Have you ever watched television shows like Clean House ?  The homeowners live in a complete mess, and the show's host comes to the rescue with a designer, yard sale expert, and professional organizer.  You know people have to be in a desperate situation to allow a camera crew in on their mess, and it is always amazing to see the transformation to both the home and the homeowners.  Lately I've seen shows with young people, old people, rich people (celebrities!), and poor people.  Clutter affects us all, even those who are organized enough to manage it. 

The last episode I saw was a teacher who was transitioning into full-time real estate.  His wife was a stay-at-home mom, and they had two small children.  Their house was simply awful.  Toys and clothes everywhere, and the desk he used for work allowed him about 6 inches of space to be productive.  What kind of career can you grow in that kind of environment?  When all was said and done, the owners learned that possessions are often kept as a reminder of a special time or person, and letting go of the possession does not mean letting go of the memory.  By letting go of the physical weight of the past, he was able to have a workspace and home that was all about his family's future.

Isn't that a great lesson?

As a virtual business owner, I never really get away from my home or my office for long periods of time, which means that any disorganization in either space affects my life.  And while living in Seattle is fabulous, the smaller home that allows me to live in such close proximity to all the city has to offer is a challenge to organize. 

When is it time to call in an expert?  I recently met Melissa French of Time In Excess, a professional organizing firm in Seattle.  Melissa has experience not only in home organization but in records management and office organization, having spent many years with the worlds largest records management company. 

Melissa said something to me over coffee that I haven't been able to get out of my head - she enjoys coming into to her home and office because it energizes her.  Can you imagine a better place to work and live than something that stimulates you to be a better person?  Does your home or office give you the same feeling? 

And in an even better line of thought, can your clients use a professional organizer to help them prepare for the next move?  Imagine how much better the home will show if a professional organizer can help a family purge first and prepare for a move.  Having moved cross-country just a year ago, I can see where the professional organizer fee would be more than paid for in the savings from the moving company!

Melissa graciously offered the time to answer some questions about organization and the real estate industry.  She informed me that executives spend an average of an hour each day looking for information they have misplaced or do not have a place for.  What would you do with an extra hour each day?

An overwhelmed feeling, or an "I don't know where to begin" thought is a great indicator that a professional organizer can help.  Melissa says that working in a cluttered space has a huge negative psychological effect on people and many are not aware of the extent of this.  As embarassing as it may be, Melissa also recommends that you be honest with yourself and the organizer.  Do not "clean up" before the organizer gets there.  Professional organizers have literally seen it all, and knowing the full extent of your problem will help them resolve it for you. 

Speaking specifically to real estate agents, Melissa recommends partnering with a professional organizer in your area as a pre-listing step in the home sale process.  You cannot properly stage a home with clutter, and some professional organizers also work as home stagers (as does Melissa).  Providing this service or recommending it to your clients to help them both prepare for the sale of their home and streamline the move to their new home can set you apart from your competition.  If you decide to offer it as a service to your clients, you may be able to negotiate a deal with a local organizer to pay for her services when the house sells.

Some final thoughts from Melissa on the benefits of an organized space:  "Having a clean, organized space has unlimited benefits on productivity and overall happiness.  Imagine the difference of walking into a disastrous space and a clean organized space - which one would you rather have?  Ask your professional organizer about new habits to form to stay organized, such as opening and sorting the mail each day, responding to and filing all emails each day, etc."

After watching Clean House and talking to Melissa, I've decided it is time to move my office to a better room in my home and purge some of the possessions that may be keeping me from fully living in the present and future. 

To contact Melissa French in the Seattle area, check out her website.  To find a professional organizer in your area, go to the National Association of Professional Organizers website and search under your zip code.