Spring Cleaning?
Calling All Professionals!
By Berit Mason
The Clutter Conundrum
Joan Kearl is a Stanford University graduate in sociology and a former communications and marketing industry executive. With a background like that, she understands human nature. Today, Kearl is a Certified Professional Organizer and the owner of Organized for Success. She visits people’s homes to mine and excavate overstuffed drawers and closets, and tidy up their space.
Her clients “ Want to do it, but then they close the door and say, ‘I’ll do it another time,’” Kearl explained. Think Indiana Jones and the Stuffed Closet. If you can’t bear to throw away even one of your children’s drawings, and piles of papers overwhelm you, Kearl helps you get tough with your stuff.
“It’s critical to be able to enjoy your environment. And there’s a satisfaction in it, as you [are] no longer worry[ing] about what you should be doing — but living,” she added.
To tackle it: just start. Write down your goals. Choose a recommended certified organizer and ask for estimates. For example, ask how many hours it would take to clear a messy dining room.
Joan Kearl is a San Antonio-based Certified Professional Organizer and business owner of Organized for Success; photo courtesy of Joan Kerl
“Some people have just read articles, and they think of themselves as pretty organized, personally. But that doesn’t mean they can translate and transfer their skills to their clients,” Kearl said.
By working alongside a professional, you will learn organizational methods — preventing piles from re-accumulating. You will prioritize functionality over aesthetics and accept that there may be few buyers for grandmother’s porcelain china.
“People have to get serious about not worrying about getting their money’s worth out of it because they are not going to get that. You maynot get money for it, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that it didn’t go to a dump.”
Kearl had first-hand experience in sorting the estate of her late husband, Mike Kearl. He was a professor at Trinity University who collected books that she catalogued and organized via spreadsheets.
“Ultimately, about 90 boxes of books became 17 boxes of books,” explained Kearl.
“Mike wore ties when he was teaching at UTSA,” she continued. She photographed his tie collection before parting with it.
Kearl also works with businesses, organizing office space for greater productivity. “Areas are also to help people clear things out if there’s a dangerous component, a mental illness, or hoarding.”
To research organizers, go to the National Association of Productivity and
Organizing Professionals website, napo.net.
Where to Start?
Decluttering became popular with the 2014 New York Times bestseller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo, presenting the KonMari Method, prioritizing what stays and what goes based on whether or not it “sparks joy.”
San Antonio Professional Organizer Ami Teodosio utilizes the KonMari method to help clients corral their clutter; photo courtesy of Ami Teodosio
Ami Teodosio is a local KonMari Method organizer.
“In 2016, my brother introduced me to Marie Kondo,” Teodosio said. “I was very intrigued, basically taking everything out of your closet and seeing the heap of clothes that are there.” Becoming a mother also helped move Teodosio in the direction of simplicity.
“I wanted my brain [not to] have so many things inside of it to worry about.”
When someone clears out their house, they also tidy their mind.
“It took about six months to declutter my whole home using her method. After that, I remember my brain being quiet, [with] a change on the inside. My values started changing. What was important to me started changing, and the way I looked at living my life was a lot more intentional,” shared Teodosio.
Think of editing your life story; deciding what stays and what goes, what matters, and how it moves your story forward.
“I take things from bins and categorize them. Let go of plastic and storage bins, and you’ll be surprised how much mass they take up. My home now isn’t weighing me down. It serves like a sanctuary, something I enjoy coming home to,” said Teodosio.
Teodosio’s services are available at amiteodosio.com.
One Person’s Trash
Realtors sell homes, and estate salespeople sell homes’ contents. Professional Estate Sales has been in the business for 21 years.
“We sold [household content] on eBay for two years,” said co-owner Peggy Calhoun. “We knew a gentleman moving out of town who said, ‘What should I do with the rest of my stuff?’ I said, ‘We’ll have an estate sale.’”
Co-owner and sister, Joy Curnutt, reminded Calhoun. “We don’t do estate sales.” Calhoun’s reply? “Well, I think we could.”
Calhoun and Curnutt deal with downsizing a home’s contents prompted by deaths in the family. Lately, more of their estate sales are simply to help people move, for instance, older adults who want to help their parents transition into life’s next chapters.
“People are changing their lifestyles, moving to where their children are, maybe wanting to move to their [coastal] house or ranch house.”
Another trend the pair sees is the downsizing of entertaining. “Someone had a huge set of china they didn’t know what to do with.”
The sisters arrive armed with tissues and a shoulder to cry on. So, Calhoun sold eight settings of the 12-piece china set, and the owner kept four.
“Because families get very concerned, telling us their mother shouldn’t be driving, and she’s running into things, and sometimes, if [help] comes from someone else, they understand it a little more.”
The sisters advise choosing one room, staying in it, and working on it. If you haven’t used something in three years, donate or sell it. Dump chipped, cracked, broken stuff, and excess plastic containers and jelly jars should be the first to go.
Professional Estate Sales uses a 4-Pile Method: keep, donate, trash, or send to consignors, with the philosophy of being unafraid to simply throw things away.
“Many people have too many clothes, clothes they haven’t worn in 20 years! Most people wear about 20% of what’s in their closet,” said Curnutt.
The sisters arrange for businesses to collect items that don’t sell. “We love what we do. We love helping people who need help! We both feel it’s very worthwhile.”
Another Person’s Treasure
Aegis Estate Services owners Andrea Scott and Jason Baur dealt in antiques and collectibles before going into the estate sale business.
As professional appraisers, they properly assess the value of your keepsakes.
“We go through every drawer, every cabinet, and every closet. We take everything out because sometimes, the most unexpected item is what draws your crowd in.”
A homeowner might have historical photos or documents, attracting the eye of a collector.
“I interact with a lot of other estate sale owners around the country, and I would say on average … it is about 40% the estate sale companies take. Some companies have a set-up fee or hourly rate, but our company is straight commission,” said Scott.
Their 40% commission covers the entire process of organizing the sale, promoting it, and conducting the sale. Clearing what remains is an additional fee.
“We go through everything, individually price the items, and set everything up. We’ll bring in shelves and tables, putting things in the best place where they’ll sell the best. It’s a lot of work, and dealing with the public for two to three days can be taxing,” said Scott.
Scott does not want clients getting rid of stuff beforehand.
“Don’t throw anything away. Because sometimes, the things that sell the best are useful everyday items.”
The belief is that old, well-made things have the most value. But young people today want blenders, toasters, and tools, over china and crystal, as household goods have soared in price.
“Some of our best-sellers are garage and household items,” said Scott. ■
