Services

As a Professor Organizer in Toronto, we design a maintainable plan to organize your files, edit out clutter, and maximize your space. Clients can learn new habits, reduce stress, and increase efficiency to create an ideal work environment where you can be highly productive. To get help now, call 647-710-1134 to schedule a free assessment. How It Stacks Up is happy to sign a Confidentiality Agreement at any point.

OFFICE ORGANIZATION

Sort through, reduce, and file papers (on desk, floor, in boxes, etc.)
Help with purging and reorganizing electronic files
Create efficient paper or electronic filing system tailored to your needs
Establish or work with existing electronic file retention/tracking system (help colleagues share knowledge)
Hang awards, certificates, designations, degrees, framed photos
Audit furniture set up, and make adjustments for efficiency
Set up efficient office space for a new business
Scan business cards and set up contact management system
Establish secure and accessible personal filing system
Set up reminder emails (birthdays, read articles, gym, subscription renewals, etc.)
Help comply with company’s “Clean Desk” policy

MOVING AND UNPACKING

Packing up offices for a smooth transition
Retiring
Renovating
Changing offices
Switching office floors
Moving to new building, etc.
Prepping office space for new employee
Merging offices/companies

ORGANIZING SYSTEMS

Organize photos electronically (preserve corporate history)
Deal with incoming email, projects, files, business cards
Set up system to keep supplies, samples, and products organized
Sort out how to artfully display and preserve collections and hobbies

IMPROVING OTHER SPACES IN THE OFFICE

Declutter office supply room, storage room, or closet
Track and store corporate art work
Clean fridge, restock supplies, and make staff kitchen area welcoming

ORGANIZING ALTERNATIVE WORKSPACES

If you frequently work on the road, or out of your vehicle, you’ll have different needs than an office worker
How to deal with invoicing, filing, receipts, supplies, garbage, etc.

MAINTENANCE VISITS

Review systems quarterly, every 6-months, or annually
Provide Maintenance Visits (3-hour session to clear any papers, file, readjust or tweak system, get process back up and running, etc.)

OFFERING SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, LUNCH-AND-LEARN SESSIONS

Whether it’s a Brown Bag lunch, Lunch N’ Learn, workshop, or a special Human Resources-initiated presentation, help educate employees on how to maximize their efficiency and productivity in the office, while tamping down their stress levels.

GIVING BACK

We will organize a clothing drive in your office, with donations picked up by the Canadian Diabetes Association (a free service). The clothing is then sold to Value Village, where proceeds go to support charities in Toronto.
If you know of a Toronto-based charity or non-profit that needs help organizing, please email us your suggestion.

What Clients are Saying

We are busy running several associations and don’t have time to file. As a result, our offices ended up too littered with case file boxes, papers piled up, and publications scattered around to hold meetings.

Kathleen first transformed our offices, then overhauled our filing system, and then the storage room. My colleagues and I found her professional and conscientious. Our new offices are now a great space to meet members.

Richard Lyall, President and CEO, RESCON
From the moment Kathleen walked into my office, her nonjudgmental, and positive personality, put me at ease. That was 2007, and we’ve worked together many times since then, including in my home.

She arrives ready to work, and is incredibly organized and efficient. Her services are a great value for your money. She has a broad knowledge of the tools that help you to organize… we’re planning our next meeting.

Olga Luftig, Lawyer
Organizing an office overflowing with files can be a daunting task. Kathleen O’Brien is able to turn what would otherwise be a major ordeal into several manageable parts. Bring on the sticky notes!

Andy Manahan, Executive Director, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario
After years of slowly accumulating paper, boxes, books, binders and supplies, my office needed serious help. Throughout the process, Kathleen helped me make decisions (keep or throw) and advised (and helped me obtain) special storage devices, organizational equipment, and supplies to facilitate the process. What I had left was streamlined, organized, and easy to find. She even reorganized the degrees and pictures on my walls. Throughout, Kathleen was pleasant, tireless and completely focused on the process. She has an absolute gift when it comes to organizing. I never would have done it without her help.

Senior Partner, major accounting firm, Toronto

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a Professional Organizer any different from just being very organized?

The Professional Organizations in Canada training program gives graduates the ability to assess your physical environment and find the root causes of disorganization. Based on that assessment, we use that intelligence and our expertise to formulate a plan. With your help, we execute the solutions needed to maximize the efficiency of your space.

What is the organizing process?

Once you are ready to get your office organized, call How It Stacks Up at 647-710-1134, and you’ll speak to Kathleen about your needs. She will visit your workspace to do a free one-hour assessment. Next, you will receive a cost estimate to do the job; it will outline the scope and timing of the work to be done. Once accepted, both parties sign a Letter of Agreement outlining expectations, and the work begins. How It Stacks Up is happy to sign a Confidentiality Agreement at any point in the process.

How much do you charge? What forms of payment do you accept?

Our rate is $70 an hour. Individual office organizations usually take between three to eight sessions, in 3- or 4-hour increments ($700-$1,700), plus any shopping, supplies, and sourcing fees. To have us come into your workspace and provide consultation only, our fee is $125 an hour. Written reports on how to do your own office organization, based on an in-person assessment at your workplace, are written at $100 an hour. When travel of more than an hour is required, a mileage fee will apply. We accept cheques, cash, and electronic transfers. Payment terms are within 30 business days.

Do I need to be there while you organize?

What works best is for organizers to work alongside clients, guiding them to make decisions on what to keep, what to place where, what to purge, file, etc. The organizer can work independently once some momentum has been built and decisions have been made. Then, it’s just a matter of implementing the organizing systems. There are times, however, where the organizer can work alone from the start.

What do I do to prepare for the on-site assessment? Should I clean up before you arrive?

Nothing is required on your part. In fact, we ask that you do not clean up so we can get a true, and accurate picture of your situation.

I’m embarrassed with my mess and don’t want my colleagues to know you're helping me. Can you pretend you’re a client?

Sure thing. We pride ourselves on discretion and protecting your privacy. To provide a comfortable working environment for clients, we approach jobs in a non-judgmental manner, and more important, have seen it all. It is our passion and pleasure to help.

I work with highly sensitive material. How do you keep confidentiality?

Discretion is key to our work. Your organizer is also more than happy to sign a Non-Disclosure or Confidentiality Agreement.

Do you need to go through every drawer? What happens if you find something personal?

We ask the client if there are any areas off limits. We respect our client’s space and know we are temporary guests who will get in, help you, and get out. Organizers expect to find personal items since the workplace is where clients spend a lot of their time. Know that we will use discretion in dealing with anything of a personal or confidential nature.

What happens if I have to cancel?

Our policy requires 48 hours’ notice to cancel a session. A cancellation within less than 48 hours will result in a $100 cancellation fee, payable within 15 business days.

What can I expect as the outcome the project?

How It Stacks Up tailors a maintainable plan to organize files, maximize space, and clear clutter. Clients learn new habits, reduce stress, and increase efficiency. Our job is to construct an ideal work environment where clients can thrive, thanks to a fresh start.

Let Us Help You Get Organized

Call 647.710.1134

Schedule a Consultation Now