Aviva, please tell us a little about yourself? Where are you originally from?
I grew up on Long Island as the oldest of five children. I’m now a mom to two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, and live in Manhattan. Basically, I’m no stranger to chaos and disorder! That’s probably why I’m so passionate about what I do.
When did you start Perfectly Organized? How long have you been a professional organizer?
I started Perfectly Organized in the summer of 2019. Technically, I’ve been a professional organizer since then, however, I’ve been organizing for friends and family for as long as I can remember. I’ve always helped the people around me when they needed some order in their lives!
How did you get into this profession? Do you have a team?
I’ve always felt it is important to keep your space organized and efficient in order to be maximally productive and also simply to stay sane. Once I became a mom (especially one in New York City), I felt so strongly that keeping an organized home was essential to keep it together! I knew I had to help other families with this so that they can continue to lead their busy lives while feeling like their home was a sanctuary and not a madhouse. As of now, I don’t have a team but I foresee myself putting a small team together in the near future.
What type of clients do you work with? What is your organizing style?
I mostly work with families with young children. I have also had a few clients ask me to organize their offices as well. My organizing style consists of using the appropriate tools and implementing simple systems to transform any space into a functional one that is also pleasing to the eye. It needs to not only be operative but also nice to look at!
What are the different services do you offer?
I offer organizing services mostly anywhere - the home, the office, really any area at all that a client desires to be altered into a usable, streamlined space.
How do you approach a new organizing project?
Whenever a client reaches out with a new organizing project, I like to start by chatting on the phone about their specific needs and the areas they are looking to focus on. This helps us set a goal and a timeline. We then meet in their home and do a walkthrough of these spaces during which we speak about their lifestyle as it relates to their organizing needs. I take measurements and acquire any necessary information. It is at this point that I can go ahead and create a plan for the client that is fitting to their needs as well as their budget. My goal is always to ensure that they are able to maintain these organization systems in the long term.
When working with clients, what do you think are the biggest hindrances that keep people from being/staying organized?
I think people generally conceive organization as being a great effort so they feel like it’s just easier to throw things wherever they land, as opposed to making a thoughtful effort. The truth is that once you give your belongings a home, it’s much easier to keep them there and thus always know where your things are located.
What is your approach with a client who resists decluttering?
This is definitely something I’ve dealt with in my time as a professional organizer and I absolutely knew it would be. It’s hard to part with certain items that you’ve had for a long time or that were given to you as a gift. I always ask my clients to think five years ahead and consider whether they will miss that particular item. Usually, the answer is “no” and they feel better about discarding the item and moving on.
What is the most common question you are asked?
“Are you really organized all the time? Do you ever slip up?” Truthfully, I do find that staying organized in my home and generally in my life is a huge time saver and helps me run my household without completely falling apart. It doesn’t feel like an effort to me, so yes, I do tend to keep my home streamlined.
What are your top three tips for staying organized?
1. Give everything a home. If you can categorize your belongings and find a place for each category, it is pretty hard for the system to fall apart.
2. Involve your spouse and children! If the whole family knows where things go and understand how the household runs better that way, they will want to help. This takes the burden off the one adult trying to keep it all together.
3. Be realistic. Do you really need the box for your iPhone? Will you ever use that shoebox that’s been sitting in your closet for two years? People tend to hold on to items thinking they MAY have some sort of use for them, but once you get real with yourself, you can easily recognize that it is just clutter and serves no real purpose.
What are some of your favorite products that help you stay organized?
Bins, bins, and more bins. I use bins to keep my children organized in terms of toys, art supplies, and even their clothing and accessories. I keep all of our household items divided into labeled bins as well - cleaning items, batteries, light bulbs. You name it, it has a bin! This way everyone knows where their belongings are and they know where to put an item back after they are done using it. It tends to decrease the need to ask me where their stuff is constantly and that is absolutely priceless!
What is the favorite part of your job?
When I get a text or an email from a client telling me that I have literally changed their life! It never ceases to amaze me how getting my clients’ homes organized can truly have an impact on their overall lifestyle and mental well-being. It means so much to me to know that I’ve brought some sense of tranquility into their very bustling lives.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Organize my home! There is always a need to upgrade and rethink certain systems. Besides that, I love to spend time with my children and my husband. I enjoy cooking for my family, and when there is time, there is nothing like snuggling up with a good book.
What is the best way to reach you?
Email is always the best way or by submitting a message on my website. I can also be reached on Instagram.
Thank you!
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