Following a question from one of my PO News readers, I thought I’d give you a few quick tips on your professional organiser toolkit. You can see mine in the photo above.
You’ll want to keep safe so include a first aid kit and gloves. Of course, a mask is also required. Even before COVID came along, I used them. A mask protects against dust and mould. It’s best to be self-reliant with your food and water. You won’t always be working in hygienic conditions.
Then you’ll want your assessment tools. Things like measuring tape, the Clutter Image Rating Scale and the Clutter-Hoarding Scale. It goes without saying that you will want to take notes. I find paper and pen the easiest, but you use whatever is most efficient for you.
Of course everyone loves a label maker. Keep yours fully stocked and charged. I wrote about how I chose my label maker here. Apart from a label maker, there are other ways to label items. Masking tape and permanent marker are equally useful and an economical option. Sticky notes are useful when trialling a new system, like setting up a kitchen.
When it comes to taking things out of the home, use good quality garbage bags. It’s embarrassing and inconvenient if a full bag that splits on the way out the door, spreading contents all over the clean floor. To avoid confusion, two colours of bags is best. One for donations and one for discarding.
Different coloured tubs for sorting is also a good idea. But if you only have one colour, you can always attach a sign to each tub so that the items to keep don’t get mixed up with donations.
Occasionally you will want to do small repairs. A hammer, screwdriver, shelf support pins are handy but not essential. Also in the handy but non-essential category are envelopes, furniture sliders, filing tabs and scissors.
On the administrative side, you’ll want to have a diary, camera (more about my views on before and after photos here), invoicing and payment facilities on hand.
Keep your toolkit simple and compact. A single bag or box is easiest to handle inside the client’s home or office. You can keep more supplies, like a step ladder and sorting tubs, in the car.
Over to you. What else would you keep in your professional organiser toolkit?
