Frequently Asked Questions

Everything people usually ask before they message me. If your question isn’t here, just ask.

Answers before you book

How much does a professional organizer cost in Virginia?

The Organized Kat charges an introductory rate of $55 an hour for home organizing, with a three-hour minimum. Nationally, professional organizers run about $50 to $150 an hour, so this is a genuine starting-out rate, and it won’t stay this low forever. Packing, staging, and estate work are quoted per project, since a two-bedroom apartment and a four-bedroom farmhouse aren’t the same job. Bins and labels are billed at cost with receipts, never marked up. Travel is included within roughly 25 miles of Winchester, with a small flat trip fee beyond that, shown in your quote. Every quote is free and every cost is explained before I start.

What areas do you serve?

The Organized Kat is based in Winchester, Virginia, and I work throughout the Shenandoah Valley and the Eastern Panhandle — Winchester, Front Royal, Strasburg, Berryville, and Leesburg in Virginia, plus Martinsburg, West Virginia. Travel is included within about 25 miles of Winchester. Beyond that there’s a small flat trip fee, disclosed upfront in your quote so nothing surprises you. If you’re outside that area and the project is the right fit, ask me anyway. I’ll travel for the right job, and I’d rather have the conversation than turn you away by default.

Do I have to be there while you organize?

That’s completely up to you, and it depends on the job. For decluttering, yes — you need to be there, because they’re your belongings and every keep-or-let-go decision is yours to make. I never throw anything away on my own judgment. Once the sorting is done and we’ve agreed on where things go, plenty of clients step out and come back to a finished space. For packing, staging, and cleanouts, I often work independently once we’ve established the plan. We’ll sort out what works for you at the free quote.

Will you judge my house?

No. Not once, not internally, not later. I’ve never walked into a home and thought less of the person living in it, and I’ve seen the drawer nobody opens. Clutter isn’t a character flaw — it’s what happens when life moves faster than the systems in your house. People are usually far harder on themselves about their own homes than I would ever be. If shame is the thing keeping you from calling, please call anyway. That feeling almost always disappears within the first hour of working together.

Do you buy the bins and organizing supplies?

The Organized Kat offers this as a service, or you can — whichever you prefer. If you’d like me to handle it, I’ll purchase the bins, baskets, labels, and drawer inserts on your behalf and bill them at cost with receipts, plus my sourcing time at the hourly rate, always estimated and approved by you before I shop. There’s never a markup on products. If you’d rather buy them yourself, I’ll write you a specific list of exactly what fits your space and where to get it, at no charge. Many clients also find that once we’ve decluttered, they need far fewer products than they expected.

Can you help with a deceased loved one's belongings?

Yes, and The Organized Kat does this work often. I offer compassionate, discreet estate organizing and cleanout services throughout the Shenandoah Valley. That means sorting alongside the family, setting aside keepsakes that should stay with relatives, coordinating donations, helping sell what’s worth selling, and handling the logistics of a full cleanout. Nothing leaves the house without the family’s approval. We work at whatever pace feels right — some days that’s several rooms, some days it’s one drawer and a lot of stories. Everything I see in your home stays private.

Are gift certificates available?

Yes. Gift certificates are available for home organizing, packing help, home staging, and estate and downsizing services, in any amount. They tend to land well for someone starting a new chapter — a first home, a new baby, a move, a retirement, or a season where the house has simply gotten away from them. It’s a genuinely useful gift rather than one more object to find a place for. Message me and I’ll set one up for you, and I’ll make it look like something worth handing over.

How do I book?

Message me. There’s no online scheduler yet, and honestly I like it that way for now — I’d rather talk with you first than have you pick a slot blind. You can reach me by phone at 540-823-0259, by email at eve@theorganizedkat.com, through Facebook Messenger, or with the form on my contact page. Tell me a little about the space and what’s driving the timeline. I’ll come look, we’ll talk through what you want, and you’ll get a free quote with the total cost laid out before anything begins.

How long will my project take?

A single closet or pantry is usually one session, three to five hours. Kitchens run longer. Garages and whole-home projects get split across multiple visits. The real variable is never the organizing — it’s the sorting, and how much has accumulated. A pantry that’s been quietly collecting for years takes time to work through. I’ll give you an honest estimate at the free quote once I’ve seen the space. If you’re able to work alongside me, it goes faster, and you’ll understand the system well enough to keep it running after I’m gone.

What if my house is really bad?

It isn’t. I promise you it isn’t, and I say that having heard it from nearly everyone before I walk in. The house you’re embarrassed about is a normal house where a busy life happened. I’ve never turned down a project for being too far gone, and there’s no room I’d refuse to walk into. If it helps, we can start with one small space — a single drawer, one closet — so you can see how it feels before committing to more. Most people are surprised by how quickly the dread lifts.

Do you take on hoarding situations?

No — hoarding is a recognized mental health condition, and the people who help best with it are trained specifically for it. I’m not set up to take those projects on, and I’d rather say so upfront than start something I can’t see through. If that’s what you or someone you love is facing, there are good places to start: the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and NAPO’s Find an Organizer directory, which lets you filter by hoarding. Not sure which category your project falls into? Reach out anyway — I’m happy to talk it through.

Does The Organized Kat offer house cleaning?

Yes, in a limited way. Organizing is what I do and it’s most of my work, but I also take basic house cleaning jobs around Winchester and the Shenandoah Valley, usually for clients I’m already helping with a move or an organizing project. That means floors, counters, bathrooms, kitchen surfaces, appliance exteriors, and wiping out cabinets and drawers. Oven and refrigerator interiors are available as a separate charge, priced once I’ve seen them. I don’t clean inside dishwashers, and I don’t do deep cleaning, carpet or upholstery cleaning, post-construction cleanup, or exterior windows. I quote cleaning by the job rather than by the hour, so ask me when we talk and I’ll give you a flat number for your home.

Ready to talk about your space?

Let’s create a home that feels calm, functional, and truly yours.