Is This For Me?

Do I Need to Tidy Up Before You Arrive?

Please don't. I need to see your space as it really is, so that I can see what is and what isn't working for you.

How Much Will I Have to Throw Away?

Nothing you're not ready to let go of yet.

Every decision about what stays and what goes is yours. I'll ask questions, I'll offer a perspective, and occasionally I'll gently push back if I think something is being kept out of habit rather than need, but I will never pressure you, and I will never make you feel bad about what you decide to keep.

Some people let go of a lot. Some people let go of very little, and we focus instead on finding better homes for what they already have. Both are fine. The goal is a space that works for you, not a space that looks like it belongs to someone else.

Which Areas do You Cover?

I cover all London boroughs and the Home Counties. If you are outside of these areas, I can help you through virtual decluttering or via a personalised decluttering plan. The first 10 miles of my journey to your home/place of work from my home (CRO) are free, then charged at 45p per mile. If travel time exceeds an hour each way, this will be charged at £45 per hour, or part thereof. If I have to pay for parking at your home/place of work, tolls, congestion charge or overnight accommodation, this will be charged to the client.

Getting Started

How Do We Get Started?

I offer a free, 15-minute virtual discovery meeting to establish your requirements and to undertake a virtual walk-through of the space you want decluttered/organised/staged.

Can You Do Face-to-Face Discovery Consultations?

If you would like me to visit your home/place of work, these will be charged at £50 per hour, as well as any mileage, tolls and parking charges as appropriate. If, following the face-to-face discovery meeting, you decide to proceed with booking our services, this amount will be deducted from your invoice.

How Long Will It Take?

The minimum session time is four (4) hours, and we work for a maximum of seven (7) hours per day, as decluttering is both physically and mentally tiring.

It depends on the size of the space, how many possessions you have, and how fast we work together to declutter and organise. I work at your pace, providing advice and expert recommendations, tips, tricks and tools in good faith and will ensure the session is dynamic and we reach your goal in the quickest time possible.

Whilst I will endeavour to provide an accurate quotation on the time needed, factors such as decluttering decision timings, unexpected cleaning, etc., can affect how long is required.

If you want to complete the services in a faster time, we can arrange for two (2) people to undertake the services. This can be both more cost-effective and time-effective.

What Does it Cost?

Individual sessions are charged at £45 per hour, with a minimum booking of four hours. So the minimum investment for a single session is £180.

If you're working with me on the Monthly Organising Retainer (see below), that costs £165 per month by direct debit, which covers a four-hour session each month for a minimum of six months. There's no VAT to add. The deposit is 50% to secure your date, with the balance due on the day.

If you're not sure how many hours you'll need, we'll talk that through on the discovery call, as I'd rather give you an honest estimate than have you feel blindsided on the day.

What Storage Solutions Will You Use?

I can work with storage solutions you already have, or identify options that will make better use of your space.

I may bring some of my favourite storage items with me, including boxes, baskets, dividers, etc. If you choose to use any of them, they'll be added to your invoice at the retail price plus a handling and logistics fee of up to 20% to cover sourcing, transportation, and stock maintenance. I'll always tell you what's been used and the total cost before you leave.

You're welcome to purchase items yourself instead, and I'll give you a precise list of what to get and where. Some clients prefer that; others find it easier to have everything on hand on the day.

If you'd like me to source storage solutions for you, or to shop and handle returns on your behalf, this is charged at £30 per hour for the actual time spent. For items valued at over £40, payment in advance is required.

If items you've ordered haven't arrived in time for your session, you may be charged for any time lost as a result.

Booking & Payment

Do I Need To Pay A Deposit?

If you decide to proceed, a 50% deposit secures your session date and is deducted from your final invoice, with the balance due on the day

What About Payment?

Where extra hours are needed, I will talk this through with you at the earliest possible opportunity during the session to agree on the next steps. Additionally, billable hours will not be completed without your approval.

You will receive an invoice after each session, and payment is due immediately upon receipt. If you ask for additional work to be undertaken during the decluttering and organising process, this will be agreed with you, and additional charges will apply. I will provide you with confirmation of payment within seven (7) working days of receiving the final payment. If there are additional costs arising from the services, such as parking fees or tolls, these are payable by the client.

Before The Day

How Do I Prepare For The Day?

Before we start, I ask you to mentally prepare for the day and to focus on your goal of having a streamlined and organised environment. I also ask you to have strong rubbish bags for disposal of unwanted items, as well as bags and boxes that can be used for items to recycle and donate. Please also have cleaning materials to hand.

Before we begin the services, you must disclose any information about the assignment or working environment that might put personnel at risk of harm or damage to health. For personal safety, our location and session timings will be shared with an associate.

On the Day

What Actually Happens on the Day

I arrive, we have a cup of tea, and I take a proper look at the space with you, so that I can understand how you use the space, what's driving you mad, and what you actually need from it.

Then we start. We work through the space together, making decisions as we go. You're in charge of every decision about what stays and what goes; I'm there to help you think it through, keep momentum going when it stalls, and make sure we're working towards something that will actually function in your daily life and not just look good for the next ten minutes.

We'll take breaks. We'll probably have more tea. If we hit a point where you're decision-fatigued and need to slow down, we slow down. Sometimes, the space looks a lot worse before it gets better.

By the end of the session, the space will be in a better state than when we started, and you'll have a system that makes sense to your brain, not a generic one lifted from a Pinterest board. I'll take up to five standard rubbish bags of donations to a local charity shop as part of the service. Anything else, we'll sort out a plan before I leave.

What About Cleaning?

Whilst I do not offer a cleaning service, I will undertake light cleaning as necessary during the process. Please note that the less clean the environment, the longer it will take us to do our work.

What Happens To The Stuff I Don't Keep?

I will advise you on ways to dispose of your unwanted items, through donating items to charity, recycling, or selling on platforms such as eBay or Vinted. For anything that can't be recycled in this way, we will advise you on the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of your belongings. I will take up to five (5) standard-sized rubbish bags of goods to a local charity shop (included in my fee), but I am unable to take items to the refuse and recycling centre on your behalf.

What Happens If Other Services Are Needed?

At times during the process, the need for other complementary services may arise, such as painting and decorating, waste clearance services, plumbing, damp control or pest control services. I may be able to provide contact details of service providers, but it is your responsibility to ensure that the service providers meet your needs. I cannot be held responsible for the actions of any third-party providers whose details were provided, nor can I be liable for any third-party contractor fees.

Trust & Confidentiality

What About My Privacy?

All the work I undertake is confidential. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO under registrations), so your personal data, such as address, phone number and email are kept in accordance with the data protection policy. I am non-judgemental and sensitive in all my work. Please see my Privacy Notice for further information. If I wish to use photos of your project for publicity, I will always obtain your consent. I will NEVER use your photos without your permission. My contract with you includes a confidentiality clause, and a separate Confidentiality Agreement is available upon request, should you prefer.

What Insurances Do You Have?

I have Public Liability Insurance (£1,000,000) and Professional Indemnity Insurance (£1,000,000) through Westminster Insurance Ltd/Westfield Specialty.

Professional Standards

I am a member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO) and have signed their Code of Ethics. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), I am a member of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), and have DBS Clearance. I maintain professional records for a minimum of 7 years as required by professional standards.

The Monthly Organising Retainer

What is the Monthly Organising Retainer?

A four-hour monthly session on a subscription basis, either to transform a disorganised home over twelve months or to keep an already organised home running smoothly. Sessions are agreed month by month around your priorities.

What Is The Minimum Commitment?

Six months by direct debit, after which the plan continues on a rolling monthly basis.

How Does Payment Work?

Monthly direct debit of £165, taken on the same date each month. Your first payment is taken before your first session.

What If I Need To Skip A Month?

Your four hours roll over to the following month. You can use them as two separate four-hour sessions or one eight-hour session. Rollover is available up to three times per year.

Can I Move My Session To A Different Date Within The Same Month?

Yes. You can reschedule once per month, subject to availability. Just give as much notice as possible — your session moves to the new date with no additional charge and no rollover needed.

Can I Add Extra Hours To A Session?

Yes, additional hours beyond your scheduled four are available at £41.25 per hour, the same rate as your subscription. No premium is charged.

How Do I Cancel After The Initial Six Months?

Written notice to hello@order-from-chaos.co.uk with 30 days' notice. Notice given part-way through a billing month takes effect at the end of the following billing period, so you'll always be billed in whole months only.

For full cancellation, liability, and booking terms, see our Terms & Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions