges can you help with? What opportunities are individuals likely to miss if they try to complete the organization work themselves?
A lot of people just get stuck. They are overwhelmed with a space or even the whole house. They might have to make use of a small space but not have the knowledge of how to maximize that space. Of course, they can organize it themselves, but it would take a lot longer and is often very stressful mentally, emotionally and even physically. These are the wonderful advantages a professional organizer can provide- the ideas on how to fix a space, the knowledge of how to remove any discards (donations and junk), knowledge of helpful products and of course the physical labor to get it done. Organizers can help someone get and stay motivated through an organizing project or just do it for them.
Is there anything you wish your clients knew before contacting you?
Yes! They do not have to do it alone. Or at all. They need to release any guilt or shame for not wanting to go through the decluttering and organizing process. I have seen everything. I understand how hard life can be and how the house can be the last priority or the thing that they just wish they could just wave the magic wand and relieve the stress. My goal is to make your life easier.
Are there any current projects or services that you'd like to highlight?
Earlier this year I helped a young family organize their basement which serves as the kids’ playroom, the dad’s office and the laundry room. So there is a lot going on in this small space. I decluttered and organized it while they were away and set up systems to help them and their small children keep everything organized. I was excited that this project was featured in a 2 part special on 6ABC.
“What to Look For When Hiring a Professional Organizer”.
Jennifer is filmed organizing and is interviewed by Emmy award winning news anchor Nydia Han.
Spruce Organizing Co has won multiple accolades including Best of Awards on Home Advisor and Angie’s List, Top Pro in Philadelphia on Thumbtack, Expertise.com’s Best Organizer’s in Philadelphia and Yelp’s Top 10 in Philadelphia.
Spruce Organizing Co has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Magazine, 6ABC, CBS Philly and more!
As trusted professionals, we have worked in the homes of both Sixers and Flyers players.
You can reach Jennifer Martin at:
267-587-NEAT (6328)
hello@spruceorganizing.co
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spruceorganizingco/
